Minister Baljit Kaur : A total of 2,483 beneficiaries from 15 districts will receive benefits under the Ashirwad Scheme.
The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is dedicated to the welfare of backward classes and economically weaker sections. Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities Minister Baljit Kaur stated that the government has allocated ₹12.66 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme in the current financial year for their benefit.
Cabinet Minister Baljit Kaur provided further details, stating that the amount has been released under the Ashirwad Scheme to beneficiaries from the districts of Barnala, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Tarn Taran. The funds will address pending applications from backward classes and economically weaker sections for the years 2023-24 and 2024-25, submitted through the Ashirwad Portal in the financial year 2024-25. A total of ₹12.66 crore has been approved for 2,483 beneficiaries from these groups.
Minister Baljit Kaur shared district-wise details, revealing that the beneficiaries include 45 from Barnala, 19 from Faridkot, 198 from Ferozepur, 82 from Fatehgarh Sahib, 175 from Fazilka, 656 from Gurdaspur, 277 from Hoshiarpur, 34 from Jalandhar, 102 from Mansa, 144 from Patiala, 5 from Rupnagar, 3 from SAS Nagar, 38 from Sangrur, 60 from Malerkotla, and 645 from Tarn Taran.
She further explained that to qualify for the Ashirwad Scheme, applicants must be permanent residents of Punjab, belong to families below the poverty line, and be from Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. Additionally, the total annual family income should not exceed ₹32,790, and the scheme allows benefits for up to two daughters from such families.
Minister Baljit Kaur emphasized that the Punjab Government is continuously striving for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and economically weaker sections. She also pointed out that the financial assistance is directly deposited into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.