Chandigarh, March 24:
Punjab’s Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, announced that the Punjab Government has released ₹12.99 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for the financial year 2024-25. This amount will benefit 2,549 individuals from backward classes and economically weaker sections.
Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that applications for financial assistance under the Ashirwad Scheme were received through the Ashirwad Portal from beneficiaries belonging to backward classes and economically weaker sections in 18 districts, including Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Tarn Taran. To cover these 2,549 beneficiaries, ₹12.99 crore has been allocated.
The Minister further elaborated that financial assistance has been provided to beneficiaries across the following districts: 38 in Barnala, 33 in Bathinda, 62 in Faridkot, 8 in Ferozepur, 28 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 67 in Fazilka, 195 in Hoshiarpur, 85 in Jalandhar, and 27 in Kapurthala. Additionally, 175 beneficiaries in Mansa, 89 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, 406 in Patiala, 224 in Pathankot, 384 in Rupnagar, 230 in SAS Nagar, 280 in Sangrur, 99 in Malerkotla, and 119 in Tarn Taran have received financial assistance.
Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the state government provides financial assistance of ₹51,000 to girls from low-income families for their marriages.
She emphasized that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of all sections of society, including Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and economically weaker sections.
The Minister further highlighted that to avail of the benefits of the Ashirwad Scheme, applicants must be permanent residents of Punjab, belong to families below the poverty line (BPL), and be from Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. The total annual family income should be less than ₹32,790. Additionally, up to two daughters from an eligible family can benefit from this scheme.
Dr. Baljit Kaur added that the financial assistance is directly transferred to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). She affirmed that the Punjab Government is making rapid strides in improving the standard of living for all citizens and strengthening them economically.
