Barnala, June 26: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that no smear campaigns or fabricated videos would deter his administration from steering the state toward rapid development. Speaking at a Lok Milni in Barnala, the Chief Minister stated that the public remains the ultimate judge of his governance, which focuses entirely on public welfare and structural growth.
The Chief Minister announced that women across the state will start receiving financial aid under the Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna starting July 1. Under this initiative, regular beneficiaries will receive ₹1,000 while SC women will get ₹1,500 transferred directly to their bank accounts. “Women beneficiaries above the age of 18 years will receive notifications on their mobile phones regarding the financial assistance,” the Chief Minister stated, adding that ₹9,300 crore has been earmarked for the scheme to cover nearly 97 percent of women in Punjab.
Addressing the broader impact of the welfare push, the Chief Minister maintained that financial autonomy is vital for structural progress. “This financial assistance may not make women rich, but it will certainly give them dignity and self-respect,” he asserted, adding that strengthening women’s financial autonomy is essential for improving household welfare and promoting gender equality.
The administration has also initiated a unique project to move high-tension electricity lines underground in rural areas to eliminate safety hazards. The Chief Minister affirmed that this project would protect human and animal lives while safeguarding crops from accidental fires. He further pointed out that over 90 percent of households now enjoy free electricity, and a private thermal plant was recently acquired to strengthen state resources.
In response to recent political friction and boycott calls by certain organizations, the Chief Minister stated that traditional parties are unable to accept the extensive public support for the current administration. “When my opponents fail to challenge me politically, they try to defame me on religious grounds,” he declared, urging citizens to verify facts before believing altered social media content.
Lok Sabha MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and other senior dignitaries attended the event.
