5 days ago
Punjab Scheme Expands Amid Conflicting Beneficiary Figures
Punjab has a program that gives money to women every month.
General-category women get ₹1,000, while Scheduled Caste women get ₹1,500.
The government says many women have registered for the program.
One report says 68.06 lakh women received ₹2,381 crore.
Another later report says 5.30 lakh women received ₹181.50 crore for three months, bringing the total to 70.92 lakh beneficiaries.
Women called Satkar Sakhis help other women register.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wants one crore women to join the program.
He also criticized rival political parties and promised the program would continue while the Aam Aadmi Party governs Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the government aims to bring one crore women under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna.
The scheme provides ₹1,000 monthly to general-category women and ₹1,500 to Scheduled Caste women.
The government said ₹2,381 crore had been transferred to 68.06 lakh women from 76.11 lakh registrations.
A later report said ₹181.50 crore was transferred to 5.30 lakh women for three months, taking beneficiaries to 70.92 lakh.
Mann praised the scheme and criticized the Shiromani Akali Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress ahead of Punjab’s next Assembly election.
- Who
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab women enrolled in the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, and Satkar Sakhis who help with registrations.
- What
- The Punjab government is expanding a monthly cash-assistance scheme for women and has reported transfers to tens of lakh beneficiaries.
- Where
- Punjab, including Baba Bakala in Amritsar district, where Mann spoke on Rakhri Punia.
- When
- The scheme was announced in the 2026-27 Budget on March 8, 2026; figures were reported on August 27 and August 28.
- Why
- To provide women with financial assistance, dignity and financial security, while expanding coverage to one crore women.
Punjab Government and Aam Aadmi Party
Opposition Parties
Purpose of the scheme
Punjab Government and Aam Aadmi Party
Bhagwant Mann described the assistance as support for women’s dignity, self-respect and financial security, and said the government is working to reach one crore women.
Opposition Parties
The supplied reports do not quote opposition parties directly responding to the scheme’s payments or expansion target.
Political record
Punjab Government and Aam Aadmi Party
Mann claimed the Aam Aadmi Party is committed to Punjab and is working for people’s welfare.
Opposition Parties
Mann alleged that the Shiromani Akali Dal prioritizes its own interests, that the Congress lacks a vision and is divided, and that the Bharatiya Janata Party seeks power and has deprived Punjab of legitimate rights. These are Mann’s claims.
Future of the scheme
Punjab Government and Aam Aadmi Party
Mann said the financial assistance would not be discontinued as long as the Aam Aadmi Party remains in power in Punjab.
Opposition Parties
No opposing party’s position on continuation of the scheme is stated in the supplied reports.
Key facts
- Expansion target
- The government aims to bring one crore women under the scheme.
- Monthly assistance
- General-category women receive ₹1,000 per month; Scheduled Caste women receive ₹1,500.
- Registrations
- The government reported 76.11 lakh registered women.
- Reported transfers
- One government statement cited ₹2,381 crore transferred to 68.06 lakh women.
- Rakhri Punia payment
- A later report cited ₹181.50 crore transferred to 5.30 lakh women for three months.
- Satkar Sakhis
- The government said ₹52.20 crore was transferred to 1.37 lakh Satkar Sakhis, who receive ₹300 per registration.
- Budget announcement
- The scheme was announced in Punjab’s 2026-27 Budget on March 8, 2026.
Quotes
Bhagwant Mann
Chief Minister of Punjab
“Warm greetings to all Punjabis on the occasion of Rakhri Punia from Baba Bakala Sahib. On Rakhri, fulfilling the promise made to our sisters, Rs 181.50 crore has been credited as ‘shagun’ into the accounts of 5.30 lakh women under the ‘Satkar Yojna’.”
theprint.in
“An Akali-BJP alliance will be without any ideology, and solely aim at grabbing power in the state.”
theprint.in
Sources
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