Punjab Govt Announces ₹1,000 Monthly Aid for Women

The government of Punjab has announced a new cash assistance scheme for women as part of its upcoming state budget. The initiative will provide ₹1,000 per month to adult women, while women from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community will receive ₹1,500 per month.

The scheme was introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Scheme Announced in State Budget

During the budget presentation for the next financial year, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced the ₹9,300-crore “Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojana.”

The programme aims to provide financial assistance directly to women through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

According to the minister, the scheme will cover about 97% of all adult women in Punjab, which he described as one of the widest coverage levels for such initiatives in the country.

Eligibility Criteria for the Scheme

Under the proposed plan, all women aged 18 and above in Punjab will be eligible to enrol.

However, a few categories will not qualify for the benefit. These include current or former permanent government employees, current or former Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and income tax payers.

Officials said that women who already receive benefits under existing social welfare pensions will still be eligible for the new scheme.

Existing Pension Beneficiaries Included

Women who receive government assistance through programmes such as old-age pensions, widow or destitute pensions, and disability pensions will continue to qualify under the new scheme.

The government said the programme aims to support women financially while ensuring broad access across different social groups.

Announcement on International Women’s Day

The announcement was made on International Women’s Day, highlighting the government’s focus on welfare measures aimed at women.

The decision comes with roughly one year remaining before the next state elections, making it one of the major announcements in the upcoming budget cycle.

Further details regarding implementation timelines and enrolment procedures are expected to be shared by the state government in the coming months.