Chandigarh- Dr. Baljit Kaur, Punjab Cabinet Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, today informed that the Punjab Government has released an amount of ₹22.97 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme during the current financial year 2025-26 to benefit 4503 girls belonging to Scheduled Castes.
Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the applications of 4503 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries from districts Amritsar, Barnala, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Tarn Taran were received on the Ashirwad Portal during the current year. To support these applicants, ₹22.97 crore has been disbursed.
Giving a breakdown of the financial assistance, the Minister said that 1268 beneficiaries from Amritsar, 107 from Barnala, 343 from Faridkot, 193 from Fatehgarh Sahib, 57 from Gurdaspur, and 668 from Hoshiarpur have received aid.
Similarly, 286 beneficiaries from Mansa, 255 from Sri Muktsar Sahib, 349 from Patiala, 55 from Pathankot, 196 from Rupnagar, 266 from SAS Nagar, 155 from Sangrur, 37 from Malerkotla, and 268 from Tarn Taran have been covered under the scheme.
Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the Punjab Government provides a financial assistance of ₹51, 000 for the marriage of girls belonging to low-income families.
She further said that to avail benefits under the scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab, belong to a family living below the poverty line, and must be from Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. The annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹32, 790. Up to two daughters from an eligible family can avail benefits under the scheme.
The Cabinet Minister added that the financial assistance is directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). She emphasized that the Punjab Government is working diligently to uplift the living standards of all sections of society and to strengthen them economically.
Dr. Baljit Kaur concluded by stating that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is committed to the welfare of all sections, especially Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and economically weaker groups.