Punjab AAP Announces ₹1000 Monthly Aid for Women in FY27 Budget

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has officially announced the implementation of a landmark scheme providing monthly financial assistance to women across the state. Under the newly introduced 'Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna' (Chief Minister's Respect for Mother and Daughters Scheme), all adult women in Punjab will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community will receive an enhanced amount of ₹1,500 per month. This significant announcement was made by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema during the presentation of the state budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 on Sunday, March 8, 2026, coinciding with International Women's Day. This initiative marks the fulfillment of a key poll promise made by the AAP ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, nearly four years after the party came to power. During the 2022 polls, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had pledged ₹1,000 monthly for every woman above 18 years of age if the party formed the government. The scheme is strategically unveiled approximately a year before the next assembly elections in Punjab, which are due in early 2027. The 'Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna' is described as a universal cash transfer scheme, with the Finance Minister claiming it to be not just India's but potentially the world's first such initiative with broad coverage. It aims to cover approximately 97% of all adult women in Punjab who are above 18 years of age. Exclusions primarily include existing or past permanent government employees, existing and past Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and income tax payees. Notably, women already receiving other social security pensions, such as old-age, widow, or disability pensions, will also be eligible for this additional benefit, ensuring comprehensive support. To ensure the transparent and timely implementation of this scheme, a substantial budgetary outlay of ₹9,300 crore has been allocated for the fiscal year 2026-27. The total budget expenditure proposed for FY 2026-27 is ₹2,60,437 crore, which Cheema described as a tribute to the "mothers and daughters" of the state. The social welfare and justice department received its highest-ever allocation of ₹18,304 crore, underscoring the government's focus on welfare measures. The announcement comes amidst increasing pressure from opposition parties—including Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and BJP—who have been critical of the AAP government for the delay in fulfilling this significant poll promise. The opposition had also demanded that the government should provide accumulated arrears of ₹48,000 (₹1,000 per month for four years) to women. However, the current scheme begins its implementation now. The registration process for the 'Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna' is set to commence from the auspicious festival of Baisakhi, with details about the registration portal and special camps expected to be announced soon. The scheme aims to promote economic independence for women, strengthen their role in household decision-making, improve health and nutritional outcomes, and encourage continued education and higher aspirations among girls. Finance Minister Cheema emphasized that this initiative reflects the government's belief that empowerment must be tangible, providing financial security and dignity to women across Punjab. Beyond this scheme, the Punjab government also reaffirmed the continuation of the free bus travel facility for women, allocating ₹600 crore for this service in the upcoming fiscal year. The budget further outlined proposals for infrastructure development, including doubling the allocation for the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme to ₹1,170 crore and earmarking funds for rural roads and housing under PMAY (Gramin). The state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected to reach ₹9,80,635 crore in FY 2026-27, reflecting an estimated 10% growth rate. The Finance Minister noted that the budget balances aggressive welfare spending with fiscal discipline, particularly in anticipation of the 2027 assembly elections.

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