Arvind Kejriwal Announces ₹18,000 Monthly Stipend for Priests Under New Scheme

Arvind Kejriwal launches ₹18,000 stipend scheme for priests amid controversy over Mahila Samman Yojana

AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a new scheme called the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana on Monday. The scheme offers a monthly honorarium of ₹18,000 to Hindu priests and Sikh granthis .According to Kejriwal, the scheme’s registration period would open on Tuesday.

Priests and granthis are receiving this kind of respect for the first time in the nation.These individuals have carried forward religious and cultural traditions for generations, often neglecting their own families. It is time we honor their contributions,” Kejriwal stated during a press conference.

To officially launch the scheme, Kejriwal plans to visit the Hanuman Temple in Delhi’s Connaught Place on Tuesday. “I will personally kickstart the registration process for this scheme,” he added.

Mahila Samman Scheme Controversy

The announcement comes amid a controversy surrounding AAP’s recently proposed Mahila Samman scheme. The program offered a stipend of ₹2,100 per month to unemployed women in Delhi, and AAP leaders had started a registration drive for it earlier this month.

However, the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development (WCD) department later issued a clarification stating that the Mahila Samman scheme was “non-existent” and urged residents not to share personal details with those collecting data.

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The Aam Aadmi Party accused officials of acting under BJP’s pressure and vowed action against those responsible for the confusion. Meanwhile, the BJP accused AAP of fraud and claimed the party and the Delhi government were not aligned on the scheme.

Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena ordered an inquiry into the matter, alleging that private individuals were collecting personal details of women under the guise of enrolling them in the scheme. The complaint was filed by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.

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The Delhi Police has since formed multiple teams to investigate camps gathering personal details from women. A senior official stated on Sunday that efforts were underway to identify and act against those involved in the alleged data collection scam.

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