The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has released an amount of Rs. 9.51 crore to 1,867 beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections under the Ashirwad Scheme.

Providing further details, Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that the Punjab Government is working diligently for the welfare of Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections. She informed that under the Ashirwad Scheme, an amount of Rs. 6.78 crore has been released to a total of 1,331 beneficiaries from Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections, whose pending applications from 2023-24 were received on the Ashirwad Portal during 2024-25. This includes beneficiaries from the districts of Barnala, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Rupnagar, S.A.S Nagar, S.B.S Nagar, Sangrur and Malerkotla.

The Cabinet Minister further stated that the Punjab Government is consistently working for the welfare of Scheduled Castes. She informed that under the Ashirwad Scheme, a total of Rs. 2.73 crore has been released to 536 beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes. These pending applications from the financial year 2023-24 that were received through the Ashirwad Portal during the financial year 2024-25. This amount will benefits 196 beneficiaries in Bathinda, 74 in Rupnagar, 63 in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar and 203 in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that to be eligible for the benefits of the Ashirwad Scheme, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab, belong to a family below the poverty line and be associated with Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. Furthermore, the total annual income of the family from all sources must be less than Rs. 32,790. Under this scheme, two daughters from such families are eligible to avail of the benefits.

The Cabinet Minister further stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is consistently working towards the welfare of people belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and economically weaker sections. She mentioned that financial assistance is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. She emphasized that the Punjab Government is diligently working to elevate the living standards of all sections of society and strengthen them economically.