Bricks and bouquets for govt over Rs 1,000 allowance for women
Working women disappointed on their day
On International Women’s Day, the Punjab Government’s move to fulfil its electoral promise of an allowance of Rs 1,000 for women aged 18 and above has drawn mixed responses from residents. While women at large have welcomed the development, the exclusion of taxpayers and government employees from the allowance has disappointed
women workers.
The Rs 1,000 allowance to the women was one of the key electoral promises of AAP during the 2022 Assembly polls. Reminders of the promise had been repeatedly raised by the Opposition after the AAP formed the government in the state. As per the declarations made during the Punjab Budget today, 97 per cent of all women will be eligible for this scheme - Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojana - and Rs 9,300 crore has been earmarked for the scheme in the Budget.
Related news: Rs 1k/month cash dole for women, no new taxes in Punjab Budget
Under the scheme, Rs 1,000 per month will be given to all women. This scheme won’t include members of the SC community who will instead get Rs 1,500 per month.
Seema Sharma, a Jalandhar-based woman, said, “The declaration has come as a huge solace. At least the government has spared a thought for women. The promise was long awaited but now it has been declared. The scheme will be a boon for women from poorer sections, who have no alternative means of livelihood.”
Gurjit Kaur, district president of the ASHA Workers and Facilitators Union, said, “Whenever there is a declaration of allowances or increments, we, the government workers, are sidelined. But when important projects have to be completed or duties assigned, our services are relied on. We do tireless work all year and it would have been nice if we also received the promised allowance.”
Karnail Phillaur, representative of the Government Teachers Union and the Lok Insaaf Manch said, “The huge work force of women working in government educational institutions will not receive any benefits of the allowances. So for them things are the same way as before. The declaration is largely a populist promise aimed at satisfying certain vote bank ahead of the elections.”
