Reinforcing its commitment to accessible and dignified healthcare, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann continues to ensure that even the most vulnerable citizens receive timely medical treatment without financial burden, with a 98-year-old woman in Moga benefiting from cashless cancer care under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.

Mukhtiar Kaur, one of the oldest beneficiaries of the scheme, underwent specialised treatment including chemotherapy-related care, fully covered under the Sehat Card. At an advanced age where continuous medical support is critical, the availability of cashless treatment ensured that medical decisions were driven purely by need, not financial constraints.

The treatment involved advanced medication and supportive therapy as part of a chemotherapy regimen, requiring close monitoring and timely medical intervention. With the Sehat Card verified at the hospital, the treatment commenced without delay, ensuring continuity of care.

For families supporting elderly members, the cost of repeated hospital visits and specialised treatment often becomes a significant concern. The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna is addressing this gap by enabling access to quality healthcare without financial stress, allowing families to focus entirely on patient recovery and well-being.

Highlighting the impact of the scheme, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Balbir Singh stated, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna is ensuring that elderly patients across Punjab receive timely and necessary medical care without financial hardship, while preserving their dignity. Access to treatment at this stage of life is critical, and the scheme is empowering families to provide that care with confidence.”

The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna provides cashless health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family annually, enabling beneficiaries to access treatment across empanelled government and private hospitals in Punjab.

With over 9 lakh Sehat Cards already issued, beneficiaries are availing treatment at more than 900 empanelled hospitals, supported by over 2,300 medical packages covering a wide range of procedures. The Punjab Government continues to encourage residents to enroll for Sehat Cards at designated centres to avail the benefits of cashless healthcare under the scheme.

Asserting that all guarantees are being fulfilled without discrimination, Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the Bhagwant Mann-led government is delivering on its promises across sectors. The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has achieved a major irrigation breakthrough in the long-neglected Kandi belt, turning difficult terrain into cultivable opportunity.

With the ₹214 crore Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme bringing canal water to higher altitudes for the first time, he emphasised the AAP government’s pro-farmer schemes, highlighting higher water utilisation, large-scale infrastructure investment and a long-term vision linking farmer relief with economic transformation.

Marking a historic step, Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal inaugurated the Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme developed at a cost of ₹214 crore. For the first time, canal water has been successfully lifted and delivered to higher altitude areas, ensuring assured irrigation to dry and rain-fed lands of the Kandi region.

The project will provide irrigation facilities to nearly 11,500 acres of land across 33 villages, paving the way for enhanced agricultural productivity and increased farmer income. The initiative will transform the agrarian landscape of the region by enabling farmers to cultivate better crops and improve land value.

Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Cabinet minister Barinder Kumar Goyal stated, “The Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme will serve as a milestone in extending irrigation to areas that remained deprived due to elevation challenges through the Kandi Canal and Bist Doab systems. The project will significantly reduce dependence on groundwater and bring long-term benefits to the region.”

Providing details of the project, he added that it is being executed in three phases. “The first phase covering 4,000 acres in 13 villages has already been completed in February 2026 at a cost of ₹67 crore. The second phase, costing ₹107 crore, will cover 5,500 acres in 14 villages and is expected to be completed by September 2026, while the third phase with an outlay of ₹40 crore will extend irrigation to 2,000 acres in 6 villages. A 650 kW solar plant has also been installed to minimise electricity burden,” he shared.

Highlighting the technical aspects, Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the scheme has been connected to the Bist Doab Canal with a discharge capacity of 67 cusecs and water will be lifted through pumps and supplied via an extensive pipeline network to high, low and semi-hilly agricultural fields. He added that no land acquisition was required as existing departmental land was utilised for the pump house.

Emphasising the significance of the project, the minister further said, “Due to deep groundwater levels and failure of tube wells, farmers in the Kandi area were heavily dependent on rainfall, which limited crop diversification and productivity. Being a semi-hilly terrain, conventional canal systems were not feasible earlier, which also kept land prices low. Advanced satellite and drone surveys were conducted and technical staff were trained at IIT Roorkee and IIT Ropar to design the project, which was executed in a mission mode within six months.”

“Before this project, irrigation was available in 28,205 acres across 72 villages in Balachaur constituency. With the completion of this scheme, irrigation coverage will expand to 39,705 acres across 105 villages. Around 94,000 kilometres of pipelines have been laid to ensure water reaches the fields efficiently,” he added.

Reiterating the commitment of the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government, Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the state has spent ₹6,700 crore so far to strengthen irrigation infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted canal water supply. “While only 22 percent water was earlier used for irrigation, the Mann government has increased its utilisation to 78 percent. Strengthening of canals has contributed to improvement in groundwater levels, reduction in electricity consumption and enhancement in soil fertility,” he stated.

Sharing details about the Kandi Canal, the minister said that it originates from Talwara and extends up to Balachaur with a total length of 129.035 km and discharge capacity of 463 cusecs. Despite being initiated in 1980, water had not reached tail-end areas earlier. The AAP government ensured continuous water flow, restored 1,500 km of old pipelines, laid 300 km of new pipelines and relined 120 km of canals and watercourses, thereby benefiting 1,28,740 acres of land across 12 blocks after three decades.

Highlighting welfare initiatives, Barinder Kumar Goyal added, “The Bhagwant Mann government is providing free quality healthcare with insurance cover up to ₹10 lakh and 600 units of free electricity to households. All guarantees made to the people are being fulfilled without discrimination.”

Prominent among others present on the occasion included MLA from Banga Dr. Sukhwinder Sukhi, MLA Balachaur Santosh Kataria, Deputy Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Balbir Raj Singh and several other dignitaries.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab State Media In-charge and General Secretary Baltej Pannu on Thursday questioned the deafening silence of Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP leaders after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann placed evidence-backed facts showing that Rajasthan owes Punjab ₹1.44 lakh crore under the 1920 water agreement. He said that for decades, parties that ruled Punjab compromised its rights and today have no answers as the truth stands exposed before the people.

AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “Ever since Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann presented evidence-backed facts that under the 1920 agreement, Rajasthan owes Punjab ₹1.44 lakh crore in lieu of water received since 1960, why have leaders of Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP, who ruled for 70 years, are silent on this matter? These parties have no answers to the questions being asked by the people.”

Targeting BJP Punjab President Sunil Jakhar, he stated, “Jakhar Sahib, the same leaders who were once in Congress with you are now sitting with you in BJP, those who carried ‘golden and silver tools’ to dig canals through Punjab’s chest and divert its waters to other states. Why are you silent on those betrayals today? The people of Punjab understand the meaning of your silence very well.”

He further stated that the same traditional parties that had pushed Punjab to the brink of becoming barren have been countered by the Bhagwant Mann government, which has revived the state within just four years. “While earlier only 22% canal water reached the fields, today, due to the efforts of the Mann government, that figure has increased to 78%. Not only this, canals and distributaries that were buried by previous governments in collusion with the land mafia are now being revived. The restoration of the buried ‘Lambi Canal’ stands as a living example of this,” he added.

Baltej Pannu added, “Opposition parties and leaders are troubled by new developments because their old conspiracies and betrayals buried beneath the soil have now come to light. Those who looted and exploited Punjab for 70 years and sold its rights to other states have now been exposed.”

Reaffirming the commitment of the AAP Government, he said, “As long as CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is in office, every single penny and every right of Punjab will remain fully protected.”

In a major push to fulfil CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision of transforming healthcare and medical education in the state, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday announced the establishment of a new government medical college in Kapurthala. This is the second such institute to be announced this month following the Shaheed Udham Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences in Hoshiarpur. The new facility, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji State Institute of Medical Sciences, will be constructed at the existing District Hospital complex in Kapurthala.

Addressing a press conference, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh stated, “All formalities, including the tendering process, have been completed and work orders have been issued to the executing agencies. Construction is scheduled to commence on March 25, 2026, and will be completed within 24 months by March 2028.”

He shared, “The project, which will be established at a total cost of ₹275 crore, will feature a 300-bedded hospital and a medical college with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students, significantly bolstering the state’s medical education capacity and ensuring that students from Punjab do not have to seek costly alternatives abroad.”

Highlighting the impact, the Minister emphasised, “Once operational, the institute will not only add 100 MBBS seats but also provide state-of-the-art secondary and tertiary care services to the people of the region. This institute will be a major source of employment, with over 1,000 people set to benefit directly, while thousands will get employment indirectly.”

Sharing further developments, he continued, “To further strengthen the healthcare network, the Government Hospital in Sultanpur Lodhi will be upgraded as an urban centre and the Government Hospital in Begowal will be upgraded as a rural centre. Both will be attached to the new Medical College in Kapurthala.”

The project to be established over an area of more than 5 lakh square feet will include six major operation theatres, a 500-capacity auditorium, advanced diagnostic facilities such as MRI and CT scan, a central lab, a blood bank, and modern teaching departments equipped with skill labs and museums.

The Health Minister was accompanied by Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Kumar Rahul, Chairman Punjab Health System Corporation Gursharan Singh Chinna and Managing Director Punjab Health System Corporation Amit Talwar.