Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday, 1 July formally launched the Mukh Mantri Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna in Dhuri, initiating direct bank transfers for nearly 40 lakh adult women across the state under a scheme with an annual outlay of ₹9,300 crore. The rollout fulfils a key election guarantee made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.

What the Scheme Provides

Under the scheme, women aged 18 years and above will receive a monthly Satkar Raashi (dignity allowance) of ₹1,000, while women from Scheduled Caste categories will receive ₹1,500 per month. To mark the launch, the government transferred three months' payments in a single tranche — amounting to ₹3,000 for general beneficiaries and ₹4,500 for SC women. Payments are routed directly into bank accounts, with SMS notifications dispatched to beneficiaries' mobile phones in real time.

Notably, women already receiving social security pensions from the state remain eligible under this scheme as well, broadening its reach. Around 97 per cent of women in Punjab are expected to benefit, according to the Chief Minister.

CM Mann's Address at the Launch

Speaking at the launch event in Dhuri, CM Mann described the occasion as historic and framed the initiative as an act of institutional trust rather than a political gesture. 'As a brother, son and nephew of the women of Punjab,' he said, he assured every beneficiary that the scheme would not be discontinued. He added that the ₹9,300 crore earmarked in the state budget reflects the government's commitment to sustained funding.

Mann argued that while the monthly allowance may not make recipients wealthy, it is designed to provide financial autonomy, dignity, and a stronger footing in household and social decision-making. He said strengthening women's economic participation is central to the government's broader welfare model.

Broader Governance Context

The Chief Minister used the occasion to enumerate other AAP government initiatives in Punjab, including free electricity to households, the creation of more than 68,000 government jobs without reported corruption, closure of toll plazas saving an estimated ₹70 lakh per day, and improvements in public education and healthcare infrastructure. He reiterated that tax revenues are being returned to citizens through direct welfare and public services.

This comes amid a broader pattern of state-level direct-benefit transfer schemes gaining political traction across India, with several ruling parties linking cash-transfer programmes to electoral commitments. The Satkar Yojna is among the largest such schemes launched at the state level in recent months.

What Happens Next

The scheme is structured as a permanent monthly transfer, with the government stating it has been planned for long-term continuity. With more than 40 lakh women already registered at launch, the administration's immediate challenge will be ensuring uninterrupted disbursement and expanding registration to cover the remaining eligible population. The next monthly transfer is expected in August 2025.