Chandigarh, April 3 The Punjab government has issued a notification for the implementation of the 'Mukhya Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana', under which eligible women will receive monthly financial assistance of between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500.
According to the eligibility criteria, there will be no limit on the number of eligible women in a family who may avail benefits under the scheme.
Existing social security pensioners will also be entitled to receive the full financial benefits under the scheme, in addition to the social security pension they are already receiving, according to the April 2 notification.
The Cabinet on Sunday gave its approval to the scheme, under which women will receive a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000, and those from the Scheduled Castes will receive Rs 1,500.
Providing a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to women was a key promise of the AAP ahead of the 2022 Punjab elections.
The notification stated that the scheme aims to strengthen the financial security and independence of women across the state, improve household welfare, enhance women's participation in household financial decision-making, and promote gender equity across Punjab.
All eligible beneficiaries must be aged 18 and above, and be registered resident voters of Punjab with valid Aadhaar and voter ID cards.
Certain categories of women will be excluded from the scheme – a regular (permanent) or retired employee of the Punjab government, or the central government, or any other state or Union territory government in the country; a regular or retired employee eligible for and drawing pension from any public sector undertaking, statutory board, corporation, commission, committee, directorate, cooperative institution, or tribunal established under the state or central government.
Women who have paid income tax (of Rs 1 or more) in the last financial year, a serving or former minister, MP or MLA, and spouse of a serving minister, MP or MLA, will also be excluded.
The financial benefits will be disbursed to the beneficiaries according to the schedule and frequency determined by the high-level implementation committee from time to time, the notification said.
The financial assistance will be transferred directly into the beneficiaries' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Any changes or modifications to the mode of disbursement can be made with the approval of the chief minister, it said.
Registration for the scheme will be free at all designated centers and no fee will be charged from any beneficiary.
The scheme will be implemented by the Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development.