Dr. Baljit Kaur Highlights Key Achievements in Women Empowerment and Social Welfare
Empowerment, Welfare, and Health Initiatives Drive Transformation Across Punjab
The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has made significant strides in the welfare, empowerment, and health of women, children, and senior citizens across the state, as outlined by Dr. Baljit Kaur, the Minister of Social Security, Women, and Child Development.
In November 2024, nearly 34.09 lakh beneficiaries received ₹4532.60 crore under the Old Age Pension and various financial assistance schemes, ensuring a monthly pension of ₹1500. Dr. Kaur highlighted that these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to providing essential support and promoting transparency through the Public Financial Management System.
A landmark initiative in promoting women’s safety and empowerment is the Punjab Government’s free bus travel program, which sees over 1 crore women using the service each month. This service has bolstered women’s confidence and security across the state.
The government also focuses on empowering women through employment, as demonstrated by the launch of the “Health, Hygiene, and Awareness Camps.” These camps, launched in December 2024 in District Sri Muktsar Sahib, offer health checkups, job interviews, and awareness about health and disease prevention. In Sri Muktsar Sahib alone, 209 women were interviewed, with 134 shortlisted and 28 securing jobs. Similar camps have been held in Barnala, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur, benefiting hundreds of women.
Under the Matru Vandana Yojana, the government has disbursed ₹48.55 crore to pregnant and lactating women, aimed at improving maternal and child health across the state.
The government’s focus on health has shown results, with significant improvements in nutritional health indicators. Between 2022 and 2024, stunting in children dropped from 22.08% to 17.65%, wasting from 9.54% to 3.17%, and underweight rates from 13.58% to 5.57%.
Further supporting women, the government established state-level and district-level branches under the Hub for Empowerment of Women initiative, which ensures that women across Punjab are well-informed about available government schemes and receive proper guidance for implementation.
Dr. Kaur reaffirmed that the Punjab Government is committed to empowering women, improving health standards, and ensuring social security for all, fostering inclusive growth and creating a prosperous future for all citizens.