Punjab: Rs 30 crore released for 5,951 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries under Ashirwad Yojana
Punjab: The state government has released Rs 30.35 crore for 5,951 beneficiaries of Scheduled Castes under Ashirvad Scheme for the current financial year (2024-25). Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said that the funds have been sanctioned under Ashirvad Scheme to address the pending applications of SC beneficiaries of 2023-24 and 2024-25 received through Ashirvad portal. Beneficiaries from Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Sangrur and Malerkotla districts have been covered. The minister said that 136 beneficiaries from Barnala, 455 from Bathinda, 187 from Faridkot, 1,230 from Ferozepur, 192 from Fatehgarh Sahib, 347 from Fazilka, 189 from Hoshiarpur and 1,263 from Jalandhar have been given financial benefits. Similarly, 271 from Mansa, 90 from Muktsar, 530 from Patiala, 199 from Rupnagar, 218 from Mohali, 166 from Nawanshahr, 408 from Sangrur and 70 from Malerkotla have also been given financial benefits. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 51,000 is provided for the marriage of daughters of low-income families. This scheme is applicable to permanent residents of Punjab belonging to Scheduled Caste, Backward Class or economically weaker families, whose annual income is less than Rs 32,790. Each eligible family can avail the benefit for a maximum of two daughters. The minister also stressed that the financial assistance was transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, ensuring transparency.
