Punjab CM Mann vows to continue women's scheme, free power and merit jobs
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said his government would continue its people-centric policies, including the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojna, free electricity for eligible households and merit-based recruitment. He also claimed that the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal did not have a clear vision for Punjab.
Speaking at a Lok Milni programme in Sardulgarh, Mann said his government had delivered more than it had promised and had brought a fundamental change in the way the government functioned. He said public money was increasingly being spent on welfare, education, healthcare, electricity, irrigation and employment, while government schools and public facilities had improved and athletes from Punjab's villages were winning Olympic medals.
Mann said the welfare scheme for women would continue as long as his government was serving the people. "The happiness reflected on women's faces whenever financial assistance is deposited in their bank accounts is a testimony to the impact of welfare-oriented governance. As long as the state government is serving the people, the financial assistance meant for women will continue to reach their bank accounts," he said.
He said the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojna was meant to provide direct financial assistance to eligible women. The state government has recently transferred the second instalment of Rs 1,262.54 crore to 36.87 lakh women, covering three months. Mann said the objective of his government was not merely to make announcements, but to ensure that welfare schemes actually reached people.
Criticising the Congress, BJP and SAD, Mann said these parties were opposing monthly financial assistance 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," he said. He added that his government had placed women, farmers, youth and students at the centre of its governance model instead of allowing the benefits of government schemes to remain confined to a few influential sections.
"The responsibility of the government is to collect taxes from the people and use that money transparently for public welfare and development," Mann said. He said the AAP government had made it clear that public revenue must be channelled back into development works, welfare and essential services. "Three hundred units of free electricity per month for eligible domestic consumers will continue. For years, electricity bills were a major burden on ordinary families, but today eligible households are receiving relief in the form of zero bills," he said. He added that farmers would continue to receive daytime electricity for agriculture and said reliable power supply was essential for Punjab's agricultural economy.
Mann said his government would continue with welfare measures for women, free power for eligible households and daytime electricity for farmers, while maintaining that its focus remained on using public money for development and essential services.- EndsWith PTI inputs
