Patiala, August 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab government will credit the 'Sanman Rashi' under its Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna to women completing new registrations on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Monday.
Mann said the initiative was aimed at providing financial support and dignity to Punjab's women. More than 75 lakh women have registered under the scheme so far, while ₹2,274.42 crore had been transferred directly to eligible beneficiaries as of August 1, 2026.
Under the scheme, women above 18 years of age receive financial assistance of ₹1,000, while SC women receive ₹1,500. The government expects around 97 per cent of women in Punjab to benefit from the scheme and has earmarked ₹9,300 crore for the initiative.
Appealing to eligible women who have not yet registered, Mann said the financial assistance may not make beneficiaries wealthy but would provide them with dignity and self-respect. He also emphasized that strengthening women's financial autonomy was important for household welfare, gender equality and their participation in social and economic decision-making.
In a post on He said 509 new playgrounds had been dedicated to the public at Dhedhna village in Patiala as part of efforts to promote sports and keep young people away from drugs.
The Chief Minister said more than 90 per cent of Punjab's households were receiving free electricity and claimed that farmers were now getting power during the daytime. He said government funds were being used for development, schools, hospitals and roads, describing the approach as “people's money” being returned to the people.
On healthcare, Mann said the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna provides cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh to every resident family in Punjab. According to him, beneficiaries have already received free treatment worth more than ₹1,044 crore under the scheme. He described it as an initiative aimed at ensuring universal healthcare and reducing the financial burden of medical treatment on families.
Mann also highlighted the government's education initiatives, including teacher training programs and Schools of Eminence. He said sustained efforts had improved the performance of government schools and claimed Punjab had surpassed Kerala and other states in education.
He cited the number of government-school students qualifying the NEET examination as an indicator of the change, saying the figure had increased from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026.
The Chief Minister said education was central to addressing poverty and social problems and asserted that the government would continue investing in education, healthcare, sports and welfare programs to provide equal opportunities and work towards a healthy, educated, prosperous and drug-free Punjab.
Mann also attacked the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, accusing Congress leaders of being focused on internal power struggles and alleging that Akali leaders had prioritized their own political interests over those of Punjab. He said the AAP government, in contrast, was focused on the interests of Punjab and its people.