Punjab CM launches monthly assistance scheme for women

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday rolled out his Government’s ambitious ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna’, under which women from the general category will receive a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 while women rom Scheduled Castes will get Rs 1,500.

Calling it a true tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision of social justice and equality, the CM launched the registration process for women beneficiaries, while ensuring doorstep facilitation through a massive network of camps and support staff.

The rollout begins in nine constituencies and will expand across the remaining 108 from May 15, with financial assistance starting in July.

With 26,000 registration centres and dedicated ‘Mahila Satkar Sakhis’ deployed in every village and ward, the scheme is designed for scale, access and certainty, positioning it among the most expansive direct financial support initiatives for women in the country.

Accompanied by senior AAP leader and Punjab ‘Prabhari’ Manish Sisodia, Mann announced that the scheme has been rolled out as a pilot across nine locations, including Adampur, Malout, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Dirba, Sunam, Moga, Kotkapura, Batala and Patiala Rural.

“Registration for women in the remaining 108 constituencies will start from May 15 onwards. Monthly payments of Rs 1,000 or Rs 1,500 will start from July onwards,” he added while addressing a rally in Adampur in Jalandhar.

“There is no deadline for registration and the ladies need not worry as it doesn’t matter when they register, whether April 15 or May 15 or August 15,” he said, clarifying that delayed registration would not affect benefits.

“They will get their full payment payable from July onwards, so even if they register at the end of September, they will get full payment for three months, meaning July, August and September,” he noted.

For registration, only three documents are required, which are Aadhaar with a Punjab address, Voter ID and a bank passbook.

In case of SC women, SC certificate is also required.

Addressing concerns of women lacking caste certificates, Mann added, “I know many of my SC sisters and mothers don’t have a certificate but they don’t have to worry and just apply for their certificate.”

He further assured uninterrupted benefits, stating, “If that is taking time then don’t have to worry as they too can register under the scheme without the certificate and start getting Rs 1,000 monthly. However, whenever their certificate comes, the State Government will pay them a difference of Rs 500 per month as well from July onwards. There is no need to worry on this front.”

He said registration for this scheme could be done at designated places, including Angwandi centres, Sewa Kendra, municipal corporation and municipal committee offices.

Mann said the scheme will have a monumental effect on the upliftment of women by making them independent and empowering them.

Highlighting the broader socio-economic vision, he said, “It will give them choice and clubbed with financial literacy, it will promote savings, and investment and will enable dignity in fulfilling their small desires.”

Strengthening women’s financial autonomy is essential for improving household welfare, promoting gender equity, and enhancing women’s participation in social and economic decision-making, he noted.

This scheme adopts a near-universal eligibility framework, covering all women aged 18 years and above, subject only to limited exclusion criteria. The scheme is therefore expected to benefit more than 97 per cent of the women, making it one of the most comprehensive women-centric social protection initiatives in the country, he said.

Mann stated, “a sum of Rs 9,300 crore has already been sanctioned in the budget for 2026-27 and given the scale and outreach of the scheme, it is expected to become one of the largest women-centric social welfare initiatives undertaken by the Government of Punjab.”

AAP leader Manish Sisodia said after registration for ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna’ across the state in the next one or two months, beneficiaries will start receiving financial assistance in their bank accounts from July onwards.

Women aged 18 or above, registered as a voter in Punjab and possessing a valid Aadhaar card reflecting Punjab residency along with a valid Voter ID issued by the Election Commission of India, will be eligible to be enrolled as a beneficiary under the scheme.

Certain categories of women, including regular or retired employees of the Punjab Government or the central Government or any other State/UT Government in the country, elected MLAs or MPs or spouse of a serving minister, MP or MLA, are excluded from this scheme.