Category: Punjab

Bhagwant Govt expands education access & welfare schemes, ensures scholarships and opportunities reach every district: Dr Baljit Kaur

SAS NAGAR (25 March 2026): Punjab Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday stated that the Bhagwant Mann Government has ensured a major push to educational empowerment in Punjab, with the state securing the second position nationally in the disbursement of scholarships for Scheduled Caste and other students, while simultaneously expanding welfare schemes to reach every district and beneficiary.

Chairing a Tool Kit Distribution and Awareness Programme at Kalkat Bhawan in Mohali covering six districts, Minister Dr Baljit Kaur highlighted the scale of educational progress under the present government and said, “Punjab has secured the second position at the national level in the disbursement of scholarships aimed at promoting education among Scheduled Caste and other students. Nearly 10 lakh students have pursued education in their desired fields during the tenure of the Bhagwant Mann government.”

Underscoring the Bhagwant Mann government’s focus on skill development and self-reliance, she said, “The distribution of tool kits to ITI trainees is part of the Free Textbooks and Tool Kits Scheme for SC students, which is 100% funded by the Punjab Government. A total of 1506 ITI students will benefit under this initiative, with 630 students from SAS Nagar, Rupnagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana covered in the first phase across 32 Government ITIs.”

Emphasising the larger vision behind the initiative, Minister Dr Baljit Kaur added, “This initiative aims to promote entrepreneurship among youth, enabling them to achieve larger goals through skill-based employment.”

Highlighting the expansion of welfare coverage, she said, “Earlier only two districts in Punjab were covered under the Minority Scholarship Programme of the Government of India, but due to persistent efforts of the Punjab Government, the scheme has now been extended to all districts.”

Reflecting on the broader social vision guiding these efforts, Minister Dr Baljit Kaur stated, “Social reformers like Babasaheb Ambedkar and the teachings of Sikhism have played a significant role in eliminating discrimination based on caste, and the Punjab Government is committed to uplifting economically weaker sections.”

MLA Kulwant Singh and MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa also appreciated the initiative and said, “The tool kits will help ITI trainees become self-reliant and earn livelihoods with dignity. The Punjab Government remains committed to providing quality education and healthcare facilities to all.”

Principal Secretary V. K. Meena elaborated on various welfare schemes of the department, while Director Vimmi Bhullar welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted key aspects of the scheme.

ADC (Rural Development) Sonam Chaudhary delivered the vote of thanks and reiterated the district administration’s commitment to effectively implementing welfare schemes for weaker sections.

Chandigarh News (March 25): The Punjab State Food Commission today commemorated the Martyrdom Day of Shaheed-e-Azam S. Bhagat Singh with solemnity and patriotic fervour at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Chandigarh. Punjab Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Rural Development and Labour Minister S. Tarunpreet Singh Sond graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Addressing the gathering, S. Tarunpreet Singh Sond said that the ideals of Shaheed-e-Azam S. Bhagat Singh continue to guide society towards justice, equality and fearless expression. He asserted that the younger generation must imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and commitment towards nation building. He also highlighted the role of cultural platforms in preserving the rich legacy of martyrs and strengthening collective identity. “His message encourages young minds to question injustice, pursue knowledge and contribute meaningfully towards the progress of the nation, making him a timeless source of inspiration for generations to come”, he added.

Meanwhile, Punjab State Food Commission Chairman Mr. Bal Mukand Sharma, while outlining the initiatives of the Commission, stated that focused efforts are being made to ensure both food security and nutrition security across the State. He informed that nutrition gardens have been established in 5723 schools, enabling students to understand the importance of balanced diets and sustainable practices.

Paying rich tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam S. Bhagat Singh, speakers noted that his life stands as a symbol of courage, intellectual strength and unwavering dedication to the freedom struggle. His writings and actions continue to ignite a sense of responsibility among youth to uphold democratic values and social harmony. They further stated that S. Bhagat Singh’s vision of an equitable and progressive society remains relevant in contemporary times.

Prominent amongst others who were present included Members of the Commission Jasvir Singh Sekhon, Vijay Dutt and Chetan Parkash Dhaliwal, former Members Preeti Chawla and Indira Gupta and Member Secretary Kanu Thind.

Cabinet Sub-Committee intensifies engagement with unions, directs time-bound resolution of pending demands: Harpal Singh Cheema

Punjab E News (25 March 2026): Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, serving as the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to resolve employee grievances, on Wednesday convened a series of crucial meetings at his office to address the pending demands and concerns of various employee union representatives across Punjab.

During the meetings, the Finance Minister interacted directly with delegations from multiple unions including the Meritorious School Teachers Union, Adhyapak Insaf Committee, Fire Brigade Outsource Employees Union, Fire Brigade Contract Employees Union, and the Forest Workers Union.

The Finance Minister held detailed discussions on their issues in the presence of senior officers from the concerned departments and issued clear directions to ensure that all legitimate demands raised by the unions are addressed and resolved at the earliest.

“Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of employees and ensuring that their rightful demands are addressed in a time-bound manner,” stated Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

Reaffirming the Bhagwant Mann government’s commitment, he emphasised that the Cabinet Sub-Committee is actively engaging with employee representatives to ensure that their concerns are heard and resolved through a transparent and responsive mechanism.

The meetings witnessed active participation from union leaders including Dr. Tina and Ajay Kumar from the Meritorious School Teachers Union; Vikram Dev Singh, Digvijay Pal Sharma, Sukhwinder Singh Chahal, and Baz Singh from the Adhyapak Insaf Committee; Sahib Singh, Gurviryam Singh, and Sukhjit Singh from the Fire Brigade Outsource Employees Union; Sobha Singh from the Fire Brigade Contract Employees Union; and Makhan Singh Wahidpuri, Amrik Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Satnam Singh, Ravi Kumar, and Shinderpal Singh from the Forest Workers Union.

Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna ensures that treatment isn’t delayed by financial or administrative hurdles: Dr. Balbir Singh

Chandigarh News (March 25): With a growing number of newborns and young children accessing treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is ensuring that medical care begins without delay during critical moments.

In Sri Muktsar Sahib, a 1-year-old child, Khwaish, was admitted with pneumonia requiring urgent medical attention. In many such cases earlier, families would have had to arrange funds, complete documentation, or wait for approvals before treatment could begin. However, under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, that gap has been removed.

With the Sehat Card already in place, treatment was initiated immediately at Deep Hospital under Dr. Monika Garg, without any upfront payment. The family did not have to arrange money or go through verification steps, allowing doctors to begin treatment at a critical time. In cases involving young children, even short delays can lead to complications, but immediate access to treatment ensured that the child received timely care and recovered safely.

Similar instances are being reported from districts such as Sangrur and Mansa, where newborns requiring specialised care, including treatment for low birth weight and other critical conditions, are receiving medical attention under the scheme without financial barriers. The increasing number of such cases reflects how access to treatment is becoming faster and more seamless for families across Punjab.

Highlighting the impact of the scheme, Punjab Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Balbir Singh said, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna ensures that treatment is not delayed by financial or administrative hurdles. In cases like this, where a young child required urgent care, even a short delay can have serious consequences. The scheme removes that risk entirely.”

The scheme provides cashless health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family annually, enabling access to treatment across empanelled government and private hospitals. With more than 26 lakh Sehat Cards already issued, patients are accessing treatment at over 900 empanelled hospitals, supported by more than 2,300 medical packages.

The growing number of newborn and child cases being treated under the scheme reflects a shift towards faster, more accessible healthcare delivery, where treatment begins without financial hesitation. The Punjab Government continues to encourage residents to enrol for the Sehat Card at designated centres to avail cashless treatment benefits under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.