Chandigarh: Punjab Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur today informed that under the Ashirwad Scheme the Punjab Government has released an amount of ₹29.33 crore as marriage assistance to 5,751 beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes during the ongoing financial year 2025-26.
Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme for Scheduled Castes, applications of 5,751 beneficiaries were received through the Ashirwad Portal from 17 districts Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sangrur, and Malerkotla. To cover all these beneficiaries, ₹29.33 crore has been disbursed.
She informed that through this allocation, 58 beneficiaries from Barnala, 633 from Bathinda, 67 from Faridkot, 349 from Ferozepur, 106 from Fatehgarh Sahib, 265 from Gurdaspur, and 70 from Hoshiarpur have received financial assistance. Likewise, 1,087 beneficiaries from Jalandhar, 839 from Ludhiana, 885 from Moga, 192 from Sri Muktsar Sahib, 357 from Patiala, 147 from Rupnagar, 65 from SAS Nagar, 359 from SBS Nagar, 210 from Sangrur, and 62 from Malerkotla have also been benefited.
The Minister said that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the Punjab Government provides a financial assistance of ₹51,000 for the marriage of daughters belonging to economically weaker families. She added that this initiative reflects the commitment of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann towards public welfare and social upliftment.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further explained that to avail the benefits of the scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab, belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other Economically Weaker Sections. The family’s annual income from all sources should not exceed ₹32,790, and assistance can be availed for a maximum of two daughters per eligible family.
The Cabinet Minister emphasized that the financial aid is transferred directly into the beneficiaries bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. She reiterated that the Punjab Government is continuously working to raise the living standards of people from all sections of society and empower them economically.
Dr. Baljit Kaur reaffirmed that under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is equally committed to the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections, ensuring inclusive growth and social justice across the state.
