Punjab Government Releases ₹19.65 Crore for Beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Punjab News: The Punjab Government has released ₹19.65 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for 3,853 beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes during the ongoing financial year 2024-25. This was announced by the Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur.

Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that applications from 3,853 beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes were received through the Ashirwad Portal from 16 districts, including Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Tarn Taran. To cover these beneficiaries, a total amount of ₹19.65 crore has been released.

The Social Justice Minister informed that the financial assistance has been distributed as follows: 121 beneficiaries from Barnala, 75 from Bathinda, 89 from Faridkot, 105 from Ferozepur, 108 from Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, 554 from Gurdaspur, 325 from Hoshiarpur, 220 from Jalandhar, 142 from Mansa, 235 from Sri Muktsar Sahib, 198 from Patiala, 230 from Pathankot, 147 from SAS Nagar, 131 from Sangrur, 23 from Malerkotla, and 1,150 from Tarn Taran.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the Punjab Government provides financial assistance of ₹51,000 for the marriage of girls belonging to low-income families in the state.

The Cabinet Minister emphasized that to avail of the benefits under the Ashirwad Scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab, belong to a family living below the poverty line, and be from the Scheduled Caste, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. The total annual family income from all sources should not exceed ₹32,790. Each eligible family can avail of this benefit for up to two daughters.

She further mentioned that the financial assistance is directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts. She reiterated that the Punjab Government is working rapidly to improve the living standards of all sections of society and strengthen them economically.

Dr. Baljit Kaur affirmed that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government remains committed to the welfare of all communities, especially the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and economically weaker sections.