Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has provided major relief to economically weaker families by releasing ₹16.74 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for the marriage of daughters belonging to Scheduled Caste families.
Announcing the development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minority Affairs, said that financial assistance for 3,282 beneficiaries has been sanctioned during the financial year 2026-27.
Minister said the decision reflects the government's commitment to supporting poor and needy families. She emphasized that a daughter’s marriage should not become a source of financial stress or debt for parents. According to her, the state government stands with every deserving family and is ensuring that assistance reaches beneficiaries directly in their bank accounts with complete transparency and without delays.
Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that a total of 3,282 applications were received through the Ashirwad Portal from 14 districts and have now been covered under the scheme. The districts include Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa, Patiala, Pathankot, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sangrur and Malerkotla.
District-wise data shows that the highest number of beneficiaries were from Amritsar (1,178) and Jalandhar (877). Other beneficiaries include Kapurthala (427), SBS Nagar (261), Pathankot (210), Barnala (61), Patiala (61), Mansa (50), Fatehgarh Sahib (47), Bathinda (39), SAS Nagar (29), Faridkot (28), Malerkotla (13) and Sangrur (1).
Under the Ashirwad Scheme, eligible families receive financial assistance of ₹51,000 for the marriage of their daughters. To qualify, applicants must be permanent residents of Punjab and belong to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. The total annual family income from all sources must be below ₹32,790, and up to two daughters from a family can avail the benefit.
Reaffirming the government's commitment to social welfare, Dr. Baljit Kaur said the Punjab Government is continuously working to improve the living standards of marginalized communities, strengthen their economic position, and ensure social security for Scheduled Castes and other vulnerable sections of society.
