Rs 30 cr released for 5,951 SC beneficiaries under Ashirwad plan: Minister
The state government has released Rs 30.35 crore for 5,951 beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes under the Ashirwad Scheme for the current financial year (2024-25).
Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said the money had been sanctioned under the Ashirwad Scheme to address the pending applications of Scheduled Caste beneficiaries for 2023-24 and 2024-25 received through the Ashirwad portal.
Beneficiaries from the 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 financial benefits had been given to 136 beneficiaries of Barnala, 455 of Bathinda, 187 of Faridkot, 1,230 of Ferozepur, 192 of Fatehgarh Sahib, 347 of Fazilka, 189 of Hoshiarpur and 1,263 of Jalandhar.
Similarly, 271 beneficiaries of Mansa, 90 of Muktsar, 530 of Patiala, 199 of Rupnagar, 218 of Mohali, 166 of Nawan Shahr, 408 of Sangrur and 70 of Malerkotla have also been given financial benefits.
The scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of daughters from low-income families. The scheme is applicable to permanent residents of Punjab belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes or economically weaker families with an annual income below Rs 32,790. Each eligible family can benefit for up to two daughters.
The minister also emphasised that the financial aid was directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts, ensuring transparency.
