Punjab’s women witnessed the ‘Toon-Toon’ of financial empowerment as their mobile phones buzzed with SMS alerts confirming the transfer of ₹1,291 crore in Sanman Rashi directly into the bank accounts of more than 37.43 lakh beneficiaries. During a massive gathering in Abohar, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna was aimed at bringing one crore women under its ambit, with nearly 80 lakh registrations already completed. Describing it as a social revolution that would strengthen women’s financial independence and self-respect, the Chief Minister announced that all registered beneficiaries would receive their payments together on January 1 as a New Year gift, reiterating that his government was returning public money to people through schools, hospitals, roads, canals and ₹10 lakh health insurance coverage.
Sharing a few snippets from this occasion, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Today, during a massive gathering in Abohar for the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna’, Sanman Rashi worth ₹1,291 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of more than 37.43 lakh mothers and sisters across Punjab. This scheme is a ‘Social Revolution’ that will economically empower our daughters and sisters and strengthen their self-respect. Our target is to bring one crore women of Punjab under this scheme. We are continuously working to fulfil our promise of ensuring financial freedom for the women of Punjab.”
Addressing the gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna is not merely a financial assistance scheme but a social revolution aimed at strengthening the self-confidence, self-respect and dignity of mothers and daughters. The initiative will ensure financial freedom for women by putting money directly into their hands, enabling them to make independent decisions and lead a life of dignity.”
Taking a dig at the opposition parties, the Chief Minister said that even women belonging to the families of his political rivals in the Akali Dal (Badal) and Congress are receiving benefits under the scheme, yet their leaders continued to criticise it merely to please their political masters. He reiterated that the AAP government is committed to serving every eligible woman without political discrimination, as public welfare was above party politics.
He said, “The money being distributed under the scheme belongs to the common people, who contribute to the state exchequer through their taxes. The state government is simply returning people’s money to them through welfare initiatives and development programmes. When ordinary citizens pay taxes, they have every right to receive quality facilities, social security and a better quality of life in return.”
He said, “The government had already disbursed ₹2,643.71 crore to 76.35 lakh women under the scheme. With today’s transfer, the total financial assistance distributed has reached ₹3,934.80 crore.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further said, “As of October 29, 2026, 80.05 lakh women had already registered under the scheme, and the government is working towards its ambitious target of covering one crore women. There are no restrictive household-based conditions, and every eligible woman is entitled to receive the financial assistance independently. Even if three eligible women belong to the same household, all three will receive the benefit. The scheme will provide financial assistance worth ₹12,000 crore annually, making it one of the most significant initiatives for women’s financial empowerment in the country.”
Appreciating the contribution of women engaged in facilitating registrations, the Chief Minister said, “A total of 1,37,723 Satkar Sakhis are engaged in facilitating registrations under the scheme. Incentives amounting to ₹51.30 crore will be provided to these Satkar Sakhis for their contribution, while Anganwadi workers engaged in the registration process will also receive incentives worth ₹25 crore. The government is ensuring that those working at the grassroots level are duly recognised and rewarded for their efforts.”
Giving further details, he said, “The next instalment will also bring smiles to women’s faces on December 1, followed by another transfer on January 1, when the assistance for three months will be credited to the accounts of eligible beneficiaries. I am confident that the number of beneficiaries will reach the ambitious target of one crore by then. Our government has provided 70,685 government jobs strictly on merit, without any cash, favouritism or political recommendation.”
Highlighting other initiatives undertaken for public welfare, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The government has issued 54 lakh health cards under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, established Aam Aadmi Clinics and provided 300 units of free electricity every month to 90% of households. These initiatives reflect our commitment to ensuring that the benefits of governance reach every household, particularly the common people who had remained deprived of basic facilities for decades. Our focus is on transforming people’s lives rather than indulging in political theatrics.”
Taking a sharp dig at the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and BJP, he said, “These parties have nothing constructive to offer to the people of Punjab and are united only by their hunger for political power. The Akali Dal, which failed to answer for the painful incidents of sacrilege, has been reduced to the Badal family and a handful of close associates. The Congress, on the other hand, is a divided house where its own leaders are constantly at loggerheads with one another.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “These political parties are hand in glove with each other, with their sole agenda being to grab power and protect their vested interests. Abohar has suffered due to years of family-centric politics, which held back its development and deprived its people of the progress they deserved. The people of Punjab have already made up their minds to give the Aam Aadmi Party another opportunity to serve the state in 2027.”
He said, “The people have witnessed the difference between politics driven by personal interests and governance driven by public welfare. They have trusted me so far, and I hope they will continue to repose their faith in me in the future as well. The AAP government has worked with honesty and dedication to fulfil the aspirations of every section of society. I am confident that the people of Punjab will give a befitting reply to the misleading propaganda of opposition parties by supporting the politics of development, transparency and public welfare.”
Reiterating his government’s commitment to the state, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The AAP government will continue to work tirelessly for the progress of Punjab, the empowerment of women, the welfare of every household and the creation of a prosperous future for the coming generations.”
Taking the Congress party to task, he said, “The Congress party is on its deathbed and will be finished very soon, as it has no vision for the people and the state. Its only aim is to plunder the wealth of Punjab by assuming power, but its dreams will never be fulfilled. Congress leaders are daydreaming about assuming power in the state, but the party is a divided house that will collapse due to its infighting. It is a pity that the top Congress leaders who come to unite these leaders squabbling for power are not even aware of how to pronounce their names.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our government is optimally utilising every single penny of the state exchequer for the well-being of the people. More than 90% of households in the state are getting free power. Even farmers are today getting power during the daytime, which is unprecedented. The tax money of the people belongs to the state and is being judiciously spent on their welfare. People’s money is coming back to them through development, schools, hospitals and roads.”
He said, “Our government is working for the people and has provided free electricity to households, jobs to over 70,000 youth without corruption, improved roads, closed toll plazas saving ₹70 lakh daily, imparted quality education and healthcare, and built infrastructure, besides undertaking several other key initiatives. The government is working tirelessly for the development of villages, for which grants are being given. To wean away the youth from the menace of drugs, 3,100 sports stadiums are being constructed in the state.”
Emphasising the importance of education, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The state government has prioritised education and taken pathbreaking initiatives in the education sector to transform the lives of people. No freebie or concession card can eliminate poverty or other social maladies in the state. Education is the key that can pull people out of this vicious circle by raising their standard of living. Our government is making tireless efforts to improve the standard of education to empower the common people.”
He said, “Punjab has surpassed Kerala and other states in the field of education, which is the result of strenuous efforts by the state government, including teacher training programmes, Schools of Eminence and other initiatives. In 2021, just 80 students of government schools had cleared the coveted NEET examination, but this year, in 2026, the number has gone up by 11 times to 882. This is the difference between our governance and that of others, who never bothered about the school and education sector.”
Highlighting the expansion of canal irrigation, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For the first time in the history of the state, canal water has reached the fields of 1,587 villages that had never seen canal water. A total of 45,000 kilometres of roads are being renovated and upgraded to facilitate the residents of the state. The state government has spent ₹7,200 crore to ensure canal water reaches every field. After I assumed charge, the area under canal irrigation increased from 26% to 80%. In 2022, only 20 lakh 89 thousand acres received canal water, but today canal irrigation has reached 60 lakh 30 thousand acres.”
