Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann launched the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana to provide monthly cash assistance to eligible women [1].
The initiative aims to improve financial security and gender equity by providing a regular income stream to the vast majority of the state's female population.
The program began disbursing payments of ₹1,000 per month on July 1, 2024 [2]. The government allocated ₹9,300 crore to fund the scheme [3]. According to the administration, the program is designed to reach approximately 97% of women in Punjab [4].
Mann announced the initiative on June 5, 2024, during a launch event [1]. He said, "The Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna will empower 97% of women in Punjab" [4].
A spokesperson for the Punjab government said the scheme is a flagship women-centric cash transfer programme that will cover almost all women in the state [1]. To ensure the program's success, the government has stepped up its enrollment drive to identify, and register, eligible beneficiaries [5].
Mann said, "We will start disbursing ₹1,000 per month to eligible women from July 1" [2]. The rollout follows a series of preparation reviews conducted by the chief minister to ensure the infrastructure for the cash transfers was ready for the July start date [1].
“"The Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna will empower 97% of women in Punjab,"”
This large-scale cash transfer represents a significant fiscal commitment by the Punjab government to increase the liquidity of women in the state. By targeting 97% of the female population, the program shifts away from narrow welfare categories toward a more universal basic income model for women, which may influence local consumption patterns and economic independence.
