Government aims to bring one crore women under Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar YojnaBaba Bakala Sahib, 28 August (H.S.): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann marked the occasion of Rakhri Punia at Baba Bakala Sahib by announcing a major financial assistance package for women under the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna. The Chief Minister said ₹181.50 crore had been credited as three months’ ‘Sanman Rashi’ into the accounts of 5.30 lakh additional women, taking the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme to 70.92 lakh.Mann said the state government was working on a “war footing” to bring one crore women under the scheme. He also highlighted that ₹51 crore had already been provided as incentives to 1.38 lakh Satkar Sakhis, while another ₹25 crore would be given to Anganwadi workers who assisted in the registration process.Addressing the gathering, Mann said the financial assistance was deliberately released on Rakhri to mark the festival and fulfil the government’s commitment towards women. He described the scheme as an important initiative aimed at empowering women through direct financial support.The Chief Minister also highlighted several other initiatives of his government. He said more than 90 per cent of households in Punjab were receiving free electricity, while over 70,000 youngsters had been provided government jobs. He further claimed that government schools had recorded a significant improvement in NEET results, with the number of successful students rising from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026.Mann said canal water had reached the fields of 1,587 villages that had previously not received canal irrigation. He added that around 45,000 kilometres of roads were being renovated and upgraded across the state.During his speech, the Chief Minister also launched a sharp political attack on opposition parties. Targeting the Akali Dal, he accused its leadership of failing Punjab during its previous governments and raised issues including the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, drug menace and alleged patronage of mafias.Mann also criticised the BJP over issues concerning Punjab and said the party should not expect to gain political ground in the state. He alleged that Punjab’s legitimate interests relating to Panjab University, Chandigarh, Bhakra Dam, river waters and grants were being affected.He also took a dig at the Congress, alleging that its leaders were engaged in internal disputes over political power while his government was focusing on education, healthcare and welfare initiatives.The event was attended by Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Dr Baljeet Kaur, Harbhajan Singh ETO, Lal Chand Kataruchak, Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Hardeep Singh Mundian, along with Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal and others.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH