Chandigarh, Feb 22: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today announced that the state government will present its fifth consecutive Budget in March, maintaining a focus on citizen-centric policies and the welfare of all sections of society. Speaking to the media in Ahmedabad, the Chief Minister stated that the upcoming fiscal roadmap would continue the administration’s tradition of prioritizing the common man through judicial utilization of taxpayers’ money.
The Chief Minister noted that the state has already implemented landmark reforms, particularly in the energy and health sectors. He affirmed that more than 90% of Punjab’s households currently receive free electricity, while farmers are provided with daytime power for the first time in the state’s history. Under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Punjab has also become the first state to provide cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh for every resident family, a move Mann declared as a historic step toward universal healthcare.
Addressing administrative challenges, the Chief Minister asserted that the Union Government has undemocratically stalled Punjab’s legitimate share of the Rural Development Fund. He stated that despite such hurdles, the state has continued its development agenda, including the establishment of 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics and the purchase of a private thermal plant to bolster state assets. CM Mann also mentioned the closure of 19 toll plazas across the state, which he maintained has saved the public approximately ₹64 lakh daily.
The Chief Minister further declared that the “Punjab Sikhya Kranti” is transforming the education sector, with 118 Schools of Eminence being developed to provide global-standard learning. He affirmed that the state’s infrastructure is seeing an unprecedented boost with a ₹16,209 crore project to upgrade nearly 45,000 kilometers of the road network. Mann maintained that every rupee spent is aimed at strengthening the social and economic fabric of Punjab.
