Financial empowerment rang true for women across Punjab as their mobile phones buzzed with SMS alerts, confirming the direct transfer of Rs 1,291 crore in ‘Sanman Rashi’ into the bank accounts of over 37.43 million beneficiaries.
The initiative will ensure financial freedom for women by putting money directly into their hands, enabling them to make independent decisions and lead a life of dignity. He reiterated that the AAP government is committed to serving every eligible woman without political discrimination, as public welfare was above party politics. During a massive gathering in Abohar, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna was aimed at bringing one crore women under its ambit, with nearly 80 lakh registrations already completed. Describing it as a social revolution that would strengthen women’s financial independence and self-respect, the Chief Minister announced that all registered beneficiaries would receive their payments together on January 1 as a New Year gift, reiterating that his government was returning public money to people through schools, hospitals, roads, canals and Rs 10 lakh health insurance coverage.
Addressing the gathering, Mann said, “The Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna is not merely a financial assistance scheme but a social revolution aimed at strengthening the self-confidence, self-respect and dignity of mothers and daughters. Taking a dig at the opposition parties, the Chief Minister said that even women belonging to the families of his political rivals in the Akali Dal (Badal) and Congress are receiving benefits under the scheme, yet their leaders continued to criticise it merely to please their political masters.
The government is ensuring that those working at the grassroots level are duly recognised and rewarded for their efforts. He also took a dig at the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and the BJP. The government is working tirelessly for the development of villages, for which grants are being given.
Appreciating the contribution of women engaged in facilitating registrations, the Chief Minister said, “A total of 1,37,723 Satkar Sakhis are engaged in facilitating registrations under the scheme. Incentives amounting to Rs 51.30 crore will be provided to these Satkar Sakhis for their contribution, while Anganwadi workers engaged in the registration process will also receive incentives worth Rs 25 crore. “Our government is working for the people and has provided free electricity to households, jobs to over 70,000 youth without corruption, improved roads, closed toll plazas saving Rs 70 lakh daily, imparted quality education and healthcare, and built infrastructure, besides undertaking several other key initiatives. To wean away the youth from the menace of drugs, 3,100 sports stadiums are being constructed in the state,” he added.
“The money being distributed under the scheme belongs to the common people, who contribute to the state exchequer through their taxes. The state government is simply returning people’s money to them through welfare initiatives and development programmes. “The government had already disbursed Rs 2,643.71 crore to 76.35 lakh women under the scheme. With today’s transfer, the total financial assistance distributed has reached Rs 3,934.80 crore,” he added.
When ordinary citizens pay taxes, they have every right to receive quality facilities, social security and a better quality of life in return,” he said.
