Chandigarh: Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minority Affairs Minister Dr. Baljeet Kaur stated that the Punjab government has released ₹22.66 crore for 4,443 beneficiaries belonging to designated castes under the Ashirwad Scheme for the current financial year 2025-26. This amount was released after approving eligible applications received from various districts across the state.
The Minister informed that a total of 4,443 eligible applications were received on the Ashirwad portal from 15 districts—Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, and Malerkotla—and this amount has been released to cover them. Under the released amount, financial assistance of Rs. 51,000 is being sent to the bank account of each beneficiary through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT). The district-wise number of beneficiaries is as follows: Amritsar 1297, Barnala 18, Bathinda 138, Ferozepur 748, Gurdaspur 394, Hoshiarpur 105, Jalandhar 470, Mansa 309, Sri Muktsar Sahib 239, Patiala 52, Pathankot 347, Rupnagar 38, SAS Nagar 17, Sangrur 122, and Malerkotla 149.
Dr. Baljeet Kaur informed that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the state government provides financial assistance of Rs. 51,000 for the marriage of daughters of low-income families. This benefit is only available to families who are permanent residents of Punjab, live below the poverty line, and belong to the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. A maximum of two daughters from such families can benefit from this scheme. He said that the entire financial assistance amount is deposited directly into the beneficiary’s bank account, making the process transparent and smooth. The Minister further stated that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of every section of society, especially the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and economically weaker sections of society, and is constantly striving to ensure respect, equality, and mainstreaming.
