Malerkotla, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education and Research and Elections Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Saturday said the state government was committed to strengthening Punjab in health, education, employment and development, while urging people to work collectively to build a healthy, safe, prosperous and developed Punjab.
Addressing residents after unfurling the National Flag at the district-level Independence Day function at Dr Zakir Hussain Stadium in Malerkotla, the minister paid homage to freedom fighters and martyrs who made sacrifices for the country’s Independence and extended his greetings to the people of Punjab.
Dr Balbir Singh said the government’s welfare-oriented decisions and development policies were helping Punjab move towards becoming a “Rangla Punjab” — a happy and prosperous state. He said the government was undertaking major initiatives in public welfare, healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, agriculture, industry and infrastructure.
He said Punjab’s GST revenue had registered 20 per cent growth during the first four months of the current financial year, while the budget allocation for the ‘Rangla Punjab Development Scheme’ had been increased to Rs 1,170 crore.
Healthcare expansion
Highlighting the government’s healthcare initiatives, Dr Balbir Singh said the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana’ was providing cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh annually to eligible 65 lakh families at more than 900 government and empanelled private hospitals.
He said more than six crore people had already availed themselves of free treatment through 1,090 Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state. Malerkotla district currently has 15 Aam Aadmi Clinics and 16 village clinics, while 26 more clinics would soon be dedicated to the public.
The minister said a Detailed Project Report had been prepared for establishing a medical college on 38.5 acres at Defence Ground on Patiala Road in Malerkotla at an estimated cost of Rs 562.68 crore. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has assured that construction work on the project would begin soon, he added.
Dr Balbir Singh also announced that MRI and CT scan facilities would become available at the District Government Hospital, Malerkotla, from August 31, 2026. The facility would reduce the need for residents to travel to other cities for advanced diagnostic tests, he said.
Education, employment and development
Referring to the ‘Punjab Education Revolution’, the minister said the government was strengthening infrastructure in government schools and introducing initiatives covering artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and anti-drug education. He also highlighted the performance of government school students in JEE and NEET examinations.
He said more than 69,000 young people had secured government jobs since April 2022.
Dr Balbir Singh also highlighted government initiatives concerning women’s empowerment, agriculture, industry, the campaign against drugs, road safety, anti-corruption measures, rural development and digital public services.
He stressed that the government’s efforts alone could not ensure the state’s overall progress and called upon citizens to contribute towards making Punjab safer, healthier, prosperous and developed.
Concluding his address, the minister wished for prosperity, peace, progress and communal harmony in Punjab and the country.
“Let us all work together to make our beloved Punjab a Rangla Punjab. Jai Hind, Jai Punjab,” he said.
The event was attended by Malerkotla MLA Dr Jameel-ur-Rehman, Kulwant Singh Gajjanmajra, brother of Amargarh MLA Prof Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, District Planning Board Chairman Saqib Ali Raja, Market Committee Chairman Jafar Ali, Sandaur Market Committee Chairman Karamjit Singh Kuthala, Panchayat Samiti Chairman Satokh Singh, District Chairman Punjab Trade Commission Azam Dara, Malerkotla District and Sessions Judge Arun Gupta and other judicial officers, DIG Commando Gurpreet Singh, Deputy Commissioner Viraj S. Tidke, SSP Gurmeet Singh, Dr Mohammad Gulzar, Dr Sudhir Verma, Dr Rakesh Arora, Rupinderjit Saini, wife of the Health Minister, and Faryal Rehman, besides other officials and prominent citizens.
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