Barnala, July 1: Overwhelming crowds packed the rooftops of nearby houses and buildings to welcome Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during a massive Lok Milni at Mahal Kalan Halqa in Barnala on Tuesday. The turnout was so large that the venue ran completely out of space, with hundreds of enthusiastic supporters continuously waving posters and cheering the Chief Minister throughout his address.
During the gathering, the Chief Minister announced that mobile phones across Punjab would start buzzing after 12 noon on July 1 as the state government transfers three months of ‘Satkar Rashi’ in a single instalment under the landmark Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna. Under the newly launched scheme, every woman in the state is set to receive ₹1,000 per month, while women belonging to the Scheduled Castes will receive ₹1,500 per month directly in their bank accounts.
“From July 1, women will start receiving money directly in their bank accounts. Under the Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, every woman will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women belonging to the Scheduled Castes will receive ₹1,500 per month,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared. He added that women already receiving social security pensions are also eligible for this scheme, which is expected to benefit nearly 97% of women in Punjab with a dedicated budget allocation of ₹9,300 crore.
The Chief Minister asserted that the initiative reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring dignity, respect, and financial empowerment for women. He maintained that while the scheme may not make women rich, it will certainly provide them with dignity and self-respect, adding that strengthening women’s financial autonomy is essential for improving household welfare and promoting gender equity.
Turning his focus to other developmental milestones, the Chief Minister stated that the state government has provided free electricity to households and given merit-based government jobs to more than 68,000 youth. In the health sector, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna now provides cashless medical treatment of up to ₹10 lakh to every resident family, making Punjab the first state in the country to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage. He also affirmed that Punjab has secured the number one position in primary and middle-school education across India, surpassing Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi in the latest NITI Aayog rankings due to continuous structural reforms like smart classrooms and advanced teacher training.
Taking a direct swipe at political rivals, the Chief Minister stated that opposition leaders are rattled by Punjab’s rapid development and are conspiring to obstruct progress. He affirmed that previous rulers remained locked inside luxurious homes and disconnected from the public, whereas his governance model keeps him accessible to the common people round the clock.
Addressing the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, the Chief Minister expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to bring forth a stringent law against the beadbi of religious texts. He affirmed that the legislation will act as a powerful deterrent against anti-social elements, noting that Akali leaders are opposing the anti-beadbi law because they are fearful of answering for past misdeeds. He further stated that Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Badal is completely disconnected from ground realities and cannot even differentiate between basic crops, while the Congress party remains a divided house heading towards irrelevance due to severe internal infighting.
