Pathankot,
The Punjab Government has significantly expanded its flagship Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna by transferring financial assistance to another 35.5 lakh women across the state, taking the total number of beneficiaries to 68.5 lakh. The latest disbursement marks one of the largest direct benefit transfers for women in the state’s history and reflects the government’s continued focus on strengthening women’s financial independence and social security.
Addressing a state-level financial assistance distribution programme in Pathankot, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the scheme was introduced to provide economic support and dignity to women while fulfilling one of the major commitments made by his government before the people of Punjab.
The Chief Minister said that after the first phase, during which financial assistance was credited to 33 lakh women on July 1, another 35.5 lakh women have now received the benefit. With registrations continuing across the state, another five lakh women have enrolled under the scheme during the past week, taking the total number of registered beneficiaries to 73.5 lakh.
Under the current instalment, eligible women have received three months’ financial assistance together. Women across Punjab have been credited ₹3,000 for the months of July, August and September, while women belonging to the Scheduled Caste category have received ₹4,500 for the same period, reflecting the enhanced monthly support available to them under the scheme.
Bhagwant Mann said the financial assistance has been transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring complete transparency and eliminating the role of intermediaries. He noted that beneficiaries had started receiving confirmation messages on their mobile phones as soon as the funds were credited.
Calling the initiative a step towards empowering women, the Chief Minister said the money belongs to the beneficiaries and they are free to spend it according to their own priorities. Whether it is children’s education, household expenses, family celebrations or personal needs, women can decide independently how to use the assistance.
He described the scheme as more than a welfare programme, saying it was an effort to provide women with greater financial confidence, dignity and decision-making power within their families. According to him, financially empowered women contribute not only to stronger households but also to stronger communities and a more inclusive economy.
One of the significant features of the scheme, the Chief Minister pointed out, is that women who are already receiving widow pensions, disability pensions or old-age pensions are also eligible to receive the additional financial assistance under the Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna. This is the first time such beneficiaries are receiving this support as an additional social security measure rather than as a replacement for their existing pensions.
Bhagwant Mann also assured women who have recently registered that no eligible applicant would lose benefits because of delayed registration. He said every eligible woman completing the registration process would receive financial assistance with effect from July 1, 2026, and would be included in the next round of payments after verification.
According to the Chief Minister, nearly 97 percent of women in Punjab are expected to benefit from the scheme. To ensure its long-term implementation, the state government has earmarked ₹9,300 crore in the current financial year’s budget.
Speaking at the event, senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia praised the initiative, saying it reflected the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises. He said the programme was designed to strengthen women’s economic participation while providing meaningful financial support to families across Punjab.
Several cabinet ministers and senior government functionaries also attended the programme and described the scheme as a landmark social welfare initiative aimed at recognising the contribution of women to society while enhancing their financial security.
The Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna provides monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to eligible women across Punjab, while eligible Scheduled Caste women receive ₹1,500 per month. The assistance is transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Public Financial Management System, ensuring transparency and timely payments. Registration for the scheme continues through Anganwadi Centres, and newly verified applicants are included in subsequent disbursement cycles.
With the latest transfer covering millions of women simultaneously, the Punjab Government has expanded one of the state’s largest direct cash support programmes, positioning it as a key component of its broader social welfare agenda focused on financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and targeted public assistance.
This is a web generated news report.
