Punjab Newsline | Abohar
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday transferred ₹1,291 crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 37.43 lakh women under the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojana. Addressing a gathering in Abohar, he said the state government aims to bring one crore women under the scheme, with 80.05 lakh registrations already completed as of October 29.
Mann announced that the next instalment of financial assistance would be released on December 1. Eligible beneficiaries would then receive assistance for three months on January 1 as a New Year gift. He said the scheme was intended to strengthen women's financial independence and self-respect. The benefit, he added, would be provided individually to every eligible woman, without restrictions based on the number of beneficiaries in a household.
Total Financial Assistance Reaches ₹3,934.80 Crore
The Chief Minister said the government had previously distributed ₹2,643.71 crore among 76.35 lakh women. With the latest transfer, the total amount released under the scheme has reached ₹3,934.80 crore. He added that the scheme would require an annual outlay of ₹12,000 crore once fully implemented.
According to Mann, 1,37,723 Satkar Sakhis are helping women complete their registrations. The government will provide them incentives amounting to ₹51.30 crore. Anganwadi workers engaged in the registration process will also receive incentives worth ₹25 crore.
Mann Criticises Opposition Parties
During his address, Mann criticised the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and BJP, alleging that their opposition to the scheme was politically motivated. He claimed that women from the families of opposition leaders were also benefiting from the initiative. He also accused previous governments of neglecting Abohar's development and expressed confidence that people would give the Aam Aadmi Party another opportunity in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Over 70,000 Government Jobs Provided, Says CM
Highlighting the government's employment record, Mann said 70,685 government jobs had been provided on merit, without corruption, favouritism or political recommendations. He also said that 54 lakh health cards had been issued under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana and around 90 per cent of households were receiving up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
The Chief Minister further highlighted the construction of 3,100 sports stadiums, road improvement projects and the closure of toll plazas. He claimed that commuters were saving around ₹70 lakh every day due to the closure of toll plazas.
Canal Irrigation Coverage Increased to 80%
Mann said canal irrigation coverage in Punjab had risen from 26 per cent to 80 per cent during his government's tenure. According to him, canal water was now reaching 60.30 lakh acres, compared with 20.89 lakh acres in 2022. He said ₹7,200 crore had been spent on expanding the canal network, providing irrigation water to fields in 1,587 villages that had previously remained deprived of the facility.
Government School NEET Qualifiers Rise to 882
Speaking about education, the Chief Minister said the number of government school students qualifying for NEET had increased from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026. He attributed the rise to teacher training programmes, Schools of Eminence and other education initiatives.
Mann said the government was focusing on education, healthcare, infrastructure and public welfare. He maintained that public funds were being utilised to develop facilities intended to benefit ordinary residents of Punjab.
