Puducherry starts to disburse Rs 5,000 to 63,000 women heads of BPL families

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry govt has announced the disbursement of the enhanced monthly assistance for women heads of families holding red ration cards (below poverty line). A lump sum amount of Rs 5,000 -- covering the months of Feb and March 2026 -- is being credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries starting from March 9, as directed by chief minister N Rangasamy.This initiative aims to provide financial support to women heads of families who are not recipients of any other govt assistance. There are approximately 63,000 women heads of families. The govt has allocated Rs31.50 crore for this payout.Rangasamy had previously announced the hike from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 per month during the 2025-26 budget to strengthen the economic independence of women in the Union territory. By providing this two-month combined payment through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, the administration aims to help families manage their household requirements more effectively. The funds have been cleared, and the credit process to individual bank accounts has commenced as of Monday.