CHANDIGARH: Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has released an amount of ₹9.55 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for 1, 872 beneficiaries belonging to Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections during the current financial year 2024-25.
Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, applications of 1, 872 beneficiaries from districts Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Sri Muktsar Sahib, SBS Nagar, and Tarn Taran were received on the Ashirwad Portal during this year. To cover these beneficiaries, a total amount of ₹9.55 crore has been released.
The Cabinet Minister added that through this amount, financial assistance has been provided to 865 beneficiaries from Amritsar, 17 from Barnala, 81 from Bathinda, 71 from Ferozepur, 34 from Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, 152 from Hoshiarpur, 58 from Kapurthala, 326 from Ludhiana, 84 from Sri Muktsar Sahib, 105 from SBS Nagar, and 79 beneficiaries from Tarn Taran.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the State Government provides financial assistance of ₹51, 000 for the marriage of girls belonging to low-income families in Punjab.
She informed that to avail the benefit of the Ashirwad Scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab, belonging to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family, from Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or Economically Weaker Sections, and the family’s annual income from all sources should be less than ₹32, 790. Two daughters from such families are eligible for assistance under this scheme.
The Cabinet Minister also mentioned that the financial assistance is directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). She said that the Punjab Government is working diligently to uplift the standard of living of all sections of society and to strengthen them economically.
Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed not only to the welfare of various sections but also consistently working for the well-being of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections.