*Punjab Government Releases ₹518.81 Crore Under Widow and Destitute Women Financial Assistance Scheme; Over Seven Lakh Women Benefit: Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*More Than Seven Lakh Women Across Punjab Receiving Monthly Financial Assistance and Social Security*

*Mann Government Committed to Ensuring Every Eligible Woman Lives with Dignity, Financial Security and Self-Reliance*

Chandigarh, August 23:Reaffirming its commitment to protecting vulnerable women through a robust social security framework, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government is ensuring financial security, dignity and social support to more than seven lakh widows and destitute women across the State through the Widow and Destitute Women Financial Assistance Scheme. Punjab Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur said the Government remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure that no eligible woman is deprived of a life of dignity due to financial hardship, making social security a cornerstone of its inclusive and people-centric governance.

Sharing details of the scheme, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has released ₹518.81 crore under the Widow and Destitute Women Financial Assistance Scheme up to July during the current financial year. She said that more than seven lakh women across Punjab are benefiting from the scheme, helping them meet their essential needs with greater financial stability while enabling them to lead independent, secure and dignified lives.

The Cabinet Minister further informed that the Punjab Government has earmarked ₹1,200.97 crore for the effective implementation of the scheme during the financial year 2026-27, ensuring that the benefits of social security continue to reach every eligible widow and destitute woman across the State.

Dr. Baljit Kaur added that the Punjab Government is providing ₹1,500 per month to every eligible widow and destitute woman under the scheme, ensuring a dependable source of financial assistance that strengthens their economic security and supports their day-to-day needs.

The Minister said the scheme is much more than a financial assistance programme; it is a lifeline that empowers thousands of women to rebuild their lives with confidence, self-reliance and renewed hope after the loss of their family's primary breadwinner. She said the initiative reflects the Government's continued focus on strengthening women's social and economic empowerment, adding that true and sustainable development can only be achieved when women are financially secure and socially empowered. In line with this vision, the Government is continuously working to ensure that the benefits of social security schemes reach every eligible and deserving woman without discrimination.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further informed that the scheme is available to widowed and destitute women below 58 years of age. In addition, unmarried women aged 30 years and above are also eligible to avail its benefits. The annual family income of the applicant should not exceed ₹60,000.

Reiterating the Punjab Government's unwavering commitment to women's welfare and empowerment, Dr. Baljit Kaur said the State Government is continuously expanding the reach of its social security initiatives to provide women with a safer, more dignified and financially secure future. She added that by ensuring timely assistance reaches every vulnerable and deserving beneficiary, the Punjab Government is striving to build a more inclusive, compassionate and progressive Punjab where every woman has the opportunity to live with dignity, confidence and financial independence.

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*NRI Milni in Bathinda on August 26; NRIs from seven districts to participate: Dr. Ravjot Singh*

*Says, Mann Government committed to resolving issues of overseas Punjabis through direct interaction and on spot redressal*

Chandigarh, August 23:Continuing its series of NRI Milnis aimed at providing effective and timely resolution of the problems, complaints and various issues faced by overseas Punjabis, the Punjab Government will organise an NRI Milni in Bathinda on August 26, 2026.

Giving this information, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh said that during the Milni, overseas Punjabis would be able to directly present their problems, complaints and suggestions before senior civil and police officers of the State. He said the objective of the Punjab Government was to hear the grievances of overseas Punjabis on the spot and ensure their possible resolution through effective coordination with the concerned departments.

Giving details of the NRI Milni, the Cabinet Minister said that the event would be held on Wednesday, August 26, at 11:00 AM at Hotel Sepal, G.T. Road, near Tinkoni, Bathinda. He said that overseas Punjabis belonging to Bathinda, Moga, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Mansa districts would be able to participate in the Milni.

Dr. Ravjot Singh said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann had earlier also organised special NRI Milnis for the redressal of grievances of overseas Punjabis. As part of this initiative, two NRI Milnis had already been organised at SAS Nagar (Mohali) and Ludhiana, where complaints and issues of overseas Punjabis belonging to a total of eight districts were heard threadbare.

The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government considers overseas Punjabis an integral part of the Punjabi family and is giving priority to direct dialogue, transparency and prompt action for resolving their issues. He said that besides further strengthening the bond of Punjabis settled abroad with their homeland, every possible effort would be made to address their property-related, family, administrative, legal and other grievances.

He urged overseas Punjabis to participate in the NRI Milni and bring their problems and issues to the notice of the concerned authorities so that the necessary action for their resolution could be expedited.

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Punjab Government Steps Up Rural Housing Drive; 36,792 houses sanctioned under PMAY-G: Tarunpreet Singh Sond

17,000 Houses Completed with financial assistance of around Rs. 478 crore, 19,792 Under Construction: Rural Development Minister Sond

Chandigarh, August 23:Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Mr. Tarunpreet Singh Sond today said that the Punjab Government, under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is working with commitment to provide safe and dignified housing to economically weaker families across the state.

The Minister said that the Punjab Government has been making sustained efforts to ensure that families living in kaccha houses and other vulnerable conditions get the benefit of the housing schemes being implemented by the government.

Mr. Sond said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), significant progress has been made by their government across the state. Since 2024-25, a total of 36,792 houses have been sanctioned in Punjab. Out of these, 17,000 houses have already been completed with financial assistance of Rs. 478.45 crore, while the construction work on the remaining 19,792 houses is progressing rapidly.

The Minister said that these figures reflect the government’s commitment to providing pucca houses to families living in rural areas who have been deprived of adequate housing facilities. He added that the objective of the scheme is not merely to construct houses, but to provide beneficiaries with a safe and dignified living environment.

Mr. Sond further informed that, in addition to the regular housing assistance, a special package of Rs. 360 crore has also been sanctioned for families affected by floods in Punjab. Under this, 30,000 damaged houses were targeted for reconstruction and repairs. He said that, so far, 28,020 houses have been sanctioned, while assistance towards the first and second instalments has been transferred to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries, thereby expediting the reconstruction process.

Mr. Sond said that the government’s housing initiatives are aimed at bringing a qualitative change in the lives of rural families. He reiterated that the Bhagwant Mann Government is committed to ensuring that every deserving family gets access to a safe and dignified home, and that no eligible beneficiary is deprived of the benefits of the scheme due to lack of resources.

The impact of Punjab government’s initiatives can be seen in the lives of the beneficiaries. Pritam Singh resident of village Machrai Kalan in Fatehgarh Sahib district, a beneficiary of the rural housing scheme, said his family had earlier been living in a kuchha house. During the rainy season, water entered the house many times, while the poor condition of the walls and roof made it difficult for the family to live there safely.

He said the assistance received from the Punjab government had enabled his family to move into a pucca house, bringing much-needed security and relief.