Sardulgarh, October 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday said the Punjab government would continue its welfare and development initiatives, asserting that financial assistance for women, free electricity for households, daytime power supply for farmers and transparent government recruitment would remain among its key priorities.
Addressing a Lok Milni programme in Sardulgarh Assembly constituency, Mann said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had delivered more than it promised and was working to ensure that the benefits of public spending reached ordinary people.
Speaking about the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojna, Mann said the government would continue providing direct financial assistance to eligible women.
“Our government will never let the ‘toon-toon’ notifications on the mobile phones of Punjab’s mothers and sisters stop. As long as the state government is serving the people, the assistance meant for women will continue to reach their bank accounts,” he said.
Mann said the government had recently transferred the second instalment of Rs 1,262.54 crore to 36.87 lakh women, covering three months. He said the objective was not merely to announce welfare schemes but to ensure that their benefits reached people directly.
He alleged that the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal were opposed to the monthly financial assistance being provided to women.
“Those who ruled Punjab for decades should tell the people what they did for the economic empowerment of ordinary women. Today, when women are receiving direct financial assistance, these parties are questioning the scheme,” Mann said.
He asserted that the welfare of Punjab’s women would not be compromised and said public revenue must be channelled transparently towards welfare and development.
The Chief Minister also reiterated that eligible domestic consumers would continue to receive 300 units of free electricity per month. He said the scheme had provided significant relief to households that had earlier faced the burden of electricity bills.
“This is the difference between a government that talks about the people and a government that actually works for them,” he said.
Mann further assured farmers that daytime electricity for agricultural purposes would continue, stressing that reliable power supply was essential for Punjab’s agricultural economy. Referring to the purchase of the Goindwal Sahib thermal power plant, he said the government was working to strengthen the state’s power infrastructure.
“Farmers will continue to receive daytime electricity for agriculture. The farmers of the state deserve electricity when they need it, not when someone sitting in an office decides to give it to them,” he said.
On employment, Mann said the government had transformed the recruitment process to ensure that young people could secure government jobs on merit without paying money or seeking political recommendations.
“The youth of the state should not have to carry money in their pockets or a recommendation letter in their hands to get a government job. Their qualification, ability and merit is enough. The system of providing government jobs without cash and without recommendation will not stop,” he said.
Mann said the state government had provided more than 70,000 jobs through a transparent recruitment process, adding that an appointment letter could transform the future of an entire family.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the transformation of government schools, saying children studying in government institutions should not receive second-class facilities.
He said investments in infrastructure, smart classrooms, teacher training and better learning environments had helped Punjab move from the lower ranks to the top in the school education assessment cited by the state government.
“Earlier, a child from a poor family was often told to compromise with circumstances, but now they are dreaming of becoming a doctor, engineer, civil servant or Olympian. This is the real transformation of Punjab,” Mann said.
He said the government was also focusing on competitive-examination preparation and providing students from ordinary families with opportunities to advance on the strength of their ability and hard work.
Turning to sports, Mann said Punjab had never lacked talent, particularly in its villages, but athletes often lacked infrastructure and opportunities.
“Punjab’s villages have always had talent and our responsibility is to provide that talent with grounds, coaches, equipment and opportunities,” he said.
Mann said athletes from villages had begun reaching national and international platforms and winning medals after better sports facilities became available.
“Sports should not be viewed merely as recreation but as an important instrument for channelising the energy of young people. A playground can save a young person from going in the wrong direction and a good coach can change a child’s life,” he said.
The Chief Minister said his government had delivered on several commitments, citing free electricity, education reforms, healthcare initiatives, employment, canal water, infrastructure and financial assistance for women.
He said Lok Milni programmes were aimed at taking governance closer to people and allowing them to directly raise their problems, suggestions and expectations.
“I have not come here to sit on a stage and listen only to prepared speeches. I have come to listen directly to the people. Their problems, their suggestions and their expectations are the real agenda of the government,” Mann said.
Taking aim at the BJP, Congress and Akali Dal, Mann alleged that the opposition parties were focusing on criticism instead of presenting an alternative roadmap for Punjab.
“The people of Punjab want to know what is their vision for Punjab? What will they do for women? What will they do for farmers? What will they do for youth? What will they do for government schools? What will they do to strengthen healthcare?” he asked.
He said the traditional political parties had spent decades in power but had failed to present a comparable model of public service.
“Punjab does not need politics of slogans but politics of performance. The people are intelligent enough to see who is working and who is only talking,” Mann said.
He said his government would continue working to ensure that development reached villages as well as cities, with a focus on women’s financial dignity, reliable power and irrigation for farmers, merit-based employment, quality government education and opportunities for sportspersons.
“The notifications on women’s phones will continue, free electricity will continue, daytime power for farmers will continue, merit-based recruitment will continue and the transformation of Punjab will continue,” Mann said.
He reiterated that the ultimate measure of governance was improvement in the everyday lives of ordinary people and said the government would continue working towards a stronger, prosperous and progressive Punjab.
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