Chandigarh, 31 December 2024: The Punjab government has distributed ₹229.93 crore to 45,083 beneficiaries under the Ashirwad Scheme during 2024, Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur announced. Of this amount, ₹294.11 crore was allocated to Scheduled Castes and ₹156.72 crore to beneficiaries from Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections.
Dr. Kaur underlined the government’s commitment to enhancing the educational, social, and economic opportunities for Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and minorities under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership. To increase transparency and accessibility, applications for the Ashirwad Scheme are now processed through an online portal at ashirwad.punjab.gov.in.
The government also implemented additional measures aimed at the upliftment of disadvantaged communities.
For the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme, ₹245 crore was allocated for 2024-25. A total of ₹92 crore was released to clear 40% of the outstanding fees of Scheduled Caste students from 2017-20, benefiting students from Punjab and other states. Nearly 2.38 lakh new students have been registered for the scheme this year, targeting an enrollment of 2.60 lakh students.
The Punjab government further allocated ₹593.69 lakh for the construction of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhawan in Tarn Taran and ₹200 crore for the renovation of Ambedkar Bhawans in six districts. In education, ₹39.69 crore was disbursed for free books for Scheduled Caste students in grades 1 to 10.
Efforts to promote self-reliance include the distribution of ₹6.62 crore in loans and subsidies to 382 beneficiaries under self-employment schemes by the Punjab Scheduled Caste Development and Finance Corporation. The Backward Classes Development and Finance Corporation provided loans worth ₹2.36 crore to 87 beneficiaries.
Besides, ₹39.98 crore was released for rural development projects under the Adarsh Gram Component of the Scheduled Caste Abhiyuda Yojana, aiming to uplift Scheduled Caste communities.
Dr. Baljit Kaur reaffirmed the government’s dedication to fostering equitable development and improving the standard of living for marginalized groups across Punjab.