Punjab Aashirwad Scheme 2021 – Financial Assistance for Marriage of Girl Child

Punjab state govt. has launched Aashirwad Scheme to provide financial assistance for the marriage of the girl child. The government has renamed the earlier Shagun Scheme to Ashirwad Scheme. This is the second hike in the scheme amount by the present government, which had earlier enhanced the assistance from Rs 15,000 to Rs 21,000 soon after it took over in 2017. The girls from scheduled caste (SC) / backward classes (BC) / economically weaker sections (EWS) can now apply online. The Punjab Ashirwad Scheme application form PDF is available to download through online mode at punjab.gov.in

Punjab Aashirwad Scheme Apply Online

Under the Shagun Scheme, the government was providing Rs. 15,000 as a financial assistance for marriage of daughter belongs from the poor family in the state. Earlier in Aashirwad Scheme, the state govt. enhanced financial assistance of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 21,000 as ashirwad to girls belonging to poor section. Now the Punjab Cabinet on 28 April 2021 approved a hike in financial assistance under the Ashirwad scheme from Rs 21,000 to Rs 51,000 per beneficiary, with directions to clear all payment backlog under the scheme.

This is the second hike in the scheme amount by the present government, which had earlier enhanced the assistance from Rs 15,000 to Rs 21,000 soon after it took over in 2017, while renaming the Shagun scheme as Ashirward scheme. The hike in Punjab Ashirwad Scheme will come into effect from 1 July 2021, a government statement said after a virtual meeting of the Council of Ministers. At that time, the state Cabinet had also decided to make payment direct into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through the online banking management system, under the scheme implemented by the Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities department.

But this financial aid is only for those girls who are above 18 years. Now we are going to tell you how to apply online for Punjab Aashirwad Scheme. The Chief Minister clarified that the scheme was also applicable to Muslims girls of 18 years or above age, along with Scheduled Caste, Christian, Backward Class/Caste, Economically Weaker Section families, and daughters of widows of any caste. Scheduled Caste widows/divorcees are also entitled to the benefit at the time of their re-marriage.

Punjab Ashirwad Scheme Application Form PDF Download

Here is the direct link to download Punjab Ashirwad Scheme Application Form in PDF format – https://punjab.gov.in/forms/. At this page, click at the PDF download link in front of “Aashirwad Scheme”. The Punjab Ashirwad Scheme registration form will appear as shown below:-

Punjab Ashirwad Scheme Application Form

All the applicants are required to download this Punjab Ashirwad Scheme application / registration form in PDF format. They have to enter all their details accurately and submit the completely filled in Aashirwad Scheme apply online form to the concerned authorities.

List of Documents Required for Punjab Aashirwad Scheme

Below is the complete list of documents required to be attached with the completely filled in Punjab Aashirwad Scheme online application form:-

1. Proof of Residence
2. Verified by Sarpanch / Gazetted officer / Panch / Nambardar / Ward Councillor / President Nagar Conceal/Mayor / MLA
3. Proof of Date of Birth of the girl
4. Copy of Self Declaration/ income certificate for annual family income
5. Copy of Below Poverty Line (B.P.L.) Card

Applicants will have to confirm that he / she has been residing in India for at least 182 days in the preceding 12 months. Applicant’s information (including biometrics) will be used for generation of Aadhaar and authentication.

Eligibility Criteria for Punjab Ashirwad Scheme

The applicant must possess the below mentioned eligibility criteria to avail the benefits under this Ashirwad Scheme:-

• Applicant should be a permanent citizen of Punjab state.
• The family of the applicant must belong to the below poverty line (BPL)
• Applicant must belong to the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other economically weaker families.

Highlights of Aashirwad Scheme Punjab

Below are some of the main highlights of Aashirwad Scheme Punjab :-

• The beneficiary of the scheme would include girls belonging to the state of Punjab only.
• Accordingly, those applicants who wants financial assistance on marriage can apply online at punjab.gov.in
• Only those girls who are above 18 years of age can fill Ashirwad Scheme registration / application form.
• The state govt. will transfer payment directly into bank account of the beneficiaries.

During the previous FY 2020, as many as 10,873 girls belonging to scheduled caste had been given the benefit to the tune of Rs. 22 crore under Ashirwad Scheme. In addition to this, around Rs. 17 crore was disbursed to 8,209 girls from backward classes and economically weaker families at the time of their marriages.

Punjab Ashirwad Scheme Latest Update

Muslim girls were in the list even in 2006, and if they have been inadvertently left out, they should be added, he directed the department. The latest increase will benefit 60,000 beneficiaries, putting an additional burden of Rs 180 crore on the state exchequer, said the statement. To avail the benefit, the annual income of the family from all sources should not exceed Rs 32,790. The parents/guardians of the girl should be domiciled in Punjab and the financial assistance under this scheme is limited to two girls only from one family.

The applicant is required to submit application for getting financial assistance in the prescribed proforma before the date of marriage or 30 days after the of the marriage of the girl.

Cabinet Committee on BR Ambedkar SC Post Matric Scholarship Scheme

Punjab government also notified its own new BR Ambedkar SC Post Matric Scholarship Scheme, which had been applicable from the academic session 2020-2021. The benefit of this scheme would be given to those candidates of Scheduled Castes, who passed matriculation from Punjab and Chandigarh. Under this scheme, the income limit (both of mother and father) had been enhanced from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.

The ambit of benefit under the scheme had also been expanded to central and state-level institutes of higher education of Punjab and Chandigarh. The state govt. has released Rs 309.21 crore to clear the backlog of 2016-17 under the post-matric scholarship for SC scheme which was discontinued by the Union government. The distribution of the said amount would be accomplished soon.

Loan Given under Self Employment Schemes

SC Land Development and Finance Corporation had given loans worth Rs 5.59 crore to 417 beneficiaries along with subsidies under self-employment schemes. Likewise, the Backward Classes Land Development and Finance Corporation provided Rs 3.91 crore to 228 beneficiaries under self-employment schemes.

During earlier year 2020, benefits to the tune of Rs 76.14 crore were extended to over 4.68 lakh students under pre-matric scholarship scheme while under post-matric scholarship scheme 56,664 students got benefit of Rs 30.18 crore. Whereas under the merit-cum-means based scholarship scheme, as many as 2,404 students received scholarships worth Rs 6.45 crore through the direct benefit transfer mode.

from सरकारी योजना
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