Jalandhar: The Punjab Government has officially launched the ‘Maa Dhi Samman Yojana’, with registration for the scheme beginning on Tuesday, April 14. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated the scheme in Jalandhar.
Under the scheme, eligible women will receive financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month. The Chief Minister announced that, for now, registration has started in nine Assembly constituencies as part of a pilot project.
He assured beneficiaries that delays in issuing cards will not affect payments. Financial assistance will be credited from the date the scheme comes into effect. He also advised applicants not to wait for caste certificates, stating that once the documents are processed, payments will begin directly in their bank accounts.
The pilot project, starting April 15, covers constituencies including Adampur, Malout, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Dirba, Sunam, Moga, Kotkapura, Batala, and Patiala Rural.
According to the government, any woman possessing both a Punjab Voter ID card and an Aadhaar card will be eligible for the scheme. Even women from other states residing in Punjab can benefit if they meet the documentation criteria.
Officials further clarified that in case of a beneficiary’s death, the financial assistance already provided will not be recovered, although future installments will be discontinued.
For the pilot phase, the government has selected five districts from the Malwa region and two from the Doaba region. Malwa has been given priority due to its political significance, as it accounts for 69 out of Punjab’s 117 Assembly seats. In the previous elections, the Aam Aadmi Party secured 62 seats from this region.
The Doaba region, which has 23 seats, witnessed a close contest between AAP and Congress in the last elections. With BJP also targeting Scheduled Caste voters, the region has become a key focus area for political strategies.
The scheme is being seen as a major step toward women’s empowerment and financial support in Punjab.
