Chandigarh, Dec 22: The Punjab government has spent ₹4,683.94 crore under social security schemes during the 2025–26 financial year so far, out of a total budgetary provision of ₹6,175 crore, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said on Monday.
Kaur said the assistance covered old-age pensions and other welfare schemes, benefiting 35,29,216 people across the state.
“The objective is to ensure social and economic security for the elderly, women, children and persons with disabilities,” she said.
The minister said Punjab has launched several initiatives targeting vulnerable groups, including Project Jeevanjot to eradicate child begging. She said 766 children have been rescued so far and rehabilitative measures initiated under the programme’s second phase.
On child protection, Kaur said 64 child marriages were stopped during 2025. “The network of 2,076 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers has played a key role in timely intervention,” she said.
She said school transport safety checks were intensified, with 2,385 school buses inspected in the past four months. “Challans were issued to 404 buses, and two vehicles were seized for violations,” she said.
Kaur also said Punjab became the first state to introduce sign language interpretation for proceedings of the legislative assembly to ensure accessibility for persons with hearing and speech disabilities.
On women’s welfare, she said free bus travel for women continued across the state, benefiting about 1.2 crore women every month, with ₹450 crore spent by November 2025. In addition, ₹26.06 crore was transferred via DBT to over 69,000 pregnant and lactating women during the current financial year.
“The government remains committed to inclusive development and strengthening social security systems,” Kaur said.
