Punjab marks Dr Ambedkar Jayanti with the launch of near-universal women’s welfare scheme

Marking the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar with a decisive welfare push, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday rolled out a near-universal women-centric scheme in Punjab, promising assured monthly financial support of ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 for women across the state.

Calling it a true tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of social justice and equality, the Chief Minister launched the registration process, making all women above 18 years eligible with a simple three-document requirement, while ensuring doorstep facilitation through a vast network of camps and support staff.

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The rollout begins in nine constituencies and will expand to the remaining 108 from May 15, with payments starting in July. There is no deadline for registration, effectively guaranteeing benefits to every eligible woman, regardless of when she enrols.

With 26,000 registration centres and dedicated Mahila Satkar Sakhis deployed in every village and ward, the scheme is designed for scale, accessibility, and certainty, positioning it among the most expansive direct financial support initiatives for women in the country.

Accompanied by senior AAP leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, the Chief Minister announced that the scheme has been rolled out as a pilot in nine constituencies, including Adampur, Malout, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Dirba, Sunam, Moga, Kotkapura, Batala, and Patiala Rural. “Registration in the remaining 108 constituencies will begin from May 15. Monthly payments of ₹1,000 or ₹1,500 will start from July 2026,” he added.

Reassuring women about accessibility, the Chief Minister said, “There is no deadline for registration, and women need not worry—it does not matter whether they register on April 15, May 15, or even August 15.” He clarified that delayed registration would not affect benefits, adding that even those who register later will receive full payments from July onwards, including arrears.

Detailing the documentation process, he said that only three documents are required for registration: Aadhaar with a Punjab address, a Punjab voter ID, and a bank passbook. Scheduled Caste (SC) women are required to submit an SC certificate; however, those who do not have one can still apply.

He assured uninterrupted benefits, stating that such applicants can begin receiving ₹1,000 per month immediately, and once the certificate is issued, the government will pay the additional ₹500 per month retrospectively from July onwards.

To ensure last-mile coverage, the Chief Minister announced a grassroots outreach mechanism. Mahila Satkar Sakhis will be deployed in every village and ward to assist women with registration, explain the scheme, and resolve queries. They will also help beneficiaries obtain missing documents such as voter IDs or bank accounts.

Highlighting ease of access, the Chief Minister said that women can submit their forms at any nearby registration centre. More than 26,000 centres—including Anganwadi Centres, Sewa Kendras, and municipal offices—have been set up to ensure hassle-free registration.

Outlining the benefits, he said the scheme will provide ₹1,000 per month to women from the general category and ₹1,500 per month to women from Scheduled Castes. He emphasised that the initiative will significantly contribute to women’s empowerment by enhancing their financial independence.

The Chief Minister noted that the scheme would promote savings, financial literacy, and investment, while enabling women to meet their personal needs with dignity. He added that despite progress in social welfare indicators, many women—especially from economically weaker sections—still lack independent financial security.

He stressed that strengthening women’s financial autonomy is crucial for improving household welfare, promoting gender equity, and enhancing women’s participation in decision-making. The scheme adopts a near-universal eligibility framework, covering women aged 18 years and above with minimal exclusion criteria, and is expected to benefit over 97% of women in the state.

Calling it a transformative intervention, the Chief Minister said the initiative reflects the government’s vision of translating women’s empowerment into tangible financial independence. He also highlighted that ₹9,300 crore has been allocated in the 2026–27 Budget for the scheme, making it one of the largest women-centric social welfare programmes in Punjab.

Reiterating the inspiration behind the initiative, he said it is a tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who strongly advocated women’s empowerment and their active participation in socio-economic development.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister handed over registration certificates to three beneficiaries—Harbhans Kaur, Diksha, and Simran—who welcomed the initiative and said it would significantly strengthen their financial independence.

Among those present were Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Harpal Singh Cheema, Dr. Baljeet Kaur, Harbhajan Singh ETO, and Mohinder Bhagat, along with senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, Lok Sabha MP Dr. Rajkumar Chabbewal, Chairman of the Punjab State Cooperative Agriculture Development Bank Pawan Kumar Tinu, and others.

The Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana, launched on April 14, 2026, on the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, is a flagship women-centric welfare initiative of the Punjab Government aimed at ensuring financial independence for women.

Registration will begin as a pilot from April 15 in nine constituencies and will expand to the remaining 108 constituencies from May 15.

Under the scheme, women from the general category will receive ₹1,000 per month, while Scheduled Caste women will receive ₹1,500 per month, with payments starting from July 2026. There is no deadline for registration, and all eligible women will receive full payments from July onwards, including arrears for late registration.

Only three documents are required: Aadhaar card with a Punjab address, Punjab voter ID, and bank passbook. SC women without a certificate can still register and receive ₹1,000 per month, with the remaining ₹500 paid retrospectively once the certificate is submitted.

To ensure universal coverage, Mahila Satkar Sakhis will provide door-to-door assistance, and registration can be completed at over 26,000 centres across the state, ensuring easy access and inclusion for all eligible women.