This follows visits by AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Atishi and party convener Arvind Kejriwal, to various areas where they initiated doorstep registration for the Sanjeevani Yojana and Mahila Samman Yojana.
Significant developments have emerged amid the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections. The capital’s Health and Family Welfare department has raised concerns over the AAP’s Sanjeevani Yojana registration drive, a scheme claiming free treatment for residents over 60 at private and government hospitals. Meanwhile, the Women and Child Development department has distanced itself from the Mahila Samman Yojana, which promises a monthly allowance of ₹2,100 for women in the capital.
In a public notice published in newspapers, the health department clarified that no such Sanjeevani scheme exists under its authority. It also stated that it had not authorised the collection of personal data from senior citizens nor the issuance of any cards.
This follows visits by AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Atishi and party convener Arvind Kejriwal, to different areas to launch doorstep registration for the Sanjeevani Yojana and Mahila Samman Yojana. Additionally, the AAP has released an artificial intelligence-generated advertisement featuring Arvind Kejriwal as Santa Claus.
The department stated that any individual or political party collecting forms under the guise of this scheme is “fraudulent and unauthorized.”
It further advised citizens to take the following precautions: (1) Do not trust promises of free treatment under the so-called non-existent “Sanjeevani scheme.” (2) Refrain from sharing personal details with anyone claiming to offer benefits through the scheme. (3) Avoid signing or providing a thumbprint on any document without full understanding.
The department clarified that it would not be accountable for any liabilities or fraudulent activities resulting from such “unscrupulous actions.”
In a separate notice, the Women and Child Development (WCD) department stated that no scheme named Mahila Samman Yojana has been officially announced.
It further explained that if and when such a scheme is introduced, the department will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit applications online according to the approved guidelines. Eligibility criteria and application processes will be clearly outlined at that time. The notice emphasized that since no such scheme currently exists, the collection of physical forms or applications is baseless and unauthorized.
The department also warned that individuals collecting forms or information under the scheme’s name are engaging in fraudulent activities and advised against sharing personal information publicly, as it could lead to cybercrime.
Following the issuance of the notices, Mr. Kejriwal criticized the BJP-led central government, stating, “The Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana have unsettled them. In the coming days, they plan to arrest Atishi ji on fabricated charges, and senior AAP leaders will face raids.
According to AAP sources, 1.5 lakh individuals have been registered under the Sanjeevani scheme and 13 lakh women for the Mahila Samman Yojana so far. A team of 3,000 AAP workers is conducting doorstep registrations, aiming for 5 lakh registrations daily, the sources added.
The departments’ notices come amidst the ongoing power struggle between Delhi’s elected government and the Centre. In Delhi, principal secretaries of all departments report to the Chief Secretary, who is appointed by the central government. As a result, the AAP government has no direct control over Delhi officers, a longstanding issue it has frequently highlighted during its decade-long tenure in the capital.
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Notably, the Supreme Court ruled last year that the Delhi government would have authority over services in the capital. However, the Centre countered this with an ordinance, later converted into an act, establishing the National Capital Civil Services Authority. This body comprises the Chief Minister, the Delhi Chief Secretary, and the Principal Home Secretary. It is responsible for recommending transfers, postings, and disciplinary actions to the Lieutenant Governor. Since the Chief Secretary and Principal Home Secretary are central government appointees, they can easily outvote the Chief Minister.
