Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann handed over licenses to 2,800 new ration depot holders, now ration will be available near homes in entire Punjab.

Chandigarh: Taking an important step towards strengthening Punjab’s public distribution system and making essential food supplies more accessible, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today handed over licenses to 2,800 new ration depot holders to ensure that ration is made available to people across the state close to their homes. This move will benefit approximately 5.5 lakh ration card holders, who will no longer have to travel long distances or leave work to collect their monthly ration.

The new depots have been allotted by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government through an interview-based selection process, thereby ensuring representation for all sections of the society, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), ex-servicemen, freedom fighters, persons with disabilities and riot victim families. Addressing the newly appointed depot holders at a program organized at Vikas Bhawan in Mohali, the Chief Minister described these licenses as a big responsibility to serve the people with honesty, fairness and compassion.

Benefits will be gained from opening of new ration depots

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that with the opening of new ration depots, about 5.5 lakh ration card holders will be freed from having to travel long distances or leave work and stand in long queues for their monthly ration. He said that the government has ensured equal representation of all sections of the society while issuing licenses to new ration depot holders. He said, "The allocation has been made in a fair and transparent manner, while ensuring representation for every section of the society. Of the 2,800 new licenses, 633 have been allotted to families belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, 199 to families belonging to Other Backward Classes, 181 to ex-servicemen, 39 to families of freedom fighters, 156 to persons with disabilities and 17 to families of riot victims."

Highlighting his government’s commitment towards food security, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that under the Smart Ration Card Scheme, free wheat and My Kitchen ration kits are being provided by the state government to 40 lakh families across Punjab. He said, "Previous governments had distributed ration depot licenses on the basis of political recommendations. We have ended this tradition by introducing an interview-based selection system to eliminate bias and ensure complete transparency."

Congratulations to the selected depot holders

Congratulating the newly selected depot holders and their families, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the licenses have opened a new avenue of livelihood for thousands of families and have also given them an opportunity to serve the society. He said, "Today, 2,800 depot holders are being given licenses under the new depot allocation policy. This is not just a license, but an opportunity to earn a living while serving the people. You will serve as an important link between the government and the people and I consider it a blessing from God that you have been entrusted with this responsibility."

Describing the occasion as historic, the Chief Minister said that this initiative will immensely benefit the people of Punjab and will also further boost the delivery of essential services at the grassroots level. He said, "The policies of our government are being implemented only for the welfare of the people. Today, 40 lakh families are receiving free Meri Rasoi kits containing essential household items from turmeric to pulses. It is the duty of every government to ensure that no family sleeps hungry and we are just doing our duty towards the people." The Chief Minister said that the government’s vision is that ration depots should be established in every village and every city so that people can get services near their homes.

Special appeal to new depot holders

Appealing to the newly appointed depot holders to perform their responsibilities diligently, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they should deal with every beneficiary with fairness, honesty and sympathy. He said, "I request all of you to consider it not just a business but a sacred responsibility. Take special care of the elderly, disabled and poor families. Wherever needed, ensure that the disabled get ration at their homes. This allotment has been done on the basis of merit through a transparent interview process, so that deserving people can get these licenses. Along with serving the society, this initiative will also help thousands of families earn a respectable livelihood and secure their future."

The Chief Minister said that during the tenure of the previous governments, such public welfare efforts had stopped, whose sole objective was to exploit the people instead of serving them. He said, "Previous governments had no vision for Punjab. Their only objective was to loot and mislead people."

Targeted at Congress

Taking aim at Congress, the Chief Minister said that the party remains immersed in internal conflicts. He said, "One day they give importance to one leader, the next day to another. His politics revolves only around the chair. One of their own leaders has publicly admitted that to become the Chief Minister in his party, Rs 500 crores have to be spent. He asked where would this much money come from?"

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that such money ultimately comes from the pockets of common people, which has a bad effect on the administration focused on public welfare. He said, "This money will be recovered from the people. When politics becomes so expensive, people have to suffer the consequences."

Reduction in deaths in road accidents

Highlighting the initiatives of the state government, the Chief Minister said that Punjab has launched the country’s first dedicated Road Safety Force (SSF) to improve road safety and save precious lives on the state and national highways. “A specially trained force of 1,597 newly recruited personnel along with 144 fully equipped vehicles have been deployed to provide immediate assistance to accident victims and strengthen road safety across Punjab,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that since its inception in February last year, the Road Safety Force has reduced deaths in road accidents by 48 percent. He further said that apart from saving lives, the force has also ensured safe return of valuables and cash belonging to the accident victims.

There was a change in the irrigation sector also

Referring to the efforts of the government in the irrigation sector, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there has been a significant change in the use of canal water in Punjab. He said, “In the year 2022, Punjab was using only 22 percent of its canal water. Today this figure has increased to more than 80 percent. In many areas, people have seen canal water reaching their villages for the first time in almost 80 years.”

The Chief Minister said that earlier farmers had no option but to depend on borewells for irrigation, but the continuous efforts of the state government have significantly reduced the dependence on groundwater. He said, “As per the Central Government’s own report, due to our continuous efforts, the groundwater level of Punjab has improved by about four meters. We are using more canal water and less groundwater and the day is not far when Punjab will utilize 100 percent of its available canal water.”

Reiterating the state’s firm stand on river waters, the Chief Minister said that Punjab will protect its legitimate share. He said, “Punjab’s water belongs to Punjab. We will not let anyone take our water, be it Haryana or Rajasthan. Earlier Punjab was exploited, but those days are gone now.”

Akali Dal chief also targeted

Taking aim at Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is ignorant of the realities of Punjab. He said, “Sukhbir Singh Badal has spent his entire life in privileges and luxuries. He is ignorant of the ground realities of Punjab, yet attempts to lead the state. Despite being in power for years, the former Deputy Chief Minister does not even have basic knowledge of the geography and agriculture of Punjab. He cannot even differentiate between the major crops of the state. Despite this, his party is making baseless allegations against us one after the other.”

The Chief Minister said that now efforts are being made to defame him through politically motivated campaigns. He said, “Now the Shiromani Committee has given instructions to put up posters boycotting me outside the Gurudwaras. But I want to ask why such posters were not put up against the Akali Dal or Sukhbir Singh Badal, when they themselves had accepted responsibility for the incidents of sacrilege?”

Recalling the action taken in front of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on December 2, the Chief Minister said that the Akali leadership had publicly accepted its mistakes. He said, “He admitted his mistake, took responsibility for the firing incidents and admitted that orders were issued against the Sangat. When he admitted this before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, had anyone put up posters outside the Gurudwaras appealing for his boycott? The Sangat is sensible and the public is supreme. Such actions are being taken only because they have no real issue left to raise against me.”

The Chief Minister said that the Akali leadership has caused irreparable damage to Punjab by patronizing drugs. He said, “He has ruined generations of Punjab by promoting and patronizing the drug trade. Reports have also emerged that government vehicles were used for drug smuggling. He has hurt the sentiments of every Punjabi by misusing religion for his narrow political interests, which is an unpardonable sin.”

He further said that such leaders have worked in the interests of Punjab and anti-Sikh sect forces. He said, “Congress, BJP and Akali Dal have come together to conspire against me because they are not able to digest the public-friendly work being done by our government.”

Reiterating the government’s commitment towards public welfare, the Chief Minister said that every rupee of the state treasury is being spent thoughtfully in the interest of the public. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “More than 90 percent of houses in Punjab are getting free electricity. For the first time, farmers are getting uninterrupted power supply during the day for farming. Every decision of our government is inspired only by the welfare of the public.”

The Chief Minister said that while the Central Government is selling public properties across the country at throwaway prices, Punjab has chosen a different path by strengthening public ownership. He said, “At a time when valuable public assets of the country are being handed over to a select few, Punjab has created history by purchasing a private thermal power plant in the larger public interest.”

CM shared glimpses

Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and many other dignitaries were also present on this occasion. Sharing some glimpses of the ceremony, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Today in Mohali, we have handed over licenses to 2,800 new depot holders, which has provided a new means of livelihood to thousands of families. This is not just a license, but a sacred responsibility to serve the people.”

The Chief Minister further said, “I appeal to all of you to treat every eligible beneficiary with fairness, honesty and sensitivity. Consider it your duty to provide special care and assistance to the elderly, disabled persons and poor families.” At the end of the post it was written, “Every decision of our government is inspired by the welfare of the public and every rupee collected from the taxpayers is being spent in the interest of the public. Let us together build a ‘Rangla Punjab’ with service, honesty and trust.”