Chandigarh: Gurmail Kaur alias Melo, the 75-year-old beneficiary from Adampura village in Bathinda whose jubilant video celebrating the receipt of financial assistance under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna went viral on social media, met Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday.Sharing a video of the meeting, in which Melo was seen hugging and blessing Mann as he presented her gifts, Mann wrote on X, “My revered mother, meeting you today has brought true peace to my soul. May Waheguru always keep this smile on your face. Your son will always remain steadfast in the service of Punjab.”Calling every mother and sister in Punjab a “brand ambassador” of the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, Mann described the scheme as a “social revolution” aimed at enhancing women’s self-confidence, dignity and financial autonomy.According to Mann, more than 75 lakh women have registered under the scheme so far, with Rs 3,824.87 crore transferred directly into their bank accounts as ‘Satkar Rashi’. The state govt has allocated Rs 9,300 crore in the budget for the scheme.Mann said around 97% of women in Punjab were eligible to benefit from the scheme and that the govt had set a target of extending the assistance to one crore women. Eligible women above 18 years are being provided Rs 1,000, while eligible SC women receive Rs 1,500 per month.“This financial assistance may not make women rich, but it will certainly provide them with dignity and self-respect,” Mann said, adding that strengthening women’s financial autonomy was essential for household welfare, gender equity and their participation in social and economic decision-making.He appealed to eligible women who had not yet registered to avail themselves of the scheme and said no eligible woman would be deprived of its benefits.“As long as I am holding the charge of the office, no eligible woman will be deprived of the benefits of the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna,” Mann said
