An amount of Rs. 75.48 lakhs has been released for pending 372 cases for last 10 years under Ashirwad Scheme: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Chandigarh: Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has approved spending an amount of Rs. 75.48 lakh for pending 372 cases for the last 10 years under Ashirwad Scheme. She said Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

Divulging in this regard, Cabinet Minister said that An expenditure of Rs 62.13 lakh has been approved for the 307 cases in 17 districts of Scheduled Castes Ashirwad Scheme from 2011-12 to 2012-13 and from 2015-16 to 2020-21. Similarly, approval has been given to spend Rs. 13.35 lakh for 65 cases of 14 districts of the backward classes Ashirwad scheme.

Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities said that the previous governments did not provide this amount to the beneficiaries on time. Now the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had been release this amount and the pendency will be cleared soon.

Minister said that to avail the Ashirwad scheme, the applicant should be a permanent resident of Punjab state, family should fall in BPL category, the applicant should belong to scheduled caste, backward classes and other economically weaker families and all the family members annual income from all sources is less than Rs. 32,790. Two daughters of such a family are eligible to avail the benefit of this scheme.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the Ashirwad scheme, financial assistance is given by the state government for the marriage of girls belonging to low-income families in the state. She said that the financial assistance is credited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.