CHANDIGARH — Marking a significant fulfillment of its primary electoral promise, the Punjab government on Sunday announced a massive financial assistance program for women across the state. Presenting the 2026–27 state budget in the Punjab Assembly, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema revealed that the registration for this scheme will officially commence on the auspicious festival of Baisakhi, April 13, 2026.
Under the newly unveiled initiative, women in the general category will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,000, while women belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community will be provided with ₹1,500 per month. The Finance Minister confirmed that the funds will be disbursed through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring that the assistance reaches the bank accounts of beneficiaries without any intermediaries. The government has earmarked a substantial ₹9,300 crore to fund the program for the upcoming fiscal year.
Cheema emphasized that the scheme is designed to be highly inclusive, expected to cover nearly 97 per cent of the adult female population in Punjab. Crucially, the benefit will be additional for elderly and widowed women who are already receiving state pensions. “Baisakhi symbolizes a new beginning for Punjabis, and from this day, we will start the mission of giving financial independence to our mothers and sisters,” Cheema stated during his budget speech, asserting that the move would grant women greater dignity and personal autonomy.
While the scheme is broad in scope, the government has set specific exclusion criteria to ensure the funds reach the intended demographic. Women above the age of 18 are eligible, with the exception of government employees, former MLAs, and families that fall under the income-tax paying bracket. The state administration is expected to launch a dedicated registration portal and organize special enrollment camps across villages and cities in the coming weeks to facilitate a smooth rollout.
