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Is Delhi's Ladli Scheme on the Verge of Shutdown? RTI Reveals Shocking Drop in Beneficiaries

Indiaemploymentnews | July 8, 2025 10:39 PM CST

The future of Delhi’s flagship scheme for girl empowerment—the Ladli Yojana—seems uncertain as fresh data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query reveals a drastic decline in the number of beneficiaries. Once hailed for transforming the lives of thousands of daughters by making them "Lakhpati" (future millionaires), the scheme now faces questions about its effectiveness and survival.

What Is Delhi’s Ladli Yojana?

Launched in 2008 during the Congress government’s tenure, the Delhi Ladli Scheme aims to support the education and financial security of girl children in the capital. Under this scheme:

₹10,000 is deposited in the girl’s account if born at home
₹11,000 is deposited for institutional (hospital) births
₹5,000 is given at the time of admission in Class 1, 6, 9, 10, and 12

These funds accumulate with interest and are available when the girl turns 18, provided she has completed at least Class 10. In total, a beneficiary can receive over ₹1 lakh, supporting both education and early adulthood needs.

RTI Exposes Drastic Drop in Registrations

According to information obtained via RTI and published by PTI-Bhasha, the number of girls registered under the Ladli Yojana has halved over the past 15 years. In 2008–09, around 1.26 lakh girls were registered. By 2024–25, this figure had dropped to just 53,000.

From 2008 to 2025, only 13,52,564 girls have been registered under the scheme—a worrying number given Delhi’s large population.

Year-wise Registration Statistics Year Registrations

2008–09	1,26,965
2009–10	1,39,223
2010–11	1,05,737
2011–12	1,06,585
2012–13	96,800
2013–14	89,243
2014–15	82,669
2015–16	74,846
2016–17	68,193
2017–18	67,070
2018–19	60,903
2019–20	30,192
2020–21	61,546
2021–22	62,749
2022–23	64,637
2023–24	62,205
2024–25	53,000

Why Is the Scheme Losing Reach?

According to a senior official from the Department of Women and Child Development, a major reason for the decline is the increasing dropout rate among girl students. Many girls discontinue their education before reaching Class 10, making them ineligible for the benefits.

Moreover, lack of awareness and failure to renew applications are contributing factors. The official added that over 1.86 lakh beneficiaries have not claimed their entitlements, and 1.66 lakh girls either failed to renew their applications or dropped out of school altogether.

Public Losing Interest in the Benefits

Reports also suggest that many eligible families are not coming forward to claim the benefits. Administrative lapses and low community engagement have further weakened the scheme’s impact.

Is the Scheme Being Phased Out?

While there’s no official confirmation that the Ladli Yojana is being discontinued, the steady decline in registrations, unclaimed funds, and poor implementation raise serious concerns about its future. In its early years, the scheme was seen as a game-changer for girl education and empowerment in the capital. But now, it faces the risk of fading into obscurity unless serious reforms are introduced.

Conclusion

The Delhi Ladli Yojana, once a shining example of girl-child welfare, is losing momentum rapidly. From over a lakh registrations annually to just 53,000 in 2024–25, the scheme’s effectiveness is clearly waning. Unless the Delhi government revamps awareness campaigns and improves application tracking, the dream of making daughters "Lakhpati" could soon become a forgotten promise.