Punjab set to roll out Rs 1,000-1,500 monthly aid scheme for women today

The Punjab Government is all set to roll out its ambitious Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana today, which will fulfill the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s promise of giving monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to general category women and Rs 1,500 to women from Dalit families.

After the registration of around 90 lakh women beneficiaries, the government proposes to start giving the assistance from July.

The scheme, though announced in the Budget on March 8, will be formally launched today by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at Adampur. AAP has gone all out to make this a big event, considering the scheme’s political benefit for the ruling party in mobilising both female and Dalit voters.

Sources in the government say that from Wednesday, the registration of women beneficiaries will start in nine assembly constituencies as a pilot project. These include Adampur, Malout, Anandpur Sahib, Dirba, Sunam, Kotkapura, Moga, Patiala Rural and Batala. Women (other than those who are serving or retired government employees and elected MLAs/ MPs) only have to get their bank passbook, Aadhaar Card and voter card for registering themselves as beneficiaries.

The registration for women in the remaining 108 Assembly constituencies will begin from May 15.