After unfurling the national Tricolour at the state-level function marking the 80th Independence Day at Cantt Board Stadium, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the 80th year of Independence will be the year of economic freedom for Punjab’s women, as for the first time, mothers and daughters are gaining the freedom to spend their own money according to their wishes, with more than 65 lakh women already receiving Samman Rashi out of the 74.59 lakh women registered under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that, walking in the footsteps of the great national heroes, his government is making tireless efforts to fulfil their aspirations, ensure the welfare of all and build a prosperous and ‘Rangla Punjab’ by fulfilling every promise made to the people.
Talking about Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna, the Chief Minister highlighted, “More than 4 lakh pilgrims have undertaken journeys to Sri Anandpur Sahib, Naina Devi and Amritsar. A budget of ₹100 crore has been allocated for year-long commemorative programmes. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “These clinics are providing free treatment to the people and their OPDs have recorded a footfall of around 6 crore patients. Highlighting achievements in education, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “As many as 882 students from government schools cleared NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), while 361 students cleared JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) Mains and 64 students cleared JEE Advanced. In 2021, merely 80 students were able to clear the NEET examination. Highlighting his government’s work in irrigation, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann noted, “It is a matter of pride that the state government has spent ₹7,200 crore to ensure canal water reaches every field. After I assumed charge, the area under canal irrigation has increased from 26 percent to 80 percent. In 2022, only 20 lakh 89 thousand acres received canal water, but today canal irrigation has reached 60 lakh 30 thousand acres. Around 1.25 lakh volunteers are acting like warriors to make their villages drug-free. Punjab shares a 553-kilometre border with Pakistan and anti-drone systems have been deployed to prevent drug smuggling from across the border.”
I congratulate all Punjabis that due to the strenuous efforts of the state government, Punjab has now surpassed Kerala and emerged as the number one state in the education sector.
Highlighting decisions taken by his government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Mohali International Airport was named after Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, and a statue of Shaheed-e-Azam was also installed there. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Defence Committees have been formed at village and ward level to eliminate drugs. Punjabis will not allow forces inimical to Punjab to raise their heads. The people of the state gave me the opportunity to serve Punjab and I took the oath of office as Chief Minister at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Photographs of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb Ambedkar were installed in government offices. In the last four and a half years, his government has taken historic decisions for the development and progress of Punjab. It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for me that the state government has fulfilled all its guarantees in four and a half years. Pilgrimages are now also being facilitated to religious places outside Punjab, including Haridwar-Rishikesh, Sri Khatu Shyam-Salasar Balaji and Mathura-Vrindavan. We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate the 650th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji Maharaj. Batches of principals and teachers are being sent to Singapore, Finland and Ahmedabad for training, while Schools of Eminence are helping children turn their dreams into reality. Every drug trafficker is an enemy of Punjab, society and all of us, and the state government will show no leniency towards such people.
Last year, our government commemorated the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of the Ninth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. The Chief Minister affirmed, “There was no place for hatred in Punjab, there is none today, and there will never be any.
