MANN GOVERNMENT PROVIDES MAJOR RELIEF TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE; ₹16.36 CRORE RELEASED FOR BENEFICIARIES FROM BACKWARD CLASSES AND ECONOMICALLY WEAKER SECTIONS: DR BALJIT KAUR

Punjab News: Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur, today informed that the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has provided significant financial relief to the people of the state by releasing ₹16.36 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for 3,207 beneficiaries belonging to Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections during the current financial year 2025-26.

Giving further details, the Cabinet Minister stated that applications under the Ashirwad Scheme were received this year through the Ashirwad Portal from 3,207 beneficiaries belonging to Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections across 18 districts, namely Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla and Tarn Taran.

To cover these beneficiaries, the government has sanctioned a total financial assistance of ₹16.36 crore.

The Minister added that, through this released amount, 94 beneficiaries from Barnala, 219 from Bathinda, 80 from Faridkot, 41 from Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, 137 from Fazilka, 135 from Gurdaspur, 602 from Hoshiarpur, 123 from Jalandhar, and 27 from Kapurthala have been provided financial benefits.

Similarly, financial assistance has also been disbursed to 254 beneficiaries in Mansa, 64 in Moga, 43 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, 616 in Patiala, 127 in Pathankot, 200 in SAS Nagar, 288 in Sangrur, 16 in Malerkotla, and 141 in Tarn Taran.

Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the state government provides financial assistance of ₹51,000 for the marriage of girls belonging to families with low income backgrounds.

She further informed that to avail benefits under the scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab, belong to a family falling below the poverty line, and should belong to a Scheduled Caste, Backward Class, or Economically Weaker Section. The total annual family income should not exceed ₹32,790, and up to two daughters from such a family are eligible for assistance under the scheme.

The Minister stated that the financial aid is disbursed directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Dr. Baljit Kaur reaffirmed that the Mann Government is committed not only to the welfare of all sections of society but is also actively working for the upliftment and socio-economic empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections across the state.