Himachal Women Await Promised ₹1500 as Congress' Poll Guarantee Falters Three Years On

This India Today special report examines the status of the Congress party's pre-election promise to the women of Himachal Pradesh: ₹1500 per month under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behen Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana. Nearly three years into the government's term, the report finds that lakhs of women are still waiting for the financial aid. While the government states over 35,000 women have received benefits, many on the ground report irregular or no payments, with one woman stating, 'I didn't even get 5 rupees, how will I get 1500 rupees?'. The report travels to Sisu and Mandi, highlighting the discrepancy between the poll guarantee and its implementation. The government cites financial constraints for the phased rollout, but the opposition calls it a betrayal, questioning whether the promise was for empowerment or merely to win votes.