Chandigarh, February 10 –  In a significant push to direct benefit transfer–driven welfare, the Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday disbursed Rs. 1,431 crore to over 56.34 lakh beneficiaries under 18 public welfare schemes,  once again marking one of the largest single-day benefit releases by the state in recent months. The disbursement was done during a press conference addressed by the Chief Minister.

The disbursement included the fourth installment of the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, social security pensions, cooking gas subsidies under the Har Ghar–Har Grihini Yojana, and incentives for milk producers, underscoring the government’s emphasis on targeted support for women, the elderly, the vulnerable and small producers.

Co-operation Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, Social Justice & Empowerment Minister, Sh. Krishan Kumar Bedi remained present on this occasion.

Major push for women-centric schemes

The Chief Minister said that under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, an amount of Rs. 193 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of 9,22,452 women beneficiaries, taking the cumulative release under the scheme to Rs. 634 crore across four installments. The scheme provides monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,100 to eligible women aged 23 years and above from families with an annual income of less than Rs. 1 lakh, with expanded eligibility for certain categories of families earning up to Rs. 1.80 lakh annually.

He said that 10,51,029 women applied through the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi mobile application, launched on September 25, 2025, to mark the 109th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. Of these, over 9,22,452 applicants were found eligible after scrutiny.

He said that from February 2026 onwards, Rs. 1,100 will be credited directly to beneficiaries’ savings accounts each month, while Rs. 1,000 will be placed in a government-operated fixed deposit account. A notable feature of the scheme is that all eligible women within a family can avail its benefits.

Social security pensions and grievance redress

The Chief Minister said that on the same day, the state released Rs. 1,098 crore towards old-age, widow, differently-abled and other social security pensions, benefiting 34.14 lakh people.

Acknowledging complaints related to pension delays and income-based eligibility, the government has directed Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) in all districts to conduct dedicated grievance redress hearings twice a week i.e every Monday and Thursday to ensure timely and impartial resolution.

Gas subsidy and support to milk producers

The Chief Minister said that under the Har Ghar–Har Grihini Yojana, an amount of Rs. 38.97 crore was credited as subsidy for November and December to 12.62 lakh women who refilled LPG cylinders. The scheme enables eligible women to obtain a gas cylinder every month at a subsidized rate of Rs. 500. Earlier, on January 17, subsidies amounting to Rs. 18.56 crore were released to 6,08,842 beneficiaries. Cumulatively, Rs. 223.31 crore has been transferred to 14.38 lakh women under the scheme so far.

Additionally, Rs. 101 crore was released to 36,000 beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Dugdh Utpadak Protsahan Yojana (MMDUPY), aimed at strengthening the rural dairy economy and providing assured income support to small milk producers.

Direct transfers as governance tool

The Chief Minister said the scale and breadth of the disbursement reflected the state’s reliance on direct benefit transfers to improve efficiency, reduce leakages and ensure that welfare support reaches intended beneficiaries without intermediaries. With over Rs. 1,431 crore credited in a single day, the government signaled its intent to sustain high-volume, technology-enabled welfare delivery as a core governance strategy.

Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Sh. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes & Backward Classes and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, Smt. G. Anupama, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Cooperation Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Media Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Praveen Attrey also remained present on this occasion.

CHANDIGARH, February 10

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday appealed to the people of Punjab not to be misled by  misleading and malicious propaganda being spread by anti-Punjab forces regarding the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the flagship healthcare programme of the state government.

In a video message addressed to the people, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Punjab government launched this ambitious scheme to ensure that every resident of Punjab, especially those from the weaker sections of society, has direct access to quality medical treatment.”

Explaining the scope of the initiative, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “To provide comprehensive healthcare to the people, the state government has introduced the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, a first-of-its-kind scheme in the country, under which every resident family in Punjab is entitled to cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh.”

Calling it a landmark achievement, the Chief Minister said, “It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that Punjab has become the first Indian state to offer such extensive healthcare coverage. This scheme will significantly reduce the financial burden on the public while ensuring access to quality health services.”

Highlighting universal eligibility, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “This historic step aims to provide universal healthcare to all families in the state. All government employees, pensioners, and every other citizen are eligible for the health card, which can be obtained from facilitation centres and Common Service Centres, or through online registration using Aadhaar card or voter card.”

Referring to the public response, he said, “The scheme has received an overwhelming response from the people of Punjab, who are coming forward in large numbers to avail its benefits. This initiative has provided major relief to families who otherwise would have had to spend huge amounts from their own pockets for treatment in case of illness.”

However, the Chief Minister cautioned against misinformation, saying, “Some anti-Punjab forces, who do not want the people of the state to benefit from such facilities, are deliberately spreading falsehoods about this ambitious scheme.”

He added, “These misnomers are intended to discourage people from availing the benefits of the scheme, which is completely unwarranted and undesirable.”

Clarifying the hospital empanelment process, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The state government has empanelled a majority of private hospitals under the scheme. Rates have been fixed by the government for around 2,600 ailments and treatments.”

Explaining the payment mechanism, he said, “The government will pay hospitals as per the mutually agreed rates, regardless of the fact that these hospitals may charge higher amounts from private individuals.”

Emphasising accountability, the Chief Minister said, “Hospitals are duty-bound to provide treatment at the rates fixed by the government, and they must ensure that treatment is given free of cost to the beneficiaries.”

Rejecting misinformation outright, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Hospitals will be paid directly by the government, and not even a single penny will be charged from the beneficiaries, despite attempts by forces inimical to the state to paint a different picture.”

Reiterating the core assurance of the scheme, the Chief Minister said unequivocally, “Treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna will be completely free of cost, and no fees will be charged from patients by the hospitals.”

Appealing for vigilance, he said, “People of Punjab must remain alert to such forces that are hell-bent on harming public interest by spreading baseless rumours. I urge everyone not to get swayed by such canards.”

Detailing the safeguards in place, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The state government has put in place a foolproof mechanism under which the entire treatment process, from hospital admission to diagnosis, treatment, and discharge, is entirely free of cost.”

Issuing a clear warning to erring hospitals, the Chief Minister said, “If any hospital demands money from a patient under this scheme, a complaint should be lodged with the state government immediately.”

Assuring strict action, he added, “The government will take strict, punitive, and exemplary action against any hospital found indulging in such malpractices.”

Concluding his appeal, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “I urge the people of Punjab to take maximum benefit of this scheme, which has already earned accolades from across the globe.”

Chandigarh:The Sirsa MP, former Union Minister and Congress National General Secretary Kumari Selja said that the financial condition of both the country and the state of Haryana has become deeply concerning due to rising debt and shrinking fiscal responsibility. Citing official data presented in Parliament, she said that as of March 31, 2014, the outstanding debt of the Central government stood at Rs 58.6 lakh crore, which has surged to ₹185.95 lakh crore in 2024–25. In just a decade, more than ₹127 lakh crore in additional debt has been added, she noted. Kumari Selja said this steep rise is not routine but raises serious questions about the country’s fiscal health. The government makes tall claims of development, but the reality is that the nation is being pushed under an ever-growing debt burden. She said that whenever questions are raised, the government responds by saying that the debt-to-GDP ratio remains under control.

Kumari Selja said If massive borrowing alone is a measure of a strong economy, then even a loss-making company could be termed successful. Kumari Selja said not only the Centre, but Haryana’s financial position is also worrisome. Old-age pensions are reportedly being curtailed, schemes like ‘Lado Lakshmi’ are being diluted, and farmers are not receiving compensation on time. This, she said, indicates a shortage of adequate resources to sustain public welfare schemes. Targeting the BJP’s “double engine government” slogan, she said the reality appears to be a “double debt government,” where governance is being run on borrowings rather than genuine development.

Kumari Selja concluded that while slogans and advertisements may create temporary illusions, official figures speak the truth. The people of India and Haryana, she asserted, will hold the government accountable for this financial mismanagement in due course.

Chandigarh, February 9

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, visited several villages of the Radaur assembly constituency, including Gumthala, Sandhala, Naharpur, Kamalpur, Beech Ka Majra, Karera-2, Kansepur, Farakpur, Ishopur, Mandauli and Damla. The visit was held under the Central Budget outreach, Viksit Bharat G- RAM-G Campaign and Kisan Chaupal programme. During his visit, he discussed the recently presented Union Budget and listened to the people’s problems.

The Minister said that the Union Budget has made provisions of lakhs of crores of rupees to strengthen and improve the agricultural system. He added that the budget takes into account the interests of every section of society and will give new momentum to the country’s development. The funds allocated for agriculture will help ensure better prices for crops, provide subsidies on farm machinery and introduce new farmer-friendly schemes. Both the Central and State governments aim to promote natural farming.

He further said that the MGNREGA scheme has been linked with the Viksit Bharat campaign and expanded under the Viksit Bharat G RAM G initiative. Earlier, 100 days of employment were provided under MGNREGA, which will now be increased to 125 days.

Sh. Rana said that India is a democratic country with a strong foreign policy, its functioning is governed by the constitution. In contrast, he said that Pakistan’s system is heavily influenced by the military. US President Donald Trump gave more importance to India’s foreign policy and extended friendship towards India after observing Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s leadership and vision. Everyone’s participation is necessary to make India a developed nation by 2047, he added.

The Minister said that the BJP is a well-organised party and organised parties move forward on the path of development. He added that the party’s national leadership motivates youth to move ahead and brings new energy to the organisation. He also said that spiritual peace comes from the company of saints and that the state government has taken a historic decision to celebrate the birth anniversaries of saints from all communities. He said that the country is in safe hands under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi.

He further said that the highest number of Ambedkar Bhawans have been constructed in the Radaur constituency and the work of paving farm roads also began from this area. The government is providing subsidies for the purchase of indigenous cows to promote animal husbandry. Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, development works are being carried out rapidly across the state. During the visit, he listened to the grievances of villagers and assured their early resolution.

Chandigarh, 9 February 2026:

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing crusade against corruption in the state, has been able to apprehend 10 government officials and one private person red handed while accepting bribes in 8 different trap cases during the month of January.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the VB has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere during the period.

He informed that the Bureau had submitted challans pertaining to 24 vigilance cases in various competent courts in the last month. Apart from this, 4 vigilance enquiries have also been registered to thoroughly probe the corruption cases. He added that 12 criminal cases were also registered against 16 accused which include 11 government employees.

Giving more details, he added that different competent courts had decided seven bribery cases filed and contested by the Bureau during the last month, in which eleven persons were convicted and sentenced to 4-4 years imprisonment and fine ranging from Rs. 10,000 to 50,000.

Chandigarh, February 9:

Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is working tirelessly for the welfare of all sections of society. Along with this, special efforts are being made to safeguard the rights of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Backward Class (BC) communities and to ensure their social and economic upliftment. This was stated by Cabinet Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur.

A meeting was held at Punjab Bhawan between Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur and representatives of the SC/BC Union. During the meeting, the Minister listened carefully to the demands raised by the Union representatives and assured them that all genuine demands would be addressed on priority.

The Minister clarified that issues which can be resolved at the departmental level will be addressed promptly in a time-bound manner. She further stated that matters requiring decisions at the government level will be taken up with the government at the earliest to ensure appropriate resolution.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said that to realise Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision of a “Rangla Punjab,” it is essential that every section of society becomes an integral part of the development process. She emphasised that the dream of a vibrant Punjab cannot be fulfilled without ensuring dignity, equal opportunities and justice for the SC and BC communities. “A truly Rangla Punjab will emerge only when there is prosperity in every household, confidence in every mind and equal opportunities for every section of society,” she said.

She reiterated that the Punjab Government is fully committed to the welfare of marginalised and backward sections and is continuously taking concrete and effective steps in this direction. The meeting concluded in a well-organised and positive atmospher.

On the occasion, the meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Mr. V.K. Meena IAS, the Director of the Department, Mrs. Vimmi Bhullar, IAS and other senior officers of the department.

CHANDIGARH, February 9:

 In a major and sustained crackdown on the theft of critical 4G/5G telecom infrastructure targeting Bharti Airtel Limited, Punjab Police has arrested an additional 17 individuals, taking the total count to 126 arrests and 140 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered across the state. These decisive enforcement actions have averted widespread disruption of essential public telecom services.

          Following the reports of thefts involving high-value 4G/5G infrastructure, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted on the orders of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav. The SIT, headed by Chairman Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rajpal Singh Sandhu, worked in close coordination with district police units to apprehend the accused and make massive recoveries of stolen equipment.

          Providing details, SIT Chairman IGP Rajpal Sandhu stated that the accused specifically targeted high-value GUC1 Cards (Base Band Units), which are critical for the transmission of 4G and 5G signals. “The entire theft operation was executed in under two minutes, after which the culprits fled the scene,” he said. These thefts had caused significant disruptions to telecom services in affected areas, depriving the public of essential voice and data connectivity.

          Using a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence, Punjab Police has successfully dismantled the networks involved in these thefts, said the IGP, while adding, “Further investigation is underway to trace both forward and backward linkages and unravel the entire criminal network.”

          Punjab Police has warned all anti-social elements to cease such activities immediately or face strict legal action. With district police forces forming dedicated special crack teams, further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, February 9:

 In an intelligence led operation amidst the ongoing Gangstran Te Vaar campaign launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to make Punjab gangster free state, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled a cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling module with the arrest of five operatives and recovered six sophisticated pistols, 115 grams heroin and Rs 11.90 lakhs drug money from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

 Those arrested have been identified as Simaranjeet Singh alias Mannu (24), Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi (20), Sukhraj Singh alias Joga (24) and Sajan Singh alias Gursajan Singh alias Ladda, all residents of village Roda Wala Kalan in  Amritsar; and Molakdeep Singh (23), a resident of village Ranike in Amritsar. The recovered pistols include two 9MM Glock Made in Austria, one Zigana Made in Turkey, two .32 Bore and one .30 Bore along with 10 live cartridges. Police teams have also impounded their Hyundai Creta car, which they were using for smuggling.

 DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused persons were actively linked to a cross-border smuggling network and were receiving arms and narcotics consignments via drones from across the border. Further investigation is ongoing to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, he said.

 Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting on credible and secret information regarding cross-border smuggling links, police teams have arrested Simranjeet alias Mannu, Molakdeep Singh, Gurpreet alias Gopi, Sukhraj alias Joga and Sajan alias Gursajan alias Ladda, along with a car and recovered two .32 bore pistols from their possession. During further interrogation, additional recoveries were effected, leading to the seizure of four more pistols, 115 gm Heroin and ₹11.90 lakhs drug money indicating their involvement in organised illegal arms and narcotics activities, he said.

 The CP said probe has revealed that arrested accused Simaranjeet alias Mannu, Molakdeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh are a repeated offender and were earlier involved in cases under the NDPS Act.

 He said that investigation has also revealed that accused Simranjeet alias Mannu had remained a truck driver in Dubai. Police teams are investigating the financial trail and hawala links of this network, he added.

 In this regard, a case FIR No 21 dated 03-02-2026 has been registered under sections 25 and 25(8) of the Arms Act and sections 21B, 27A and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Cantonment in Amritsar.

Chandigarh, February 9:–

In a significant move to further accelerate infrastructure development, Punjab Education Minister and MLA from Sri Anandpur Sahib, S. Harjot Singh Bains, today announced the green-lighting of key infrastructure projects to further boost connectivity and economic growth in the region.

 In a video message, S. Harjot Singh Bains congratulated the people of Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency, while revealing that five crucial bridges have been approved by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

 “Development storm is blowing in Sri Anandpur Sahib,” he stated, while sharing that the approved bridge projects include Brahmpur and Daroli Bridges, these two vital replacement bridges originally built during the canal construction. These bridges will be rebuilt for modern needs. The Ganguwal double bridge is a strategic project aimed at alleviating chronic traffic congestion, especially during major religious festivals like Hola Mohalla and Viah Purb at Guru Ka Lahore. “This will ensure smooth passage for devotees traveling to Guru Ka Lahore, eliminating a major hassle,” said S. Bains.

Additionally, the Attari village bridge will connect Attari village directly to the national highway, ending long detours and boosting the local economy. The Bhaowal bridge is expected to spur employment and economic activity in the area, he added.

The Education Minister said that the Sarsa Nangal Bridge project has already been tendered and the work scheduled to commence around April 14.

S. Bains also unveiled plans for two key roads including Nangal to Kalma Mod and Bhanglan to Kanpur Khuhi. The Nangal to Kalma Mod Road will be built to withstand heavy industrial traffic at a cost of Rs 10 crore, while the Bhanglan to Kanpur Khuhi Road project worth Rs 12.5 crore, will improve bus connectivity and tackle water-logging issues in Khera Kalmot, with concrete side drains. The Work on the both projects is set to begin within next two weeks.

“These projects are about transforming lives, not just infrastructure,” said S. Harjot Singh Bains, highlighting potential for increased employment, improved accessibility, and fulfilment of people’s long-standing demands. He reaffirmed the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government’s focus on sustainable development to uplift the state’s citizens.

Chandigarh, February 9:

The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo moto notice of the remark made by Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa about Punjab Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO.

Giving information in this regard, Chairman Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission S. Jasvir Singh Garhi said that it has come to his notice through social media that Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa has used abusive language against Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO.

He said that a report has been sought from SSP Amritsar through DSP/SP level officer on 11th February 2026 at 3 pm.

He said that along with this, the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, has also been summoned on 11 February 2026 at 3 pm to give an explanation regarding this viral video.