Dhuri (Sangrur), 01 July (H.S.):

The Punjab Government on Wednesday launched the much-awaited Mukh Mantri Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, fulfilling what the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as its final major election guarantee made before the 2022 Assembly polls. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann formally launched the scheme through a dedicated web portal at Dhuri and announced the direct transfer of the first three months' financial assistance into the bank accounts of eligible women beneficiaries.

Under the scheme, women from the general category will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women belonging to the Scheduled Caste category will receive ₹1,500 per month. As part of the launch, beneficiaries received a consolidated payment covering July, August and September, amounting to ₹3,000 for general category women and ₹4,500 for Scheduled Caste women. During the event itself, beneficiaries began receiving SMS notifications confirming that the amount had been credited to their bank accounts.

Addressing a large gathering, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann termed the launch a historic moment and said that more than 40 lakh women had already been registered under the scheme. He said the initiative marks a major step towards women's empowerment and has been launched after detailed financial planning to ensure its continuity in the coming years.

The Chief Minister said that all eligible women above the age of 18 years would receive the monthly financial assistance directly in their bank accounts. He added that women already receiving social security pensions would also remain eligible for benefits under the scheme. According to the government, nearly 97 per cent of women in Punjab are expected to benefit, and ₹9,300 crore has been allocated in the state budget for its implementation.

Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Mann said the financial assistance is not merely monetary support but a symbol of dignity and respect for women. He said empowering women financially strengthens families, promotes gender equality and enables women to participate more actively in social and economic decision-making.

Reaffirming his government's commitment, the Chief Minister assured beneficiaries that the scheme would continue uninterrupted in the future. He said the government considers it a responsibility towards the mothers and daughters of Punjab and described it as an expression of trust between the government and the people.

Speaking about the government's overall governance model, Mann said public money is being spent for the welfare of citizens through improved education, healthcare, roads and other development projects. He highlighted several achievements of his government, including free electricity for households, over 68,000 government jobs provided without corruption, closure of toll plazas that save nearly ₹70 lakh daily, strengthening of government schools and hospitals, and major infrastructure development across the state.

Senior AAP leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia described the launch as a landmark achievement, saying the Punjab Government had fulfilled all its major election guarantees. He said the scheme represents much more than direct cash assistance, calling it a transfer of trust and respect to the women of Punjab. Sisodia added that the initiative demonstrates a governance model that combines structural reforms in education and healthcare with direct welfare measures, setting a new benchmark for social welfare.

Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Dr. Baljeet Kaur, along with Manish Sisodia and several other party leaders and dignitaries, were present during the launch programme in Dhuri. The government expressed confidence that the scheme would significantly improve the financial security and social status of women across Punjab while strengthening their role in the state's overall development.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH