Thiruvananthapuram, June 29 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister, V.D. Satheesan, on Monday signaled a review of the previous LDF government’s flagship Women’s Safety Scheme, alleging that it was hastily rolled out on the eve of the Assembly elections to deceive women voters rather than as a genuine welfare initiative.
Replying to an adjournment motion in the Assembly, CM Satheesan said his government had not decided to discontinue the scheme but would first examine serious complaints regarding the identification of beneficiaries and the manner in which it was implemented before taking a final call.
“The scheme will not continue without scrutiny. We have received allegations that no proper field level verification was carried out and that beneficiaries were selected in violation of established procedures,” the Chief Minister said.
He pointed out that the previous LDF government launched the scheme on February 11, 2026, barely a month before the Assembly election was notified on March 16, with the first installment of financial assistance also being released on the very day the Model Code of Conduct came into force.
CM Satheesan said the LDF had initially projected 31.34 lakh beneficiaries under the scheme before revising the figure to 16.4 lakh, raising questions over the selection process.
Applications, he alleged, were processed within a matter of days by local body secretaries without adequate verification, including checks to ascertain whether applicants were already receiving other welfare pensions.
Although the State Budget has earmarked Rs 1,950 crore for the programme, the government would decide its future only after examining the complaints, he said.
Launching a broader attack on the previous government, CM Satheesan said the LDF had ruled Kerala for 120 months, but announced the women’s scheme only in its final month in office after suffering a setback in the local body elections.
“If it was a manifesto promise, why was it implemented only when the government was on its way out?” he asked.
Contrasting his government’s approach, CM Satheesan said the first Cabinet meeting after assuming office approved free bus travel for women and enhanced the honorarium of ASHA workers by Rs 3,000, besides increasing remuneration for Anganwadi teachers, helpers and pre-primary teachers.
Claiming that his government, and not the previous regime, stood firmly for women’s welfare, the Chief Minister also accused the LDF of ignoring the prolonged agitation by ASHA workers and ridiculing them instead of addressing their demands.
–IANS
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