Government schemes for women in Puducherry, ₹2,500 a month for women heads of poor families

Also called Women head of family assistance Puducherry, Rs 2500 scheme Puducherry, Kudumba thalaivi udhavi thogai, Magalir urimai thogai Puducherry, Red ration card women Rs 2500

₹2,500 a month

₹2,500 a month paid to the woman who is head of a poor family. It is for women aged 21 to 55 who are named head of family on a BPL ration card (the red card for families below the poverty line) and have lived in Puducherry for the last five years.

Status

Paying in 2026: the 2026-27 budget speech of 24 August 2026 says the amount was raised from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 a month and about 63,000 women now get it, and the government is adding more eligible women; checked 25 October 2026.

Who can apply

• A woman who has lived in the Union territory of Puducherry continuously for the past five years
• Head of a BPL family ration card, aged 21 to 55
• Does not get any other financial assistance funded fully or partly by the Central or State Government
• Does not live in an institution or home that gives free boarding and lodging
• If two or more women are on the same BPL card, only the elder woman aged 21 to 55 is eligible

Documents

• BPL (red) ration card that names her as head of family

How to apply

1. There is no separate form to start with: the department picks eligible women from the Civil Supplies ration card records
2. If you fit the rules and are not getting the money, go to the Old Age Pension section of the Women and Child Development Department
3. Keep your ration card details and a bank account in your own name up to date

In person: Puducherry: Deputy Director (Social Defence), Old Age Pension Section, Department of Women and Child Development, Sithankudi. Karaikal: Child Development Project Officer. Mahe and Yanam: Welfare Officer

Run by

Department of Women and Child Development (Social Defence), Government of Puducherry

The department's own scheme page still shows the old amount of ₹1,000; the ₹2,500 amount is in the 2026-27 budget speech and the Lieutenant Governor's address of August 2026. You cannot get this if you already get another government pension or cash scheme. A ₹1,000 a month payment for women on yellow (above poverty line) cards has been promised but no official order was found.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Grant of Monthly Financial Assistance to Women who are Heads of Families living Below Poverty Line (BPL), Hon'ble Chief Minister's Budget Speech 2026-2027 (24 August 2026), para 211, Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor's speech to the Puducherry Legislative Assembly 2026-27, para 130, Hon'ble CM Budget Speech 2025-26, para 170 (rise to ₹2,500 announced), Rs 2,500 credited to the bank accounts of women heads of households (20 May 2026) · Official page to apply

Also called Widow pension Puducherry, Destitute pension Puducherry, Deserted women pension, Unmarried women pension Puducherry, Vidhavai udhavi thogai, Aadharavatror udhavi thogai

₹2,500 a month

A monthly pension of ₹2,500 from the Puducherry government for widows, women deserted by their husbands for seven years, and unmarried women over 40. The same scheme also pays older people and transgender persons.

Status

Paying in 2026: the Lieutenant Governor's address of 24 August 2026 says 1,96,616 people get this pension and widows, destitutes and unmarried women now get ₹2,500 a month; new names are added when places and funds allow (checked 25 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Widow aged 18 or above
• Deserted woman, deserted for the past seven years in a row
• Unmarried woman aged above 40
• Needs an income certificate (the page lists ₹75,000) and a residence certificate

Documents

• Identification, income and residence certificate
• Attested copy of birth certificate or other proof of age
• Attested copy of ration card or identity card
• Widows: attested copy of husband's death certificate
• Deserted women: certificate from the MLA and the Anganwadi worker that she has been deserted for seven years in a row, and a sworn affidavit (Appendix I)
• Unmarried women: a sworn affidavit (Appendix II)

How to apply

1. Get your income, residence and identity certificates
2. Take the application and documents to the Old Age Pension Section of the Women and Child Development Department (or the office for your region)
3. Selection happens from time to time, depending on vacancies and funds

In person: Puducherry: Deputy Director (Social Defence), Old Age Pension Section, Department of Women and Child Development, Sithankudi. Karaikal: Child Development Project Officer. Mahe and Yanam: Welfare Officer

Run by

Department of Women and Child Development (Social Defence), Government of Puducherry

There is a waiting list: the page says selection depends on vacancies and funds. The department's scheme page still shows the older amount of ₹2,000; the rise of ₹500 to ₹2,500 is in the Lieutenant Governor's address of August 2026. Older news saying widows get ₹3,000 is wrong.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Old Age Persons and Destitutes Pension, Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor's speech to the Puducherry Legislative Assembly 2026-27, paras 128 and 129, Hon'ble Chief Minister's Budget Speech 2026-2027 (24 August 2026), para 210 · Official page to apply

Also called Employment exchange Puducherry, Velaivaaippu aluvalagam, Employment Exchange Puducherry YouTube channel, Free coaching for government jobs Puducherry

Free job seeker registration, and free online coaching for government job exams

Register with the Puducherry Employment Exchange to be considered for jobs, and use its free online coaching for government job exams. The 2026 classes covered English, general knowledge, maths, science, history, computers, aptitude and current affairs.

Status

Registration runs all year; the free online coaching for government job exams started on 9 July 2026 for three months on the Employment Exchange Puducherry YouTube channel (checked 25 October 2026).

Who can apply

• Job seekers
• The 2026 coaching was for students and job seekers preparing for government job exams

How to apply

1. Open the Labour Department site and use the Employment Online Registration or Online Renewal link
2. If the online site does not open, visit or call the Employment Exchange
3. For the coaching, follow the Employment Exchange Puducherry YouTube channel; 2026 classes were Monday to Friday, 6 pm to 8 pm

In person: Employment Exchange, Ground Floor, Labour Department Complex, Gandhi Nagar, Vazhudhavur Road, Puducherry 605009 (+91-413-2274672)

Run by

Employment Exchange, Labour Department, Government of Puducherry

Registration does not mean a job. The online registration site (ee.py.gov.in) did not open in our checks in October 2026, so call or visit the office. The three month 2026 coaching batch has ended; ask the office about the next one.

Checked 25 October 2026 against Employment Exchange: Free Online Coaching Class for Competitive Examination, Press Release (9 July 2026), Labour-Employment Exchange-Free On-line Coaching Class for Competitive Examination, Contact Us (Employment Exchange address and phone) · Official page to apply

Also called Puducherry industrial subsidy for women, Women entrepreneur subsidy Puducherry, Entrepreneurship Promotion and Industrial Development Scheme, 45 percent subsidy Puducherry

Subsidy of 45% of what you invest in land, building and machinery, up to ₹75 lakh

A one-time subsidy for women who set up or expand an industrial unit in Puducherry: 45% of the money put into land, building, plant and machinery, up to ₹75 lakh. Other units get 40% (up to ₹40 lakh), so women get a higher rate.

Status

Running in 2026: the 2026-27 budget speech of 24 August 2026 says ₹8.50 crore will go this year to about 40 industrial units, including units run by women, and that the industrial policy is being revised; checked 25 October 2026.

Who can apply

• Industrial unit fully owned by women; in a partnership or company, all partners, shareholders and directors must be women
• Investment made on or after 1 April 2017
• Apply within one year of starting regular commercial production
• At least 60% of the unit's workers must be people of the Union territory of Puducherry
• Used buildings and second hand machinery do not count

Documents

• Subsidy application in the form set by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce
• Chartered Accountant's certificate for the claim
• Certificate from the bank or financial institution if you took a loan

How to apply

1. Start production and keep the bills for land, building and machinery
2. Within one year of starting regular production, file the subsidy form with the Directorate of Industries and Commerce
3. A State Level Committee checks the claim and the Director sanctions it; if you have a bank loan the money goes through the bank

In person: Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Thattanchavady, Puducherry (+91-413-2233347); Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam offices of the department

Run by

Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Government of Puducherry

This is for industrial units (manufacturing), not small shops or home businesses. If the unit stops working, or a partner who is not a woman joins, within five years, the subsidy must be paid back with 14% interest. The government says a new industrial policy is being written, so check the current rate before you invest.

Checked 25 October 2026 against G.O. Ms. No. 2/Ind. & Com./A6/2017, Gazette of Puducherry, 6 June 2017, Subsidy / Incentives, Hon'ble Chief Minister's Budget Speech 2026-2027 (24 August 2026), paras 101 and 105 · Official page to apply