Punjab govt fulfils ₹1,000/month scheme promise to women:AAP govt to transfer money directly into bank A/Cs of those who are eligible

In a significant move aimed at consolidating its support base in an election year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has announced a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 for women and ₹1,500 for Scheduled Caste women in the state budget presented on Sunday, 8 March, 2026. The Punjab government presented the state budget on International Women’s Day. The Bhagwant Mann government said that the objective of the scheme is to provide financial support to women from economically weaker sections, enabling them to manage small personal and household expenses independently. Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced the implementation of Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna under which government will transfer the money directly to the accounts of women. “Every woman in Punjab above 18 years of age will be eligible to enrol under this scheme barring only few i.e. existing or past permanent government employees, existing and past MPs/MLAs and income tax payees,” he said. 97% of women are eligible! It is estimated that 97% of eligible women above the age of 18 across the state would benefit from the initiative. The government will transfer the funds directly into beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, thereby eliminating the role of intermediaries and ensuring transparency. “So, whether she is a daughter studying in college needing extra books, a daughter preparing for a government job needing coaching, or a woman wishing to watch a movie in a cinema hall; or a grandma wishing to buy a new toy for her granddaughter, now, they won t have to ask for money from anyone for their expenses because their elder brother, their son Bhagwant Singh Mann will deposit Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 every month into their bank account,” said Cheema. The Bhagwant Mann government launched the new scheme nearly four years after the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in Punjab. The government had made a separate budgetary provision of ₹9,300 crore for this scheme.