Gujarat Boosts Ganga Swarupa Yojana Budget to ₹3,015 Cr

Gandhinagar : The Gujarat government has consistently increased the budget for the Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana to provide greater financial support to widowed women. Notably, within just one year, the scheme’s budget has been expanded by approximately ₹700 crore.

While the allocation for 2024-25 stood at ₹2,362.67 crore, it has been raised to ₹3,015 crore for 2025-26. Furthermore, as of February 2025, a total of ₹2,164.64 crore has been disbursed to16.49 lakh widowed women under the scheme, reaffirming the Gujarat government’s strong commitment to women’s financial empowerment.

‘Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana Ensures Our Children’s Education’

One of the Beneficiaries from Dang, Devyaniben Padavi, stated that “After my husband passed away in 2021, I came to know about the Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana. The monthly assistance of ₹1,250 has been a great support in managing my household expenses. I am truly grateful to the Department of Women and Child Development for this invaluable help.”

While other beneficiaries from Patan, Hina Patel & Nikita Prajapati, said that, “The Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana has become a ray of hope in our lives. The financial assistance we receive not only helps us manage our household expenses but also ensures our children’s education. We are truly grateful to the Gujarat government for this support.”

Steady Increase in Budget Allocation for Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana

The Gujarat government has shown a compassionate and proactive approach by consistently increasing the budget allocation for the Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana. From ₹549.74 crore in 2020-21, the budget has surged nearly 500% to ₹3,015 crore for 2025-26. Over the past five years, the number of beneficiaries has also witnessed continuous growth, reflecting the government’s unwavering commitment to women’s financial empowerment. The budget allocation, total expenditure, and beneficiary count for the last five financial years are as follows:

| Financial Year | Budget Allocation (₹ Crore) | Expenditure (₹ Crore) | Number of Beneficiaries (in Lakh) |
|—————|—————-|—————-|—————-|
| 2020-21 | 549.74 | 1313.38 | 8.16 |
| 2021-22 | 753.47 | 1768.86 | 11.61 |
| 2022-23 | 917.02 | 2156.29 | 13.62 |
| 2023-24 | 1981.76 | 2297.43 | 14.97 |
| 2024-25 (Feb-25) | 2362.67 | 2164.64 | 16.49 |

Provisions Under the Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana

In 2019, the Gujarat government increased the monthly financial assistance for widowed women under this scheme to ₹1,250 and implemented the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to ensure efficient and transparent disbursement. Previously, the assistance was discontinued once the widow’s son attained adulthood (21 years). However, this provision has now been abolished, ensuring lifelong financial support for Ganga Swarupa beneficiaries and reaffirming the government’s commitment to their financial security and well-being.

Additionally, the annual income limit for rural women increased from ₹47,000 to ₹1,20,000, while for urban women, it rose from ₹68,000 to ₹1,50,000. As a result, the number of beneficiaries has seen a phenomenal rise—from 1.64 lakh in 2018-19 to 16.49 lakh by February 2025.

Through the Ganga Swarupa Aarthik Sahay Yojana, Gujarat has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring economic security and dignity for widowed women. As the state continues to expand its welfare initiatives, it stands as a shining example of empowerment, equality, and progress for women across India.