Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously working for the welfare of weaker sections of society. In line with this commitment, financial assistance worth ₹23.32 crore has been released for 4,572 beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes under the ‘Ashirwad Scheme’ during the financial year 2025–26.
She explained that the scheme provides crucial financial support to low-income families at the time of their daughters’ marriages, helping reduce the economic burden and enabling them to conduct weddings with dignity. The minister added that the initiative is offering significant relief to needy families while strengthening social security across the state.
Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said beneficiaries from multiple districts including Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla and Tarn Taran have been covered under the scheme.
Sharing district-wise data, she informed that 125 beneficiaries in Barnala, 761 in Bathinda, 87 in Faridkot, 266 in Ferozepur, 155 in Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, 164 in Gurdaspur, 441 in Hoshiarpur, 332 in Ludhiana and 441 in Mansa received assistance. Similarly, 265 beneficiaries in Moga, 126 in Patiala, 221 in Pathankot, 293 in Rupnagar, 166 in SAS Nagar, 83 in SBS Nagar, 130 in Sangrur, 105 in Malerkotla and 411 in Tarn Taran were also provided financial aid.
Under the ‘Ashirwad Scheme’, the state government provides ₹51,000 as financial assistance for the marriage of daughters from economically weaker families. The applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab and belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family.
The Cabinet Minister further stated that the scheme is applicable to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other economically weaker sections. The total annual family income from all sources should be less than ₹32,790, and a maximum of two daughters per eligible family can avail the benefit.
She also highlighted that the financial assistance is transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring transparency and convenience in the process.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government is consistently working to uplift the living standards of all sections of society and empower economically weaker families through effective implementation of people-centric welfare schemes.