The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of backward classes and economically weaker sections. Expressing this, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that the Punjab Government has released ₹12.66 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme during the current financial year for their benefit.
Providing further details, Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that the amount has been released under the Ashirwad Scheme to beneficiaries from the districts of Barnala, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla and Tarn Taran.
The amount will cover pending applications from backward classes and economically weaker sections for the years 2023-24 and 2024-25, received through the Ashirwad Portal during the financial year 2024-25. A total of ₹12.66 crore has been sanctioned for 2483 beneficiaries belonging to backward classes and economically weaker sections.
Dr. Baljit Kaur provided district-wise details, stating that the beneficiaries include 45 from Barnala, 19 from Faridkot, 198 from Ferozepur, 82 from Fatehgarh Sahib, 175 from Fazilka, 656 from Gurdaspur, 277 from Hoshiarpur, 34 from Jalandhar, 102 from Mansa, 144 from Patiala, 5 from Rupnagar, 3 from SAS Nagar, 38 from Sangrur, 60 from Malerkotla, and 645 from Tarn Taran.
She further stated that to avail the benefits of the Ashirwad Scheme, applicants must be permanent residents of Punjab, belong to families living below the poverty line and be from Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections.
Additionally, the total annual family income should not exceed ₹32,790, and up to two daughters from such families can benefit from the scheme. The Minister emphasized that the Punjab Government is consistently working for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and economically weaker sections. She also highlighted that the financial assistance is directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.