Women voters are now playing a crucial role in electoral strategies. As a result, almost every state government across the country is introducing various schemes aimed at attracting women. This strategy, prioritizing women, involves delivering initiatives from both the central and state governments directly to women in their homes.
To address this electoral dynamic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently made a significant announcement for the women of Bihar. Under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, the Prime Minister transferred an initial installment of ₹10,000 each to 7.5 million rural women. This scheme envisions providing a total financial aid of up to ₹2 lakh per woman. This move is viewed as a major effort to connect with women directly before the upcoming elections.
History shows that political parties in different states have frequently opened up packages of alluring promises to attract women during elections. These promises have brought direct benefits to the political parties. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar, and at the center, the Modi government, have won elections through numerous women-focused schemes. Consequently, other political parties have adopted this approach, experiencing positive outcomes as well. With PM Modi’s announcement in Bihar, it is evident that the 2025 electoral campaign will mainly center around women.
In Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government provided smartphones to every member of women’s self-help groups. Free sanitary napkins were provided to girls in government schools. Under the Jagananna Ammavodi scheme, mothers who send their children to school received ₹15,000. Brides from the OBC community were given ₹50,000, while SC/ST and minority brides received ₹1 lakh as marriage gifts.
Similarly, in Maharashtra, the BJP government runs the Ladki Bahin Yojana. This scheme was initiated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. It directly benefited the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the previous assembly elections, and it continues in the Fadnavis government. In Haryana, the BJP government is running the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, promising to give every woman ₹21 per month.
In West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government is implementing the Rupashree Yojana to attract women. Economically disadvantaged families receive ₹2.5 lakh for their daughters’ weddings. Furthermore, the Kanyashree Yojana provides annual scholarships to school girls aged 13-18 years.
In Telangana, the government of K. Chandrasekhar Rao has introduced schemes like Shaadi Mubarak and Kalyana Lakshmi, providing ₹1 lakh to brides’ families. The KCR Kit scheme offers ₹13,000 for essential items for newborns and mothers. In Tamil Nadu, the marriage assistance scheme offers brides an 8-gram Jayalalitha gold coin. In Karnataka, the Saptapadi Vivah Yojana provides brides with a Mangalsutra worth ₹40,000, ₹10,000 in cash, and grooms with ₹5,000 in cash.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government provides ₹55,000 for the marriage of two daughters of a labor family and ₹61,000 for inter-caste marriages under the Shaadi Anudan Yojana. The Bhagyalakshmi Yojana provides bonds worth ₹50,000 for the education of daughters from poor families. In Assam, the Arundhati Yojana gives brides one tola of gold, while the Gyan Deepka Yojana covers admission fees, free school uniforms, and e-bikes. The Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Yojana offers immediate assistance of ₹25,000 to widows over 45 years of age.
The Chhattisgarh government offers financial aid to widows and divorced women through the Shakti Swaroopa Yojana. The Mahtari Vandan Yojana was implemented in the BJP government, and its announcement before the elections benefited the BJP. In Odisha, during Naveen Patnaik’s tenure, women from self-help groups received smartphones. The Mamata Yojana provides ₹5,000 to pregnant women for maternal and infant care, with the Subhadra Yojana providing additional support.
In Rajasthan, the Ashok Gehlot government’s Devnarayan School Scooty Yojana provided scooters to 6,000 meritorious tribal girls, along with free education in government institutions. The Aapki Beti Yojana offers ₹1,000 to girls in classes 1-8 and ₹2100 in scholarships to students in classes 9-12. Similarly, in Delhi, the BJP government has promised ₹2500 monthly to poor women through the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana.
During the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana provided ₹51,000 to brides. The Ladli Behna Yojana, launched during the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, is still ongoing. This scheme is believed to have significantly boosted Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s popularity.
From Nitish Kumar’s cycle scheme in Bihar to the Modi government’s Ujjwala Yojana and free bus travel in Delhi, women voters have consistently proven decisive. This has led state governments to introduce diverse schemes ranging from cash, smartphones, and gold to educational support, pensions, and employment initiatives.