Chandigarh, April 1: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday detailed a massive push in rural development, highlighting record investments in infrastructure and the launch of a landmark socio-economic survey. Addressing the media in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister affirmed that the Punjab government has nearly doubled its rural development expenditure under the 15th Finance Commission, reaching Rs 2,367.64 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year alone.
A central highlight of the report was the initiation of the Caste and Socio-Economic Survey, for which a budget of Rs 250 crore has been allocated. The Chief Minister declared that 28,000 enumerators would be deployed to map the living conditions of various communities to better frame future welfare policies. He also noted a significant shift in grassroots governance, stating that the number of Panchayats elected unanimously rose to 2,970 in 2024, an increase of 1,100 from the previous elections.
“The Punjab government has taken path-breaking initiatives for providing housing facilities for rural families,” the Chief Minister maintained, setting a target to construct one lakh houses for the underprivileged this year. He compared this to the 39,000 houses built between 2016 and 2022. Additionally, he emphasized environmental efforts, stating that desilting has been completed in over 4,700 village ponds as part of a larger cleaning project.
The Chief Minister also addressed regional political issues, criticizing the previous administration for neglecting rural growth and expressing concern over the Union government’s decision to withhold funds. He asserted that Punjab would fight for its legitimate share of RDF and GST grants at every level. Furthermore, he noted that the state is exploring the feasibility of moving high-tension power lines underground to ensure the safety of farmers and their crops.
On the subject of women’s empowerment, the Chief Minister highlighted the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission, which has connected nearly 5.89 lakh families to Self-Help Groups. He stated that new schemes are specifically linking women to dairy farming, providing Rs 18 crore in interest-free loans to boost rural entrepreneurship.
