The Punjab Government, remains committed to the welfare of all societal sections, with a particular focus on the backward classes and economically weaker sections. As part of this effort, the state has released Rs 14.01 crore to 2,748 beneficiaries received on the Ashirwad Portal under the Ashirwad scheme for Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections for the fiscal year 2023-24. This allocation has been made from the budget provision of 2024-25.
Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, provided details that the beneficiaries from the districts of Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, Sangrur and Malerkotla have been released financial assistance. She explained that 224 beneficiaries from Amritsar, 38 from Fatehgarh Sahib, 111 from Fazilka, 182 from Gurdaspur, 181 from Hoshiarpur, 24 from Kapurthala, 760 from Ludhiana, 18 from Moga, 33 from Sri Muktsar Sahib, 883 from Patiala, 37 from Pathankot, 155 from Sangrur and 102 from Malerkotla have been covered.
Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that to eligibility for the Ashirwad scheme requires applicants to be permanent residents of Punjab, belong to families below the poverty line and be members of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker families and have a family below Rs. 32,790 annually. Additionally, up to two daughters from such families are eligible to benefit from this scheme.
She said that the Punjab Government continues to work diligently to uplift the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections. The financial assistance is deposited directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
