Delhi elections: Congress launches Pyari Didi scheme promising Rs. 2,500 per month to women residents

The scheme was launched by Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar in presence of other key leaders including Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav.

"Congress' strength is the country's strength, and Congress' history is the country's history. This new year should bring change to Delhi. I hope you all will help us to bring the Congress government to Delhi. With your help, whatever we promised, we have delivered in Karnataka.

"We have implemented all the five guarantees in just three months after taking the oath. With our guarantees, the status of youth, families, and the economic conditions of Karnataka has changed, and people are enjoying the benefits," said Shivakumar announcing the scheme.

"As Mahatma Gandhi ji envisioned every section of the society of our country to be taken care of, we, through our policies, will ensure the same," added the Karnataka Congress chief.

The Congress launched the scheme as a counter to AAP's similar scheme, which was launched by the former CM and ruling party supremo, Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal's scheme promises to grant Rs. 2,100 per month to all women residents of Delhi.

Apart from the women's scheme, which is prevalent in several Indian states in various forms, Kejriwal has announced Sanjeevani Yojana, a scheme which aims to provide free treatment to all Delhi residents aged 60 or more at private and government hospitals, in the run-up to the assembly elections in the union territory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated a number of projects in Delhi just a few days ago, highlighted the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme which is now offering free treatment to all people aged 70 or more as a promise on part of Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP].

Like several other opposition-ruled states, the Ayushman Bharat scheme is not allowed to function by Delhi's AAP government, which is now headed by Atishi.