CHANDIGARH, Dec. 31 — Social media platforms in Punjab are increasingly carrying images and testimonials posted by ordinary citizens showcasing government-run health and education facilities, a trend that political observers say reflects growing public engagement with service delivery on the ground.
One such post, shared recently on Instagram by an Aam Aadmi Party worker, featured a photograph of a government hospital tagged as a “Health-Education Hospital” in Sultan Khaldar. The caption, which read, “Maan government, this is just Sultan Khaldar,” was widely shared, drawing attention to local-level infrastructure upgrades.
The trend has been marked by citizens independently documenting facilities such as Mohalla Clinics, upgraded government hospitals and renovated schools, rather than official publicity material. Several posts have gone viral, accompanied by comments praising access to free treatment and improved public education.
“For the first time it feels like the government is for us, not that we are for the government,” one user wrote in response to a widely shared post. Another commented, “Free treatment is available at the Mohalla Clinic, medicines are available. We couldn’t even think of this before.”
Health services have been a major focus of the Bhagwant Mann-led government, with hundreds of Mohalla Clinics established across the state. The clinics aim to provide basic medical care at the neighborhood level, reducing dependence on private hospitals for minor ailments.
Alongside primary care, the government has undertaken renovation of existing public hospitals, including repairs to old buildings, installation of new equipment, improvements in cleanliness and recruitment of medical staff, according to officials.
Similar changes are being reported in the education sector, where government schools have seen an increase in student enrollment. Classrooms, toilets and playgrounds are being upgraded, while teacher vacancies are being filled. Initiatives such as the ‘School of Eminence’ scheme seek to provide advanced learning opportunities to students from economically weaker backgrounds.
Political analysts say the emphasis on visible, everyday improvements has strengthened public trust. “When people themselves start sharing what they see in their localities, it indicates that welfare measures are reaching the ground,” one analyst said.
AAP leaders maintain that the reforms underway are only the beginning, with further expansion planned in both health and education sectors in the coming months.
