Sunam Udham Singh Wala, July 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday dedicated and launched development projects worth ₹107.78 crore in Sunam, the birthplace of legendary freedom fighter Shaheed Udham Singh, while paying floral tributes to the revolutionary on his martyrdom day at a state-level function.
Addressing the gathering, Mann said the greatest tribute to the country’s martyrs lies in building a prosperous and corruption-free Punjab by ensuring quality education, healthcare and employment for every citizen. He said the state government was committed to translating the ideals of the freedom movement into governance focused on public welfare.
Recalling his long association with Sunam and Shaheed Udham Singh’s legacy, the Chief Minister said he had visited London’s Caxton Hall, where Udham Singh avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating Michael O’Dwyer after waiting for over two decades.
Highlighting his government’s achievements, Mann said more than 68,000 government jobs had been provided on merit, around 90 per cent of households were receiving free electricity, extensive road infrastructure was being developed and canal irrigation had expanded significantly through a large-scale pipeline network. He also claimed Punjab had witnessed improvements in groundwater levels due to recharge initiatives.
The Chief Minister said Punjab’s education sector had registered remarkable progress, with the state emerging among the country’s top performers and 882 students from government schools qualifying the NEET examination. He maintained that quality education, rather than financial assistance alone, was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Speaking on welfare initiatives, Mann said over 32 lakh women had already received financial assistance under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, under which eligible women receive ₹1,000 per month while Scheduled Caste women are entitled to ₹1,500 monthly. He announced that more than 40 lakh women would receive the benefit in the next phase.
He also highlighted the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, under which every resident family in Punjab is entitled to cashless medical treatment of up to ₹10 lakh. According to the Chief Minister, beneficiaries have already availed treatment worth over ₹650 crore under the scheme.
Calling Punjab a symbol of communal harmony, Mann urged people to remain vigilant against attempts to create religious divisions ahead of elections. He said people of all faiths in Punjab had traditionally celebrated festivals together and should continue to preserve the state’s social fabric.
Among the major projects inaugurated was the Sant Attar Singh Maharaj Armed Forces Preparatory Institute at Cheema village, to be developed at a cost of ₹98.68 crore over 13.42 acres. The institute will provide residential training for 500 cadets with modern academic, sports and physical training infrastructure to prepare youth for careers in the Armed Forces and other security services.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated a ₹5 crore Trauma Centre equipped with a 10-bed emergency and intensive care unit, operation theatre, CT scan and other critical facilities for accident victims.
Additionally, a ₹3.68 crore medicines warehouse has been established to strengthen the supply of essential medicines to government hospitals and Aam Aadmi Clinics, while a modern blood bank built at a cost of ₹42.19 lakh will provide emergency blood services and advanced testing facilities for the region.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia and Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora also addressed the gathering, describing the projects as a significant step towards strengthening healthcare, education and public infrastructure while honouring the legacy of Shaheed Udham Singh.
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