Goindwal Sahib, 26 August (H.S.): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday transferred ₹52.20 crore in Samman Rashi to 1.37 lakh Satkar Sakhis on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, acknowledging their contribution in taking the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna to women across the state.

Addressing a virtual programme organised at Goindwal Sahib, CM Mann said the dedicated efforts of Satkar Sakhis had enabled more than 75 lakh women to register under the scheme and helped ensure that financial assistance reached eligible beneficiaries.

The Chief Minister said that 76.11 lakh women had been registered under the scheme so far, while ₹2,381 crore had already been transferred to the bank accounts of 68.06 lakh women. The state government has set a target of connecting one crore women with the scheme.

Mann said Satkar Sakhis would receive ₹300 for every registration. He said the first instalment of ₹51.20 crore had already been released at the rate of ₹100 per registration, while the Satkar Sakhis could earn more than ₹200 crore through the initiative once the target is achieved.

The Chief Minister said women beneficiaries above 18 years of age were receiving ₹1,000 in financial assistance, while SC women were receiving ₹1,500. The amount is being transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

He said around 97 per cent of women in Punjab were expected to benefit from the scheme and the state government had allocated ₹9,300 crore in the budget for the initiative.

Mann said the financial assistance may not make women rich but would provide them with dignity, self-respect and greater financial autonomy. He added that empowering women financially was essential for improving household welfare and increasing their participation in social and economic decision-making.

The Chief Minister appealed to all eligible women who had not yet registered to enrol themselves and avail the benefits of the scheme. He also urged Satkar Sakhis to remain connected with the beneficiary families and continue supporting them beyond the registration process.

Mann said the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna would not be discontinued as long as the AAP government remained in power in Punjab.

AAP Punjab Women Wing president and MLA Dr Amandeep Kaur praised the Satkar Sakhis and the entire Women Wing for their grassroots efforts. She said they were not merely helping women fill forms but were also becoming a source of support for families.

Dr Amandeep Kaur said the Women Wing had emerged as a strong grassroots force for the Aam Aadmi Party and would play an important role in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. She highlighted various welfare initiatives of the Bhagwant Mann government and said these had provided greater opportunities and representation to women.

Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Harbhajan Singh ETO also highlighted various initiatives of the Punjab government and praised the Chief Minister for focusing on the welfare of different sections of society. MLA Dr Jeevanjot Kaur, MLA Inderjit Kaur and other dignitaries were also present during the programme.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH