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Chandigarh, Punjab

As long as AAP Govt is in Punjab, free electricity will continue: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann

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SANGRUR:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday said the upcoming Budget of the Punjab Government will introduce several new pro-people initiatives aimed at accelerating economic growth while strengthening welfare measures for the people. Addressing a gathering during a Lok Milni in District Sangrur and later speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said the Punjab Government has utilised public money responsibly over the past four years, delivering free power to more than 90% households, establishing 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics, and providing over 63,000 government jobs without bribe or recommendation.

Taking a swipe at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Chief Minister said the Akali leadership has lost touch with the realities of Punjab and should stop daydreaming about returning to power. He remarked that while Punjab’s youth need employment opportunities, Sukhbir Singh Badal is busy talking about organising card tournaments in villages.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said traditional political parties burdened Punjab with debt and worked for their own interests, whereas the Punjab Government is using every rupee from the state exchequer for the welfare of the people. He also criticised the Union Government for withholding Punjab’s rightful funds while simultaneously attempting to divide people through politics of polarisation.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a Lok Milni programme, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated. “The ensuing budget of the Punjab Government will introduce several pro-people initiatives besides propelling economic growth of Punjab. The Punjab Government has judiciously spent the taxpayers’ money in the last four years with a focus on the holistic growth of Punjab. The upcoming budget will also focus on citizen-centric initiatives so that the people can get major relief. For the first time in the history of Punjab, the budget will be presented on Sunday and it will further accelerate the economic development of Punjab.”

The Chief Minister emphasised that the Punjab Government is carefully utilising public funds for the welfare of the people. He highlighted that major initiatives such as free power and daytime electricity supply for farmers have brought significant relief to households and the farming community. “The Punjab Government is judiciously utilising every single penny of the state exchequer for the well-being of the people. Today more than 90% households in Punjab are getting free power and farmers are receiving power during daytime, which has been unprecedented. At a time when the assets of the country are being handed over by the Union Government to their blue-eyed friends at throwaway prices, the Punjab Government has created history by purchasing a private thermal plant,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Highlighting improvements in healthcare, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government has significantly strengthened public health infrastructure and expanded access to medical services. “As many as 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened in Punjab to provide free healthcare to people and quality healthcare services are being ensured in government hospitals.”

The Chief Minister noted, “To provide comprehensive healthcare, the Punjab Government has launched the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, a first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab. Punjab is the first Indian state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage, which has significantly reduced the financial burden on the public while ensuring quality health services.”

Speaking about the campaign against drugs, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government has launched an aggressive movement to eliminate the menace from Punjab. “The Punjab Government has launched the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign under which the supply line of drugs has been snapped and drug smugglers involved in this heinous crime have been put behind bars. The menace of drugs is being wiped out at the micro level with the active support and cooperation of the people. This campaign has now become a mass movement with the help of the common masses,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

The Chief Minister said that the present financial situation of Punjab is the result of policies adopted by previous governments, which placed a heavy debt burden on the people. “The previous regimes mounted huge debt on Punjab as those leaders never worried about the common man. In the last four years, the Punjab Government has reduced more than 35% of the debt of Punjab. Every government takes loans but those loans must be for productive purposes. Every single penny from the state exchequer is being utilised for the welfare of the people and the progress of Punjab,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Criticising the BJP, the Chief Minister said that divisive politics is being used to polarise people instead of addressing genuine concerns. “The BJP has always tried to divide the country on the basis of religion to push its agenda of hatred. The statement made by the Union Home Minister regarding religious conversion in Punjab is aimed at polarising people, which is the strategy of the BJP. Instead of indulging in such dirty politics, the Union Government should be generous in allocating funds to Punjab instead of withholding the legitimate share of Punjab,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that despite Punjab’s immense contribution to the nation, the Union Government has stalled key funds meant for the development of Punjab. “Punjab has played a stellar role in the national freedom struggle, in making the country self-reliant in food production and in defending the borders of the nation. Despite this, the share of Punjab in RDF and other funds has been stalled by the Centre, which is hampering development. Rather than indulging in such cheap tactics, the Union Government should immediately release the funds so that the development of Punjab can be further accelerated,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Referring to Punjabis stranded in the Gulf region amid the ongoing war, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government is actively coordinating with the Union Government to ensure their safe return. “The Punjab Government has identified 370 Punjabis who are stranded in the Gulf region amidst the ongoing war. We have already taken up this issue with the Union Government and efforts are being made to bring them back. The Punjab Government is firmly committed to bringing back the Punjabis stuck in the Middle Eastern countries and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause,” he said.

Earlier addressing the gathering during the Lok Milni programme, the Chief Minister said that such events are organised in village saths to ensure direct interaction with villagers and resolve issues at the grassroots level. “These programmes are organised in village saths to directly interact with people of the villages. Such places hold great importance in rural life as key decisions regarding development are taken here and disputes among villagers are resolved amicably,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Taking a dig at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Chief Minister criticised the suggestion of organising card tournaments in villages. “Sukhbir Singh Badal says that they will organise card tournaments and the winning village will get a ₹10 lakh grant. Instead of making such statements, he should explain why he cannot promise jobs for the youth who play these cards. The former Deputy Chief Minister is unaware of ground realities because he studied in convent schools in hill stations or abroad,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab have rejected traditional political parties due to their anti-people policies. “Sukhbir Singh Badal should stop daydreaming because the people of Punjab will never vote them back to power. The Punjab Government will complete four years of service to the people on March 16 and during this period several pro-people initiatives have been taken. Today more than 90% households in Punjab are getting free power and farmers are receiving power during daytime, which is unprecedented,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Highlighting issues related to power generation and past decisions of previous governments, the Chief Minister said, “The supply of coal from the Pachwara coal mine in Jharkhand was stopped because Sukhbir Singh Badal wanted to benefit a firm close to him. The Akali leadership supplied solar power to Punjab at exorbitant prices by signing agreements with their own companies, which caused huge losses to the state exchequer. Earlier farmers had to spend nights in their fields waiting for electricity, but today they are receiving power during the daytime,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

The Chief Minister also spoke about improvements in irrigation and water management. “When the Punjab Government assumed office, only 21% of canal water was being used for irrigation. Today 68% canal water is being utilised for irrigation in Punjab. As many as 6,900 km of water channels and 18,349 water courses have been revived to ensure water reaches the tail ends, which has immensely benefited farmers,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Highlighting employment and education reforms, the Chief Minister noted, “More than 63,000 government jobs have been given to the youth without any bribe or recommendation, which has brought satisfaction across all sections of society. In the education sector, Schools of Eminence have been established across Punjab to provide quality education to students. These schools have smart classrooms, modern laboratories and playgrounds for scientific learning,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

He further said that teachers and principals are being sent abroad for training to improve teaching standards. “Special programmes have been launched under which teachers and principals are sent abroad for training so that they can adopt modern teaching practices and prepare students for global competition. Punjab has ranked first in the National Achievement Survey conducted by the Government of India, surpassing even Kerala. Students are also being given specialised coaching for competitive examinations such as Armed Forces preparation, NEET, JEE, CLAT and NIFT,” stated CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

The Chief Minister said that students from government schools have already begun achieving significant academic milestones. “Students from Schools of Eminence and other government schools have successfully qualified for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced and NEET examinations. The Akali leadership misused religion for political interests, which the people of Punjab will never forgive. Traditional political parties are unable to accept that the son of a common man is effectively governing Punjab,” said Bhagwant Singh Mann.

The Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab have rejected traditional parties because they prioritised family interests over public welfare. “The people of Punjab have lost faith in traditional political parties because of their anti-people and anti-Punjab approach. Previous rulers were more concerned about their families rather than Punjab and Punjabis, which is why people removed them from power. After assuming office, the Punjab Government has focused on the progress and prosperity of Punjab and its people,” he said.

Criticising the Akali leadership further, the Chief Minister said, “Those leaders who cannot even find 11 members to form a committee in their own party are dreaming of winning all 117 seats in Punjab. These leaders patronised gangsters in Punjab and injected drugs into the veins of youth by protecting drug smugglers,” he asserted.

The Chief Minister added that the people of Punjab will continue to reject the Akali leadership for its past actions. “Akali Dal has become a party of political deadwoods rejected by the people again and again. They may try to misuse religion, but Punjabis will not be misled by it. The Akali leadership is building castles in the air to mislead people, but Punjabis will teach them a befitting lesson again,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Referring to past controversies, the Chief Minister said, “Sukhbir Singh Badal claims that all development in Punjab took place during their regime, but they turn a blind eye to sacrilege incidents such as Bargari and Behbal Kalan. By using religion for political interests, they have deeply hurt the sentiments of the people. The Akali leadership remains hand in glove with forces that are inimical to the Panth and Punjab,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Chandigarh

Speaker extends heartiest greetings to people of Punjab on occasion of Holi festival

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Chandigarh, 4 March 2026:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S Kultar Singh Sandhwan extends heartiest greetings to all Punjabis on the occasion of the sacred festival of Holi and Hola Mohalla.

He said may this festival fill the life of  Punjabis with happiness, best health and prosperity. He prayed to Almighty that may God fulfill all the desires of  Punjabis residing across the globe.

Chandigarh

Sandhwan condoles  demise of Raja Singh Oberoi founder of Indian television brand Texla

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Chandigarh,  March 4, 2026:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of Raja Singh Oberoi founder of Indian television brand Texla who introduced affordable TV sets in 1980s in India. He was a visionary enterpreneur who achieved landmark achievement through his hard work.

Speaker Sandhwan  deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away and he prayed to the God to grant peace to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.

Chandigarh

Speaker urges parents to restrict use of mobile phones by their children

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Chandigarh:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S Kultar Singh Sandhwan urged the parents to keep away mobile phones from their children. Nowadays mobile phones have become a part of children’s lives, but its excessive use is a matter of concern. We should be very careful and keep keen watch on children as mobile phones put harmful effects.

Elaborating the harmful effects he said that mobile phones are putting strain on eyes  and heads. It leads to create lack of sleep and  lack of concentration in studies. It will also create distance from family as well as from outdoor games resulting in their health problems.

Speaker Sandhwan appealed that it is the responsibility of every parents to limit the screen time of children and motivate them towards books, games and creative activities. Let’s make the future of our children safe and secure.

Chandigarh

RS MP & LPU Founder-Chancellor Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal Launches Holi Tribute Film “#EkMutthiGulaal”

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JALANDHAR / CHANDIGARH: This Holi, while the nation celebrated with colours and laughter, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and Founder-Chancellor of Lovely Professional University, Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, chose to turn the festival into a moment of remembrance by launching a deeply moving tribute film titled “#EkMutthiGulaal.”

The film captures a quiet, emotional exchange between a young girl and her father, an Army officer. In a simple conversation about the colour red, he gently reveals that for him it is not just a shade of celebration, it is a reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the silent price of freedom. It reminds viewers that the vibrancy of our festivals rests on the bravery of those who stand guard, often far away from their own families.

Calling upon citizens to transform celebration into gratitude, Dr. Mittal urged every Indian to offer one handful of red gulaal in memory of the nation’s martyrs. “Our soldiers give everything so that we may live, celebrate, and dream in peace,” Dr. Mittal said. “While we gather with our loved ones, there are families who hold memories instead of hands. Let this Holi not pass without remembering those who made our joy possible. Let one handful of gulaal rise for Bharat’s bravehearts, in gratitude, in respect, and in love.”

The initiative has already resonated widely, with many citizens, students, and families joining the movement by sharing short tribute videos and offering red gulaal in remembrance. At the LPU campus, Dr. Mittal, along with students, offered a symbolic tribute by releasing red gulaal into the air and observing a moment of silence, a powerful reminder that while colours fade, sacrifice never does.

Chandigarh

Punjab Under AAP Govt Ranks Among Top-3 States in Revenue Growth as Own Tax Collection Jumps to Rs 57,919 Crore: Harpal Singh Cheema

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CHANDIGARH, 3rd March 2026:

Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said that under the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Punjab has emerged among the top three states in the country for remarkable achievements in revenue growth, asserting that the state’s financial performance over the past four years reflects structural reform, fiscal discipline and administrative transparency. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Harpal Singh Cheema presented detailed data to underline what he described as a decisive turnaround in Punjab’s fiscal health.

Addressing a press conference, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Punjab’s own tax revenue has surged significantly, rising from ₹37,327 crore, which was 6.39% of the Gross State Domestic Product in 2021-22, to an impressive ₹57,919 crore, accounting for 7.15% of the Gross State Domestic Product in 2024-25.”

Presenting figures on excise collections, the Excise and Taxation Minister noted that excise revenue has increased by 86.77% in less than four years. He said, “During the five-year tenure of the SAD-BJP government, total excise collection was ₹20,545 crore with an annual average of ₹4,109 crore. The subsequent Congress government collected ₹27,395 crore over five years, averaging ₹5,479 crore annually. In stark contrast, the AAP government has already amassed ₹37,975 crore up to January 2026, achieving a staggering annual average of ₹9,907 crore. Furthermore, excise revenue in 2021-22 under the Congress regime was ₹6,157 crore, whereas it is expected to reach ₹11,500 crore in the financial year 2025-26. As a percentage of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product, excise revenue has grown from 1.05% in 2021-22 to 1.28% in 2024-25.”

Highlighting performance under the GST (Goods and Services Tax) regime, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said similar success has been recorded in GST collections. He said, “The previous Congress administration relied heavily on GST compensation and failed to take concrete steps to broaden the tax base. Their five-year total stood at ₹61,286 crore, averaging ₹12,257 crore annually.”

He further stated, “The AAP government, however, has collected ₹83,739 crore up to January 2026, pushing the annual average to ₹21,845 crore. State GST revenue, which was ₹15,542 crore in 2021-22, is projected to surpass ₹26,500 crore in 2025-26. Despite the rationalization under GST 2.0, the state recorded a massive 70.50% growth in its GST revenue.”

Turning to land and property registrations, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said revenue from stamp duty has also witnessed a historic rise. He said, “During the Congress tenure 2017-22, stamp duty collections saw an increase of less than 1 percent compared to the preceding Akali Dal government 2012-17. The SAD-BJP government collected a total of ₹12,387 crore averaging ₹2,477 crore annually, while the Congress managed only ₹12,469 crore averaging ₹2,494 crore annually.”

He added, “Conversely, the AAP administration has generated ₹19,515 crore by January 2026, with an annual average of ₹5,091 crore. This indicates that in just four years, the AAP government collected 60 percent more stamp duty than the five-year terms of previous governments. At this accelerated pace, the revenue is expected to double the Congress era’s total by the 2026-27 financial year.”

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to development, Harpal Singh Cheema said Punjab has recorded a historic boost in capital expenditure. He said, “Over five years, the SAD-BJP government spent ₹14,641 crore, and the Congress government spent ₹19,356 crore on capital expenditure. The AAP government is going to spend ₹31,630 crore.”

Addressing the inherited debt burden, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asserted, “The AAP government received a legacy debt of approximately ₹3,00,000 crore. Because of this massive historical burden, 35 percent of all new loans taken are utilized simply to clear the liabilities left by previous governments. Another 50 percent of the debt goes toward paying interest on older loans. Consequently, less than 15 percent of the borrowed funds are actually available for the AAP government to use for the state.”

Despite these constraints, he said the government has reduced the Debt-to-Gross State Domestic Product ratio from 48.25% to 44.47%. Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The AAP government has allocated ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 crore for implementing the Pay Commission and clearing ₹14,191 crore in Pay Commission arrears pending from 2016 to 2021. Furthermore, ₹2,566 crore was spent to bail out financially distressed state entities like PUNSUP, Land Mortgage Bank, PSIDC, and the Mandi Board.”

He further said that the government has paid ₹1,750 crore to clear arrears of central schemes left unpaid by the Congress administration.

Outlining long-term fiscal safeguards, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The AAP government has made substantial investments in the Consolidated Sinking Fund and Guarantee Redemption Fund maintained with the RBI. As of March 31, 2022, the state had only ₹3,027 crore in the Consolidated Sinking Fund and nothing in the Guarantee Redemption Fund. By December 2025, these reserves have swelled to ₹10,738 crore in the Consolidated Sinking Fund and ₹982 crore in the Guarantee Redemption Fund, bringing the total to ₹11,720 crore.”

He added, “This represents an overall increase of ₹8,693 crore, a staggering 287% growth in less than four years. This proactive investment acts as a buffer against any sudden financial crises and aids in systematically retiring state debt.”

Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated these improvements were achieved despite a sharp decline in central support. He said, “Between 2017 and 2022, the Congress government received ₹17,740 crore in Revenue Deficit grants and ₹54,600 crore in GST compensation, totaling ₹72,340 crore. In contrast, the current government has received only ₹15,887 crore in Revenue Deficit grants and ₹11,945 crore in GST compensation totaling ₹27,832 crore up to January 2026.”

He added that the present government received 62% less in Revenue Deficit grants and GST compensation compared to the previous government, and these grants have now been completely halted.

Concluding the press conference, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema highlighted digital and administrative reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in treasury operations. He said the Finance Department launched the ‘Pension Seva Portal’ to digitize the entire pension distribution system and implemented an ‘e-Deposit Management System’ to tackle banking fraud and enhance transparency. He said, “Additionally, the state achieved a major milestone by receiving over ₹800 crore as an incentive for effectively digitizing schemes through the SNA-SPARSH initiative.”

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Over 28,000 women register as Bhagwant Mann Govt gears up to honour women entrepreneurs on Women’s Day: Tarunpreet Singh Sond

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CHANDIGARH:

With more than 28,000 registrations already pouring in, the Bhagwant Mann Government is set to honour 14,100 women entrepreneurs across the state as part of its Women’s Day outreach, underscoring an aggressive push towards rural women-led growth. Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond announced that 100 top entrepreneurs will receive ₹25,000 each at a state level function on March 18, marking what the government describes as a large-scale recognition of women driven enterprise under the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM).

Reviewing preparations through video conferencing, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond stated, “The Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission is receiving an overwhelming response, with over 28,000 women registering for the felicitation events.” He directed officials to widely disseminate information about the series of events to ensure maximum participation and appealed to women entrepreneurs across the state to actively take part in the mega celebrations dedicated to women’s empowerment.

Outlining the state level programme, he continued, “The state level function will be held on March 18, 2026, during which the top 100 selected women entrepreneurs of Punjab will be awarded ₹25,000 each. The event will be live streamed at the district, block and gram panchayat levels to ensure that every village remains connected to the celebrations.”

Detailing the scale of the initiative, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said that felicitation events have already commenced at the block and constituency levels and will progress to the district level from March 12 before culminating in the state level function. He said, “From each constituency, 100 Self Help Group women entrepreneurs will be felicitated, totalling 11,700 women across the state. Similarly, from 23 districts, 2,300 women entrepreneurs will be honoured, with 100 from each district. At the state level, a committee will select the top 100 women entrepreneurs, who will be awarded ₹25,000 each.” In total, 14,100 women entrepreneurs will be honoured across Punjab.

Highlighting the broader impact of the mission, the Punjab Minister added, “PSRLM is working relentlessly to economically empower women from rural poor families by connecting them with Self Help Groups. Around 58,000 Self Help Groups are currently functioning in the state, with nearly six lakh rural women associated with them. The Punjab Government has provided a revolving fund of ₹30,000, a community investment fund of ₹50,000 and loan facilities at an interest rate of 7 percent to these beneficiaries.”

Emphasising the support framework, he further said that through the PSRLM, women are being provided financial assistance along with training, market linkages, banking support and access to social security schemes. These initiatives are enhancing the income of rural families and improving their social status.

Urging wider participation, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond emphasised, “All stakeholders must help economically empower more women by connecting them with Self Help Groups so that the dream of Sashakt Mahila, Sashakt Punjab can be realised.”

The video conference was attended by Administrative Secretary Ajit Balaji Joshi, Joint Development Commissioner Shena Aggarwal, Director Rural Development and Panchayat Uma Shankar Gupta and Nodal Officer Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission Ramandeep Sharma among others.

Chandigarh

Welfare with dignity & transparency at core of Bhagwant Mann Govt: Dr Baljit Kaur

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CHANDIGARH, March 3:

Addressing a press conference held at Punjab Bhawan, Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities of Punjab, Dr Baljit Kaur on Tuesday said the Punjab Government has implemented a sensitive, transparent and people centric welfare model through the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development and the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, ensuring that almost every household in the state benefits from one scheme or another, especially senior citizens, women, children, persons with disabilities, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other marginalised communities.

Detailing support for the elderly, Dr Baljit Kaur stated, “At present, 23,62,579 needy senior citizens are receiving a monthly pension of ₹1500 through Direct Benefit Transfer directly into their bank accounts within the first week of every month.”

She added that strict monitoring led to the removal of ineligible and deceased beneficiaries, resulting in recovery of ₹170 crore. Two modern old age homes at Tapa and Mansa have been made operational at a cost of ₹17.33 crore, providing accommodation, food, clothing, healthcare and mental wellbeing support, while NGOs working for senior citizens have received grants worth ₹11.43 crore.

Referring to the “Sada Buzurg Sada Maan” campaign, she added that district level camps launched in 2024 strengthened the physical and mental health of senior citizens, with over 20,000 elderly persons participating in 2024 and again more than 20,000 this year, availing healthcare support, legal aid and assistive devices.

Emphasising women empowerment, the cabinet minister continued, “Under the free bus travel facility for women, an expenditure of ₹2042 crore has been incurred, enabling women to access education, employment and healthcare without financial barriers.” She informed that five Working Women Hostels, three in Mohali and one each in Jalandhar and Amritsar, are under construction at a cost of ₹150 crore and will be completed within the year, with crèche facilities to support working mothers.

Strengthening grassroots delivery, she said 4,377 Anganwadi Workers and Helpers were recruited in 2023 through a transparent process and recruitment of 6,110 more will be completed shortly to enhance nutrition services and early childhood care. She added that menstrual hygiene is being promoted through sanitary pad distribution via over 27,000 Anganwadi Centres and that 6.48 lakh widows, divorced, deserted and low income women are receiving ₹1500 monthly pension without interruption.

On maternity and child welfare, Dr Baljit Kaur shared, “Against a central target of 2,94,288 beneficiaries under Matru Vandana Yojana, Punjab covered 4,22,492 women over four years. Over 1000 new Anganwadi Centres have been constructed, dilapidated buildings repaired and 100 Saksham Anganwadi Centres are being developed in Moga and Ferozepur with modern facilities, while training was imparted to all Anganwadi Workers at a cost of ₹10 crore to promote play based learning.”

Highlighting child protection, she added that under Mission Jeevanjyot, children found begging were rescued and enrolled in schools with continuous monitoring. She informed that 165 child marriage cases were detected over four years, 150 were prevented and FIRs registered in 15 cases, while the sponsorship scheme expanded from around 1,700 beneficiaries earlier to nearly 11,000 children, each receiving ₹4000 per month. “Adoption services were strengthened in 16 districts, resulting in 138 successful adoptions including 26 inter country adoptions,” she added.

On support for vulnerable groups, the Punjab minister shared, “2,94,440 dependent children are receiving ₹1500 monthly pension and a dedicated Disability Cell has been established for single window assistance. The ₹1000 monthly disability assistance was restored, disability employees were exempted from night duties and long distance postings on request, and pension for acid attack victims was enhanced from ₹8000 to ₹10,000 per month and made gender neutral. Free bus travel has been extended to attendants of visually impaired persons and sign language interpretation was introduced for the first time during a Punjab Vidhan Sabha session.”

She added that Post matric scholarships worth ₹1943 crore were disbursed over the past four years. Backlogs from 2017 to 2020 were cleared by releasing ₹366 crore to private colleges and ₹92 crore to government institutions, enabling students to receive pending degrees. The Dr B R Ambedkar Scholarship Portal and Free Ship Card system were launched to ensure transparency and fee free admissions, increasing beneficiaries to nearly 2.7 lakh students annually.

She further said that under the Ashirwad Scheme, ₹51,000 marriage assistance is being provided irrespective of caste, with ₹1023 crore released so far, while ₹100 crore has been released under the Adarsh Gram Yojana for development in Scheduled Caste dominated villages and ₹6 crore long pending dues under the inter caste marriage incentive scheme have been cleared.

Concluding, Dr Baljit Kaur stated, “The Punjab Government remains firmly committed to ensuring that every welfare scheme reaches the rightful beneficiary on time and with complete transparency, enabling every citizen of Punjab to live with dignity, security and equal opportunity.”

Chandigarh

Joint Venture of SSB Group & Mahindra Group to Invest Rs 460 Crore in Punjab; 700 Employment Opportunities to be Created: Sanjeev Arora

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Punjab’s Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and Local Government, Sanjeev Arora, today announced a landmark investment of ₹460 crore by a joint venture between SSB Group and Mahindra Group in the hospitality sector of Punjab.

The investment will be undertaken under the banner of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, marking the company’s first-ever investment in Punjab.

The Minister informed that the project will generate approximately 700 employment opportunities, significantly strengthening the local economy.

 Project Details

The development will comprise three major components:

₹300 crore investment in a premium Resort

₹50 crore investment in the largest convention centre ever in the region, spread over 90,000 sq. ft.

₹110 crore investment in a hotel near the Golden Temple in Amritsar

The Resort and Convention Centre will be developed at Village Khasa on Wagah Road, Amritsar, spanning approximately 15 acres of land.

Existing Presence of SSB Group

Sanjeev Arora stated that SSB Group currently operates three hotel properties in Amritsar with around 120 rooms across its hospitality portfolio:

Hotel Fortune Ranjit Vihar

Regenta Inn

Regenta Central

Boost to Tourism & MICE Sector

The Minister emphasized that the 90,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Convention Centre will significantly boost MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) tourism in Punjab. With Amritsar being one of India’s most prominent spiritual and heritage destinations, the project will position the city as a leading destination for large-scale national and international events, destination weddings, and corporate conventions.

Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to fostering a pro-investment environment, Sanjeev Arora stated that the entry of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited into Punjab reflects growing investor confidence in the state’s progressive industrial policies and ease of doing business framework.

Chandigarh

DAY 42 OF GANGSTRAN TE VAAR: PUNJAB POLICE CONDUCTS 471 RAIDS; 148 HELD

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CHANDIGARH, March 3:

          As the decisive ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann enters its 42nd day, Punjab Police on Tuesday conducted 471 raids at the at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.

          As per the information, the “Gangstran Te Vaar”— a decisive war to make Punjab a gangster-free state was launched by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026. Police teams from all the districts in coordination with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab has been conducting special operations across the state.

          On Day 42, Police teams arrested 148 individuals and recovered two weapons from their possession, taking the total arrests to 12,433 since the launch of the campaign.

 Apart from this, preventive action has been taken against 70 persons, whereas, 108 persons were verified and released after questioning. Police teams have also arrested one proclaimed offender (POs) during the operation.

          People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

          Meanwhile, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” for 367th day with 87 drug smugglers arrested on Tuesday and recovered 1.1 kg heroin, 2 kg poppy husk, 408 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 17,950 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 52,009 in just 367 days. As part of De-addiction, the Punjab Police has convinced 39 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.