Female voters are playing a decisive role in electoral calculations. Consequently, governments across the country are rolling out various schemes to attract women. Under this ‘ladies first’ strategy, central and state government initiatives are being directly delivered to women in households.
To capitalize on this electoral dynamic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a significant package for women in Bihar on Friday. Under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, the PM transferred ₹10,000 each to 7.5 million rural women as the first installment. The scheme aims to provide a total financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh to each woman in the future. This move is seen as a major initiative to connect with women directly before the elections.
Throughout history, political parties in various states have unveiled attractive promises to woo women during elections. These alluring promises have directly benefited these parties. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar, and at the center, the Modi government, have won elections through numerous women-centric schemes. Following this, other political parties have adopted this approach and have also gained. With PM Modi’s announcement in Bihar, it is clear that the 2025 election battle will primarily revolve around women.
In Andhra Pradesh, the government of Jagan Mohan Reddy provided smartphones to every member of women’s self-help groups. Free sanitary napkins were introduced for adolescent girls in government schools. Under the Jagananna Ammavodi scheme, every mother who sends her children to school was given ₹15,000. Brides from the OBC community received ₹50,000, and SC/ST and minority brides received ₹1 lakh as marriage gifts.
Similarly, in Maharashtra, the BJP government is running the Ladki Bahin Yojana. This scheme was initiated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance also directly benefited from it in the last assembly elections. This scheme is also running in the Fadnavis government. In Haryana, the BJP government is running the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana. Under this scheme, the BJP promised to give every woman ₹21 per month.
In West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government is running the Rupashree Yojana to attract women. Under this scheme, ₹2.5 lakh is provided to economically weaker families for the marriage of their daughters. Additionally, the Kanyashree Yojana is also being implemented. In this scheme, annual scholarships are given to school girls aged 13-18 years.
In Telangana, the government of K. Chandrasekhar Rao has launched several schemes, including the Shaadi Mubarak and Kalyana Lakshmi schemes, under which families of brides receive ₹1 lakh. Under the KCR Kit scheme, ₹13,000 is provided for essential items for newborns and mothers. In Tamil Nadu, under the marriage assistance scheme, brides are given an 8-gram Jayalalitha gold coin. In Karnataka, through the Saptapadi Vivah Yojana, brides are receiving a Mangalsutra worth ₹40,000, ₹10,000 in cash, and grooms are receiving ₹5,000 in cash.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government is providing ₹55,000 for the marriage of two daughters of a labor family and ₹61,000 for inter-caste marriages under the Shaadi Anudan Yojana. Under the Bhagyalakshmi Yojana, it is providing bonds worth ₹50,000 for the education of daughters of poor families. In Assam, under the Arundhati Yojana, the government is giving a tola of gold to brides. Under the Gyan Deepka Yojana, admission fee waivers, free school uniforms, and battery-powered e-bikes are being provided. Under the Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Yojana, immediate assistance of ₹25,000 is being provided to widows above 45 years of age.
The Chhattisgarh government is providing financial assistance to widows and divorced women under the Shakti Swaroopa Yojana. The “Mahtari Vandan Yojana” was implemented in the BJP government. The announcement before the elections benefited the BJP. In Odisha (during the time of Naveen Patnaik’s government), women from self-help groups were given smartphones. Under the Mamata Yojana, pregnant women are given ₹5,000 for their and the infant’s care. Assistance is also being provided to women through the Subhadra Yojana.
In Rajasthan, during the time of the Ashok Gehlot government, 6,000 meritorious tribal girls were given scooters through the Devnarayan School Scooty Yojana. The scheme of free education for girls in government institutions was started. Under the Aapki Beti Yojana, girls in classes 1-8 are given ₹1,000 and students in classes 9-12 are given a scholarship of ₹2100. Similarly, in Delhi, the BJP government has promised to give ₹2500 per month to poor women under the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana. The policy for this scheme is being finalized. This financial assistance aims to empower women economically and make them independent.
During the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, brides were given ₹51,000 under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana. This scheme is still running in the BJP government. Increases have been made in widow and old age pensions. The Ladli Behna Yojana, which has been running in the Shivraj government, is still ongoing. It is believed that this scheme significantly increased the popularity of Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
From Nitish Kumar’s cycle scheme in Bihar to the Ujjwala Yojana of the Modi government and free bus travel in Delhi, women voters have proven to be decisive every time. This is the reason why every state government is bringing schemes for women, ranging from cash, smartphones, gold, scooters to education, pensions, and employment.