CHANDIGARH, MARCH 30 — The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, sanctioned the launch of the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna on Sunday, a major Direct Benefit Transfer initiative designed to provide monthly financial assistance to nearly all women in the state. Under the new policy, women from Scheduled Castes will receive ₹1,500 per month, while all other eligible women will be granted ₹1,000, covering more than 97% of the female population.
The state government has earmarked ₹9,300 crore in the 2026–27 budget to fund the program, which aims to enhance the financial autonomy and dignity of residents. The Chief Minister’s Office stated that the scheme would have a monumental effect on the upliftment of women by making them independent and empowering them. It further maintained that the initiative, paired with financial literacy, would enable women to fulfill personal desires while promoting household savings.
Eligibility is extended to women aged 18 and older who are registered voters in Punjab and possess valid Aadhaar cards reflecting state residency. The administration affirmed that there is no limit on the number of eligible women per household, and the benefit will be provided in addition to any existing social security pensions. To ensure the program reaches rural and underserved areas, the government declared it would undertake extensive outreach and mobilization to assist with bank account activations and documentation.
In other legislative moves, the Council of Ministers gave the green signal for desilting operations in the River Satluj. This decision is intended to provide the National Highways Authority of India with the necessary earth for fast-tracking various highway projects across the state. The cabinet also authorized the recruitment of 70 direct posts in the Department of Planning and amended the qualifications for leadership roles within the state’s power corporations, POWERCOM and TRANSCO.
