Spread the news
Ferozepur, August 15
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has described 2026 as a year of “economic freedom” for the state’s women, saying more than 65 lakh women have already received financial support under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna.
Speaking at the state-level Independence Day celebrations in Ferozepur, Mann said 74.59 lakh women had registered for the scheme, with Rs 2,274 crore transferred to the bank accounts of 65.62 lakh beneficiaries.
He said the scheme was giving mothers and daughters greater control over their own money and called for the remaining eligible women to register.
Mann also used his Independence Day address to highlight his government’s work in education, healthcare, employment, irrigation, the fight against drugs and road safety.
He said the government had provided more than 69,000 government jobs to young people on merit, while 88% of Punjab’s fields were now receiving canal water.
The Chief Minister said the area under canal irrigation had increased from 26% to 80% since he took office, with canal water reaching 1,587 villages that had never previously received it.
On education, Mann said 882 government-school students had cleared the NEET medical entrance examination, while 361 qualified in JEE Mains and 64 in JEE Advanced. He said teachers and school principals were being sent to Singapore, Finland and Ahmedabad for training.
The government has also introduced bus services for 15,000 schoolgirls and capped annual fee increases at 5% for private schools, he said.Mann said more than three lakh patients had received cashless treatment worth Rs1,100 crore under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, while 1,090 Aam Aadmi Clinics were operating across the state.
On drugs, he said more than 56,000 cases had been registered against traffickers and over 75,000 people arrested during the government’s campaign. Punjab’s 553km border with Pakistan had also been equipped with anti-drone systems to tackle smuggling, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab had attracted Rs 1.83 lakh crore in investment since March 2022, with the projects expected to create employment for around six lakh young people.
He also highlighted the Sadak Surakhya Force, saying it had provided first aid to more than 25,000 people and taken over 35,000 injured people to hospitals. He said the state’s road accident mortality rate had fallen by more than 50%.
Mann began his address by paying tribute to the martyrs of Punjab’s freedom struggle, including Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. He also recalled the sacrifices of Punjab’s people during the 1947 Partition.
He warned against attempts to disturb the state’s peace and communal harmony, saying Punjab had no place for hatred.
Earlier, the chief minister took the salute during a parade involving contingents of the Punjab Police, BSF, PAP, Himachal Police, Punjab Home Guards, NCC, Scouts and Guides. Cultural performances and tableaux highlighting government schemes and achievements were also presented.
Dr Kiran Deep
