Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday launched the ambitious ‘Meri Rasoi Yojna’ during a programme organised in village Bhalwan in Sangrur, marking the beginning of free nutritional food kit distribution to nearly 40 lakh poor and economically weaker families across Punjab, as one of the country’s largest household nutrition support initiatives.
Declaring the scheme as a direct intervention to reduce the kitchen burden on struggling families amid rising inflation, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the AAP Government is merely making announcements but delivering tangible relief to every household through free electricity, healthcare, women-centric welfare schemes and food security measures. He also asserted that alongside strengthening social welfare, the AAP Government is rapidly modernising infrastructure, with underground power cabling work progressing at speed to make Punjab completely “pole-free” in the coming period.
Addressing a large public gathering during the launch event, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Previous governments had restricted welfare measures merely to the distribution of wheat and pulses, whereas the Punjab Government has taken a comprehensive step to ensure that kitchens of poor and middle-class households remain functional with all essential cooking items required for daily needs.”
The Chief Minister stated, “Under the ‘Meri Rasoi’ scheme, every beneficiary family will receive a specially prepared kitchen kit every three months containing mustard oil, pulses, sugar, salt, turmeric and other essential grocery items required for running a household kitchen.”
Emphasising that the scheme was designed keeping in mind the practical needs of ordinary families, especially women managing household responsibilities, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that a strong and prosperous Punjab can only be built when every household kitchen remains functional and no child sleeps hungry. “Proper nutrition for children is extremely important for their education, health and participation in sports. Our Government wants every household to have access to nutritious and essential food items so that children do not suffer weakness due to lack of protein-rich food,” he said.
Highlighting the Punjab Government’s welfare-oriented governance model, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said nearly 90 percent of households in Punjab are now receiving zero electricity bills, significantly helping families save money and manage household expenses with dignity. “The money saved from electricity bills is now being used by families for household needs and improving their quality of life,” he added.
Speaking about agriculture and irrigation reforms, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the AAP Government has ensured uninterrupted daytime power supply to farmers, allowing them to irrigate their fields during the day instead of spending sleepless nights in difficult conditions. “Our government has rejuvenated the canal irrigation system by restoring and laying nearly 14,000 kilometres of water channels and pipelines across Punjab. This historic initiative has improved irrigation facilities and helped conserve groundwater,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further stated that better canal water availability has reduced farmers’ dependence on tube wells, which would play a major role in saving Punjab’s rapidly depleting groundwater reserves.
Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment towards women empowerment, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said registration is underway for the “Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna”, under which eligible women will receive monthly financial assistance. “Women above 18 years of age should come forward and register for these schemes. Women from the general category will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women from Scheduled Caste families will receive ₹1,500 every month,” he stated.
He said these initiatives were aimed at ensuring dignity, self-confidence and financial support for women in managing household responsibilities.
Highlighting healthcare reforms, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Punjab Government is providing free healthcare coverage of up to ₹10 lakh under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna. “People can avail cashless treatment in government as well as empanelled private hospitals. No family in Punjab should be forced to sell land or valuables for medical treatment,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann informed that more than 35 lakh health cards have already been issued and the Government is continuously expanding healthcare access across Punjab.
Criticising unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles created in welfare schemes earlier, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Punjab Government has simplified welfare registration procedures by removing cumbersome biometric verification systems that caused inconvenience, especially to women and elderly citizens. “Many women engaged in household work face difficulties in biometric authentication because their fingerprints fade over time. That is why the Punjab Government has simplified the process through photograph-based verification,” he said.
Reaffirming his Government’s commitment towards protecting the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the recently enacted anti-beadbi law has brought relief and satisfaction to people across Punjab. “For years, people suffered pain not only because sacrilege incidents occurred, but also because accused persons often secured bail due to weak legal provisions. The new law includes stringent punishment, heavy fines, long imprisonment and provisions extending up to life imprisonment,” he stated.
He asserted that the legislation has already received the Governor’s assent and there is no question of withdrawing the law. “The overwhelming majority of Sikh Sangat across the world has welcomed the legislation. Only a handful of politically motivated people are opposing it,” he added.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further said previous governments failed to take strict action despite repeated public demands, whereas the Punjab Government fulfilled its responsibility by enacting a strong law to prevent sacrilege incidents in future. “His government is working honestly and transparently to ensure that public money is spent on schools, hospitals, welfare schemes and infrastructure development,” he said while thanking people for their overwhelming support and affection towards the Government.
Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, senior civil and police administration officials, panchayat representatives and a large number of local residents were present during the event.
Sharing a few snippets from the event, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated on X: “Today in Sangrur, we launched the ‘CM Meri Rasoi Yojna’ for the welfare of 40 lakh families, under which ration kits will be distributed four times a year to protect children from malnutrition.”
“Our Government is making life easier for every section of society by providing free electricity, the ‘CM Sehat Yojna’, the ‘Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna’, uninterrupted daytime power supply and canal water to farmers. From village Satouj, we are also beginning the historic initiative of undergrounding electricity wires to make Punjab completely ‘Pole-Free’,” he added.
“Previous governments merely indulged in politics over sacrilege incidents, but we have ensured protection of Guru maryada by bringing a strict law with provisions of life imprisonment and a ₹50 lakh penalty. This journey towards building a ‘Rangla Punjab’ will continue relentlessly,” the post concluded.
AAP Govt takes historic step to strengthen food security, reduce household burden for 40 lakh families across Punjab
The “Meri Rasoi Yojna” reflects the Bhagwant Mann Government’s welfare-driven and people-centric model of governance, which prioritises dignity, nutrition and financial relief for ordinary families over political optics. At a time when rising household expenses are affecting poor and middle-class families across the country, the Bhagwant Mann Government has taken a historic and compassionate step by directly supporting nearly 40 lakh families with essential kitchen supplies required for daily life.
Unlike previous governments that limited welfare to symbolic announcements, the AAP Government has expanded the scope of food security by ensuring that vulnerable households receive nutritious essentials beyond wheat and ration support. Through transparent delivery systems, quality-assured food kits and universal outreach to economically weaker sections, the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government has reinforced its commitment to building a healthier, stronger and hunger-free Punjab where no household is forced to struggle for basic nutritional needs.
