NEW DELHI, JUNE 12 — — Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday presented a formal demand to the NITI Aayog Governing Council seeking Special Category Status for Punjab alongside a specialized financial package to rejuvenate its economically stagnant border districts. The request seeks to align Punjab’s central funding allocation with that of Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states, where the Union government covers 90% of scheme costs.
Mann asserted that the state’s geographical position as a frontline territory creates unique socio-economic and security pressures. He explained that border communities face regular hardships, including drone-assisted drug trafficking, cross-border security threats, and strict farming restrictions for fields located between the security fence and the international boundary.
“The genuine demands of the people of Punjab, raised by me during the 10th meeting of the Governing Council and reiterated today, may kindly be accepted,” Mann stated, noting that previous appeals to the central government had received an unenthusiastic response.
The chief minister declared that long-term developmental uncertainty has crippled industrial growth near the border, leading to relocation of factories and minimal new capital deployment. He noted that while the state protects the nation’s perimeter, the central government’s financial assistance has not matched the scale of the crisis. Mann pointed out that the current central village development programs overlook thousands of vulnerable Punjabi border hamlets that require immediate developmental aid.
The address also connected regional stability to broader national goals. “Only a secure, safe and thriving Punjab can guarantee a Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” Mann maintained, assuring the council that the state’s “Rangla Punjab” roadmap remains fully synchronized with federal economic priorities.
Reviewing state achievements, Mann shared that Punjab’s primary healthcare model has been transformed through 990 Aam Aadmi Clinics, which manage around 84,000 patients daily with high public satisfaction. He also pointed to the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, which extends cashless medical coverage to families across Punjab and Chandigarh for over 2,300 distinct medical procedures.
On the educational front, Mann credited structured pedagogy and early childhood investments for Punjab’s first-place rank in the 2026 NITI Aayog Education Quality Report. He stated that government school students consistently outperform national learning averages. To bridge the gap between education and employment, the state has expanded its ITI network, operationalized vocational training programs within correctional facilities, and supported specialized academies like the Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Mai Bhago training institutes to prepare youth for careers as commissioned military officers.
Mann concluded by asking the Union government to designate Mohali as a National Knowledge and Education Hub, citing the city’s dense cluster of research facilities, academic institutions, and technology ecosystems as ideal for international partnerships.
