Haryana’s Rs 2,100 cash transfer scheme for women: app glitches and long waits in Gurgaon as registration opens

According to a directive issued by the Haryana Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment, all women of age 23 years and above and up to 60 are eligible for the scheme if the verified annual income of their family — as per the Family Information Database Repository — does not exceed Rs 1 lakh per annum. There is no restriction on the number of women per family who can avail of the scheme.

According to the draft policy, the scheme will be rolled out in four phases. Women falling below the poverty line (BPL), who number around 46 lakh, would be covered in the first phase.

At the Sector 31 polyclinic, volunteers with smartphones were seen explaining to women the documents that were needed – which include their Aadhaars and that of their parents and in-laws (if alive), and the details of vehicles owned by members of their immediate family. Some women complained that “too many” documents were being asked for, and that digital copies, including photographs, could not be uploaded to the app.

In a communication issued recently to deputy commissioners, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Dr G Anupama had emphasised the need for dedicated help desks at each registration camp to assist with the filling of applications, verification of documents, and redressal of grievances.

The Anganwadi worker said that workers like her and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have been instructed by district authorities to mobilise eligible women for the scheme. She expressed the view that if the process is to be based on a mobile phone application, the app should be efficient “like the private apps”.

“Even with our POSHAN app, we suffer like this,” she complained. PM-POSHAN is the scheme to provide free meals to schoolchildren in Classes 1-8 with the aim to improve their nutritional status. The POSHAN Tracker app is used to provide digital support and coaching to Anganwadi workers.

Gurugram MLA and BJP leader Mukesh Sharma was the chief guest at the programme in Gurgaon. He called the launch of the scheme an “early Diwali gift”.

“I thank our Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, for the successful launch of the scheme within a year of the [Assembly] election [victory]. During the campaign, our opponents had expressed doubts if we would be able to do so,” Sharma said.

The MLA implored the youth of the state to stay away from drugs. He did not want Haryana to go down the path of neighbouring Punjab, which is struggling with a serious addiction problem, Sharma said.

Volunteers were seen asking women to record videos saying they appreciated Chief Minister Saini for the launch of the scheme, and that they would be immensely benefited by it.

However, some women at the camp said that given the high inflation, the money provided under the scheme ultimately may not amount to much.

“Do hazaar se kya hi hoga, kharche itne hain. Yoon hi nikal jayenge (What can happen with just Rs 2,100, nowadays expenses are so much, the money will run out quickly,” said a woman who declined to be identified.

District-level events were also held at Gurgaon’s Sector-10 Civil Hospital, where Industry and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh was the chief guest, and at Pataudi, Sohna, and Manesar.