CHANDIGARH, July 16: Ludhiana has recorded the highest number of beneficiaries under the Punjab Government’s Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana, with 7.4 lakh people enrolled, according to data released by the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development.
Patiala ranks second with 5.3 lakh beneficiaries, followed by Amritsar (4.9 lakh), Jalandhar (4.8 lakh), Gurdaspur (4.4 lakh) and Hoshiarpur (4.2 lakh). At the other end of the spectrum, Malerkotla has the lowest enrolment, with 1.3 lakh beneficiaries. As of July 14, 2026, a total of 68.9 lakh beneficiaries have been registered under the scheme across Punjab.
Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, attributed the higher enrolment in districts such as Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur to their larger populations, stronger administrative infrastructure and greater public awareness of government welfare initiatives.
“The entire government machinery is working collectively to ensure the success of the scheme,” the minister said, adding that coordinated efforts by district administrations have played a key role in expanding the scheme’s reach.
Officials said population size remains one of the primary factors behind the higher beneficiary count in leading districts. These regions have larger urban and rural populations, more Assembly constituencies and a greater number of eligible families. Cities such as Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar also attract migrants from neighbouring districts for employment and education, contributing to a larger resident population.
The government further noted that a significant share of households in these districts belongs to rural and economically weaker sections, making them eligible for welfare programmes aimed at supporting families with girl children. Improved birth registration, Aadhaar coverage, access to bank accounts and availability of other required documents have also helped eligible families complete the registration process.
District administrations have intensified awareness campaigns through local bodies and Anganwadi workers, while officials have focused on verifying applications and ensuring timely registrations, leading to higher enrolment figures.
In contrast, districts with smaller populations, including Malerkotla, have reported fewer beneficiaries due to their lower population base and comparatively smaller number of eligible households.