Punjab budget opens treasury for women, this much money in their accounts every month..

The AAP government in Punjab on Sunday announced a new scheme under which Scheduled Caste women will receive Rs. 1,500 per month, and all other women Rs. 1,000 per month. Providing Rs. 1,000 per month to every woman was a key election promise of the ruling party ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Presenting the state budget for 2026-27 in the Assembly, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced the implementation of the "Chief Minister's Women Empowerment Scheme," under which the government will transfer funds directly to women's accounts.

The Bhagwant Mann government launched this new scheme nearly four years after the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in Punjab. Cheema said that for women from the Scheduled Caste community, the government will transfer Rs. 1,500 per month directly to their accounts. This announcement came on International Women's Day. This is the first time the state budget has been presented on a Sunday. Cheema stated that this new scheme for women will be the first universal cash transfer scheme not only in India but also in the world.

Which women will benefit, and which will not?

He stated that every woman in Punjab above the age of 18 will be eligible to enroll under this scheme, except for a few, including current or former permanent government employees, current and former MPs/MLAs, and income tax payers. He further stated that women enrolled under existing social security pension schemes, such as the Old Age Pension, Widow/Destitute Women's Pension, or Disability Pension Scheme, will also be eligible. Cheema stated that overall, approximately 97% of adult women in Punjab will be eligible under this scheme, the highest for any state in India. The initiative aims to promote economic independence, strengthen women's role in household decision-making, improve health and nutrition outcomes, and encourage continued education and high aspirations among girls.

Women will no longer be dependent on men.

Punjab's Finance Minister said this reinforces the government's belief that empowerment should translate into solid financial security and greater dignity for women across Punjab. Aiming for opposition parties, Cheema said that many states have started making "jumlas" (rhetoric) of announcing similar schemes, but they limit them to only a small segment of women, largely ignoring those who depend on men for money for their most basic needs. Without naming the state, he said, "For example, a neighboring state announced a similar scheme, but limited it to families with annual incomes of less than ₹1 lakh, covering only 20% of all adult women." Cheema added, "But Punjab will not indulge in such 'jumlas."

Money will flow directly into banks.

Cheema said, "Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is not the Chief Minister of 20 percent of Punjab's women, but of all women in Punjab...That's why we have decided to be the first state to ensure that all adult women are covered under this scheme." Cheema added, "So, whether it's a college-going daughter who needs extra books, a daughter preparing for a government job who needs coaching, a woman watching a movie at a cinema hall, or a grandmother buying a new toy for her granddaughter, they will no longer have to ask anyone for money for their expenses because their elder brother, his son Bhagwant Singh Mann, will deposit ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 into their bank accounts every month." The Finance Minister has allocated a budget of ₹9,300 crore for 2026-27 to ensure a transparent and timely implementation of the scheme.

Allegations were being leveled against the government.

Before the AAP came to power in Punjab, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal had promised to provide Rs. 1,000 to every woman. The Mann government's announcement of the scheme for women came amid mounting pressure from opposition parties – the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal, and the BJP – who are accusing the AAP government of failing to fulfill its election promises. The opposition parties are also demanding that the Mann government provide Rs. 1,000 to every woman every month, along with the Rs. 48,000 accumulated over the past four years, as the AAP had promised to provide this financial assistance after coming to power in 2022.

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