Barnala, July 1: The Punjab government is set to script a historic chapter for women’s welfare with the direct rollout of the ‘Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna’ welfare initiative. Speaking at a packed Lok Milni in Mahal Kalan Halqa of Barnala, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that a single instalment combining three months of ‘Satkar Rashi’ will be credited directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries after 12 noon on July 1.
The announcement was met with thunderous cheers from an overwhelming crowd that filled the venue to maximum capacity, forcing hundreds of citizens to gather on neighboring rooftops to catch a glimpse of the event. Waving supportive posters, the attendees cheered the expansion of the state’s social security network, which will provide ₹3,000 to general category women and ₹4,500 to women from Scheduled Castes as an initial three-month combined payment.
“The amount will be transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, and women already receiving social security pensions will also be eligible. Nearly 97% of women in Punjab are expected to benefit from the scheme, for which the state government has allocated ₹9,300 crore in the Budget,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed.
The Chief Minister declared that the scheme is designed to enhance women’s participation in social and economic decision-making processes. He maintained that mothers and sisters possess the resilience to help society conquer every major hurdle, making financial autonomy a cornerstone for general household welfare.
In a detailed review of state governance reforms, the Chief Minister stated that canal water utilisation for irrigation has risen from 22% to over 80%, immensely benefiting the agricultural sector. He also declared that by July 15, the government will dedicate 3,100 newly constructed sports stadiums across Punjab to channelise youth energy away from the menace of drugs. Furthermore, he noted that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna has already provided free, cashless medical treatment worth over ₹650 crore to local families, easing massive financial burdens.
The Chief Minister also shared that Punjab has officially overtaken Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi to rank first nationwide in primary and middle-school education performance according to NITI Aayog data. He asserted that previous administrations reduced schools to mere mid-day meal points, whereas the current dispensation has successfully transformed them into modern educational hubs offering equal learning opportunities to children from ordinary backgrounds.
Concluding his address with a sharp political critique, the Chief Minister stated that traditional political parties have been permanently rejected by the masses for treating public office as a tool to amass personal wealth. He asserted that the ruling party’s symbol, the broom, is actively cleaning the political system of Punjab.
He affirmed that the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, was enacted after thorough legal consultations to ensure no loopholes remain for anti-social elements to exploit under the pretext of mental illness. He declared that Akali Dal leaders are opposing this anti-beadbi legislation to shield themselves from their historical actions, while concurrently pointing out that Congress leaders remain locked in internal battles without any cohesive vision for the progress of Punjab.
