Chandigarh, November 8: The Punjab government has rolled out multiple education and welfare initiatives aimed at improving access and opportunity for students from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, including new overseas study grants and expanded scholarship coverage and waived ₹68 crore loans for Dalit families,
According to inputs, under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme hosted on the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Scholarship Portal, more than 1.66 lakh SC students have applied this year. The government said ₹267.54 crore has been released during 2024–25 for over 2.37 lakh beneficiaries, while ₹245 crore has been earmarked for the upcoming financial year.
The Chief Minister’s Office stated that the scholarship process is fully digital to ensure transparency. “The intent is to make sure that financial constraints do not force any student to drop out,” it mentioned.
The “Aashirwad Scheme” provides ₹51,000 to low-income SC families for the marriage of their daughters, a programme the government said is meant to offer financial and social security.
In September 2025, the government also introduced the Punjab Overseas Scholarship Scheme, enabling meritorious SC students to pursue studies in the world’s top 500 universities. The scheme covers tuition, visa, airfare, medical insurance, and an annual maintenance allowance of ₹13.17 lakh. Officials described it as a “step toward taking Dalit empowerment beyond state borders.”
According to the government, these initiatives reflect a broader commitment to inclusive development through education, skill-building and social equity. “Our aim is to turn aspiration into access,” the spokesperson added.
