The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has provided major relief to poor and needy families by easing the financial burden associated with the marriage of their daughters. Punjab's Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, today informed that the State Government has released financial assistance amounting to ₹16.74 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme during the financial year 2026-27 for 3,282 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries.
Highlighting the human dimension behind this initiative, Dr. Baljit Kaur said, “The marriage of a daughter should never become a source of anxiety or indebtedness for poor parents. The Punjab Government stands beside every needy family like an elder brother and a son. Our objective is not merely to process applications or present statistics, but to ensure that when a daughter leaves her parental home to begin a new chapter of life, her parents do so with dignity and peace of mind rather than financial stress.
That is why this assistance is being transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts with complete transparency, without delay and without any inconvenience.” The Cabinet Minister further stated that during the current financial year, a total of 3,282 applications were received through the Ashirwad Portal from 14 districts, all of which have been covered under the present release.
These districts include Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa, Patiala, Pathankot, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sangrur and Malerkotla. Sharing district-wise details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the highest number of beneficiaries were from Amritsar (1,178) and Jalandhar (877). Other beneficiary districts 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).
Dr. Baljit Kaur further informed that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the Punjab Government provides financial assistance of ₹51,000 for the marriage of girls belonging to low-income families in the State. She clarified that to avail the benefit of the scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab and belong to the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes or other economically weaker sections, with a total annual family income from all sources not exceeding ₹32,790. A maximum of two daughters from an eligible family can avail benefits under the scheme.
Reiterating the State Government’s commitment to inclusive welfare, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government remains dedicated to improving the living standards of all sections of society and strengthening their economic security. She added that while the Government continues to work for the welfare of the common people, it is equally committed to safeguarding the rights and ensuring the social security of Scheduled Castes and economically weaker sections through sustained and meaningful interventions.