Nearly 52 lakh women in Punjab, accounting for 51.48 percent of the state's adult female population, will begin receiving a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 from July 1, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Tuesday.
Scheme Details and Implementation
Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference convened to announce an amended and more expansive Kisan Credit Card scheme for farmers, Mann stated that funds have been allocated for the Mukhya Mantri Mawan Dhian Satkar Yojana. He confirmed that approximately 52 lakh women beneficiaries have been identified, and cards have already been issued to 35-36 lakh of them. The chief minister expressed confidence that all eligible beneficiaries will receive their cards by the end of this month.
The Rs 1,000 women grant was one of the key promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly elections. The ruling regime had been facing criticism from the Opposition for delaying its rollout. The launch of the scheme ahead of the Assembly elections is being viewed as an attempt by the ruling regime to woo women, who comprise over 48 percent of the total voters in Punjab.
Beneficiary Categories and Exemptions
Under the scheme, Dalit women will receive Rs 1,500 per month, while their general category counterparts will get Rs 1,000. The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in his Budget proposals for 2026-27, where he had set aside Rs 9,300 crore for its rollout. The government had then stated that 97 percent of women would benefit, with exemptions for serving and retired government employees, income tax assesses, and sitting and former MLAs and MPs.
The total number of women above 18 years in Punjab is 1.01 crore, of whom 51.48 percent will receive the monthly grant. Several of these women who are already receiving social security pension will continue to receive that as well, according to sources.
Long-Term Commitment
Mann emphasized that even if any eligible woman receives her card in October, she will receive the grant from July 1 onwards. He dismissed suggestions that the scheme is an election ploy, stating, "It's a long-term plan and will continue even after the polls."
