Chandigarh: Reaffirming its commitment to protecting vulnerable women through a robust social security framework, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government is ensuring financial security, dignity and social support to more than seven lakh widows and destitute women across the State through the Widow and Destitute Women Financial Assistance Scheme. Punjab Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur said the Government remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure that no eligible woman is deprived of a life of dignity due to financial hardship, making social security a cornerstone of its inclusive and people-centric governance.
Sharing details of the scheme, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has released ₹518.81 crore under the Widow and Destitute Women Financial Assistance Scheme up to July during the current financial year. She said that more than seven lakh women across Punjab are benefiting from the scheme, helping them meet their essential needs with greater financial stability while enabling them to lead independent, secure and dignified lives.
The Cabinet Minister further informed that the Punjab Government has earmarked ₹1,200.97 crore for the effective implementation of the scheme during the financial year 2026-27, ensuring that the benefits of social security continue to reach every eligible widow and destitute woman across the State.
Dr. Baljit Kaur added that the Punjab Government is providing ₹1,500 per month to every eligible widow and destitute woman under the scheme, ensuring a dependable source of financial assistance that strengthens their economic security and supports their day-to-day needs.
The Minister said the scheme is much more than a financial assistance programme; it is a lifeline that empowers thousands of women to rebuild their lives with confidence, self-reliance and renewed hope after the loss of their family’s primary breadwinner. She said the initiative reflects the Government’s continued focus on strengthening women’s social and economic empowerment, adding that true and sustainable development can only be achieved when women are financially secure and socially empowered. In line with this vision, the Government is continuously working to ensure that the benefits of social security schemes reach every eligible and deserving woman without discrimination.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further informed that the scheme is available to widowed and destitute women below 58 years of age. In addition, unmarried women aged 30 years and above are also eligible to avail its benefits. The annual family income of the applicant should not exceed ₹60,000.
Reiterating the Punjab Government’s unwavering commitment to women’s welfare and empowerment, Dr. Baljit Kaur said the State Government is continuously expanding the reach of its social security initiatives to provide women with a safer, more dignified and financially secure future. She added that by ensuring timely assistance reaches every vulnerable and deserving beneficiary, the Punjab Government is striving to build a more inclusive, compassionate and progressive Punjab where every woman has the opportunity to live with dignity, confidence and financial independence.
