Punjab rolls out landmark monthly aid scheme for women, promises wide coverage, financial empowerment

In a significant step towards strengthening women’s financial independence, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday unveiled the ambitious ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna’ , a large-scale welfare initiative aimed at providing direct monthly financial assistance to women across the state.

Launched at a public gathering in Adampur, the scheme promises ₹1,000 per month to women from the general category, while women belonging to Scheduled Castes will receive ₹1,500 per month . The programme is open to all women aged 18 years and above, making it one of the most expansive women-centric schemes in the country.

The rollout has begun as a pilot across nine constituencies, with plans to extend registration to the remaining regions from May 15. Financial assistance will start being credited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts from July. The Chief Minister assured that there is no deadline for registration and that even late applicants will receive payments retrospectively from July.

To ensure accessibility, the government has established over 26,000 registration centres across Punjab, including Anganwadi centres, Sewa Kendras and municipal offices. A dedicated network of support staff, including ‘Mahila Satkar Sakhis’ , has been deployed to assist women through the application process.

Only basic documentation Aadhaar with Punjab address, Voter ID and a bank passbook is required for enrolment. While Scheduled Caste women are required to submit a caste certificate, the government has clarified that those without one can still register and begin receiving ₹1,000, with the remaining ₹500 to be paid once documentation is completed.

Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Mann described the scheme as a tribute to social justice ideals and emphasised its role in enhancing women’s autonomy. He noted that direct financial support would enable women to make independent decisions, encourage savings and investments, and improve their overall quality of life.

The scheme adopts a near-universal eligibility framework, covering over 97 per cent of women in Punjab, with only a few exclusions such as government employees, elected representatives and their spouses. A budgetary allocation of ₹9,300 crore has been earmarked for its implementation in the 2026–27 fiscal year.

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who was present at the launch, said that once the statewide registration process is completed in the coming months, beneficiaries will begin receiving assistance seamlessly from July onwards.

With its scale, inclusivity and direct benefit transfer model, the scheme is expected to play a crucial role in improving household welfare, promoting gender equity and enhancing women’s participation in economic decision-making across Punjab.