An official statement revealed that this initiative will assist over 97% of women in Punjab, detailing the decisions made at the Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
This program was a prominent election promise of the ruling AAP prior to the 2022 Punjab elections and has now been rolled out a year ahead of the next state elections. “It will provide them with choices, and when combined with financial awareness, it will foster savings, thrift, and investment, allowing them to fulfill their small aspirations with dignity,” the statement elaborated. The scheme is structured as a direct benefit transfer (DBT) program, which will ensure that financial assistance is deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Families can have multiple eligible women availing benefits under the scheme, and existing social security pensioners will continue receiving full benefits alongside their pensions, as mentioned. “While Punjab has made significant strides in social welfare and human development metrics, many women, especially those from economically vulnerable households, still lack financial independence. “Enhancing women’s financial autonomy is crucial for improving household welfare, fostering gender equity, and increasing women’s participation in social and economic decisions,” the statement remarked. Highlighting the vast scope of the initiative, it noted, “The scheme is set to aid over 97% of women, positioning it among the most extensive women-focused social protection programs in the nation.” To ensure effective execution, the government will initiate outreach and enrollment campaigns, including support for women to complete necessary documentation, activate bank accounts, and ensure smooth registration, especially in rural and underserved regions, it added. The statement indicated that ₹9,300 crore has been allocated in the budget for the financial year 2026-27, and due to its extensive outreach, it is anticipated to be one of the largest women-centric social welfare initiatives by the Punjab government. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema introduced the scheme in his budget speech to the Assembly on March 8. The Cabinet also approved changes to the policy regarding the conversion of leasehold industrial plots/sheds into freehold. Now, industrial plots that are mortgaged with banks or financial institutions can be converted to freehold, upon submission of a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the relevant bank and adherence to the required safeguards. A conversion fee of 5% will apply unless the current title documents include a clause related to unearned increase, regardless of its presence in previous title documents. The Cabinet also sanctioned the introduction of the Punjab Common Infrastructure (Regulation and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2026, to reform the Punjab Common Infrastructure (Regulation and Maintenance) Act, 2012, aimed at enhancing effectiveness, transparency, and financial sustainability of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for improved management of industrial areas. The proposed changes aim to resolve administrative and operational challenges that have arisen over the years due to the growth of industrial parks and the establishment of new industrial clusters outside designated estates, as noted. This initiative will establish an efficient system for collecting and utilizing service charges for maintaining common infrastructure such as roads, street lights, parks, security, drainage systems, and other shared facilities in industrial zones. SPVs will be established in all industrial regions and will be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. They will oversee the operation and maintenance of common infrastructure within the industrial areas on a no-profit, no-loss basis. A district monitoring authority will also be set up to supervise the functioning of the SPVs and provide a structured mechanism for monitoring and dispute resolution. The Cabinet has approved easing desilting conditions in the Sutlej River to allow simple earth to be provided to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for various highway construction projects within the state. “This forms part of the numerous initiatives undertaken by the Department of Water Resources involving the excavation of longitudinal channels in major rivers throughout Punjab as part of its comprehensive river management and flood mitigation strategies,” the statement concluded.
Eligible participants are women aged 18 and above, who are registered voters in the state with a valid Aadhaar card showing Punjab residency and a recognized Voter ID issued by the Election Commission.
