Punjab to assess living standards across communities; caste socio-economic survey begins April 1 with full confidentiality: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
Punjab E News (1 April 2026): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday presented a comprehensive four-year report card of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department as part of the Punjab Government’s ongoing “Shandaar Char Saal Bhagwant Mann de naal” series, highlighting how sustained policy interventions have transformed village infrastructure, strengthened grassroots governance, and expanded employment opportunities across rural Punjab.
Positioning rural development as a central pillar of inclusive growth, the Chief Minister outlined key initiatives ranging from the launch of Punjab’s first-ever caste socio-economic survey to large-scale infrastructure creation, revenue generation through transparent land management, and youth-focused development programmes.
Emphasising that the caste socio-economic survey, beginning April 1, will play a crucial role in ensuring equitable and targeted policymaking, the Chief Minister said the exercise aims to assess the living standards of all communities while maintaining complete confidentiality. He noted that the rural development report card is part of a wider governance framework under which the AAP government is presenting sector-wise performance across education, healthcare, irrigation, agriculture, and other key areas, underlining its focus on accountability, transparency, and measurable outcomes.
Presenting the report card of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Holistic development of the villages has taken place in the last four years involving massive construction work, cleaning of ponds as the state has generated money by removing the illegal encroachments from the government lands and through other means.”
The Chief Minister said, “Due to strenuous efforts of the state there has been an increase in consensus for Panchayat Elections. There are 13,236 Panchayats in Punjab, the polls for which were conducted in 2024, with a large number of Panchayats elected unanimously. In 2018, around 1,870 Panchayats were elected unanimously but in 2024, as many as 2,970 Panchayats were elected unanimously.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “This is an increase of 1,100 Panchayats thereby strengthening communal harmony in villages and ensuring their holistic development.”
He said, “The Punjab government has enhanced the honorarium of Sarpanchs from ₹1,200 to ₹2,000 per month.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Under the 15th Finance Commission for Rural Development ₹2,367.64 crore was spent on rural development in 2025–26 which was double as compared to 2024–25. During 2017-22 ₹1,883 crore was spent on the development of villages in five years whereas the state government has spent ₹3,847 crore in the last four years for this noble cause.”
The Chief Minister said, “₹1,030.94 crore was spent on Panchayat buildings, libraries, Anganwadi centers, playgrounds, streets, drains, and other development works.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “₹1,336.70 crore was spent on drinking water, water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, and essential services, and the funds were released through Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Panchayats.”
He added, “The Punjab government has increased income from leasing Shamlat Land in the villages. Illegal encroachments on Panchayat lands were removed thereby increasing the revenue of the state. Over four years the state government has generated ₹1,842.78 crore by leasing Shamlat land.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann noted, “In 2025–26, revenue increased by ₹50.75 crore as compared to the previous year. Around 1.35 lakh acres were given on lease which generated ₹520.54 crore, as compared to ₹469.79 crore in 2024–25.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “In order to channelize the unbounded energy of the youth in a positive direction around 3,000 rural playgrounds are being developed and ₹1,166 crore is being spent on it. These grounds will be spread over 6,500 acres for which 3,148 locations have been identified.”
He stated, “Work has already started on 2,400 grounds and most of them will be completed by June this year with facilities like volleyball courts, football fields, children’s play equipment, and seating arrangements.”
He stated, “For the first time in the history of the state construction of Panchayat Buildings has been undertaken. 500 modern Panchayat buildings are being constructed in the second phase with a ₹125 crore budget.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “₹25 lakh has been allocated per building and 373 buildings have been already completed in the first phase.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Punjab government has also started the process to construct 251 libraries in the villages out of which 231 have been already completed. The aim is to connect villagers with literature and help youth prepare for competitive exams.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Talking about the MGNREGA Scheme, from 2017–2022, only ₹4,708 crore was spent whereas from 2022 till now, ₹5,146 crore has been spent. 8.96 lakh people have received employment and 2.40 crore man days of employment has been generated.”
The Chief Minister noted, “In 2025–26, around 63,357 new job cards were issued, which included 2,480 for persons with disabilities.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab vehemently opposes the arbitrary and illogical amendments in the MGNREGA scheme. The Punjab Legislative Assembly had opposed changes made by the central government that could reduce rural employment. Such restriction based schemes are unwarranted and undesirable as they pose a serious question mark on the intent of such schemes.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Punjab government has taken path breaking initiatives for providing housing facilities for rural families. This year approval was granted for 76,000 houses, including 30,000 flood-affected families.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “From 2016–2022, only 39,000 houses were built in the state whereas this year the state government has set a target to construct one lakh houses for the poor strata of society.”
He stated, “The Punjab government has embarked a major scheme for cleaning of 17,080 village ponds. 13,414 ponds have been de-watered and desilting has been completed in 4,706 ponds for which ₹235 crore is being spent.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Caste and Socio-Economic Survey is being conducted for the first time in Punjab’s history. The aim is to assess living standards of all castes and sub-castes to frame policies for their well being accordingly. A budget of ₹250 crore has been kept for this purpose in which 28,000 enumerators will be deployed and each will receive ₹62,500 honorarium.”
He stated, “In the war against drugs the entire villages of the state have extended their support in this crusade. I profusely thank the Panchayats and volunteers for actively supporting anti-drug efforts as already 1.25 lakh members have joined the campaign.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “12,000 Village Defence Committees have been formed and the volunteers are acting as ‘village guardians’. Many drug traffickers are arrested based on their inputs.”
The Chief Minister asserted, “Under Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission 100 top women entrepreneurs from 23 districts have been awarded ₹25,000 each along with certificates and mementos.”
He said, “11,700 women have been honored across 117 constituencies and 2,300 women have been felicitated at district-level events. Under the mission, 58,303 Self-Help Groups have been formed and 5.89 lakh families have been connected, with ₹147 crore financial support provided to them.”
The Chief Minister noted, “As a part of Women Empowerment Initiatives a new scheme has been launched to connect women with dairy farming. Under the scheme 1,100 milk cooperative societies have been registered and ₹18 crore interest-free loans have been provided to women.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “These societies are supplying 1 lakh litres of milk daily to Milkfed. Sakhi Shakti Melas were organized across Punjab in which more than 1,500 women participated and products worth ₹9 crore produced by them were sold.”
He said, “For the first time in history state blocks were reorganized as per Assembly constituencies to improve coordination. Village Development Officers and Panchayat Secretaries have been merged into state cadre. State cadres for 3,327 Panchayat Development Secretaries have been created in the state to improve efficiency.”
Replying to a query, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Union government is meting out step motherly treatment with Punjab. Grants under RDF, GST, NHM and others for the state have been unduly stopped by the centre as they are envious of the state. The sole reason is that Punjab does not vote for BJP due to which the Union government indulges in this grave injustice with Punjab.”
The Chief Minister statedd, “The Disaster Management Fund allotted by the centre is too meager and needs to be revised in the larger interest of the masses. The state will oppose this discrimination tooth and nail and no stone will be left unturned for getting the legitimate share of the state. This issue will be taken both legally and administratively at every platform.”
Replying to another query, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “It is surprising that Punjab Congress leaders are maintaining stoic silence over the imposition of entry tax by the Himachal government led by their party, which concerns a large section of Punjabis.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “On one hand the state government is abolishing the toll tax and giving reprieve to the common man whereas on the other hand these people are levying undue taxes on people.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The state government is committed to smooth and hassle free procurement and lifting of the wheat crop and elaborate arrangements have already been made. Any arm twisting or blackmailing tactics aimed at jeopardizing the smooth procurement will not be tolerated and exemplary action will be taken against such forces.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For the first time in the history of Punjab an intelligent and smart government is functioning unlike the earlier ones which looted the people.”
He said, “The Punjab government is exploring the feasibility of putting high tension wires passing through farmers’ land underground and the strategy is being chalked out. This will be a reprieve to the farmers as these wires pose a huge risk to them and their crops.”
On the occasion, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and others were also present.
