Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has projected his government’s record on employment, education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure as evidence of a changing state, asserting that young people can now find opportunities at home rather than being compelled to migrate in search of work.
Addressing a Lok Milni programme at Kamalpura village in Jagraon, Ludhiana, on October 29, 2026, Mann highlighted more than 70,000 government appointments, improved educational outcomes, expanded canal irrigation, free electricity for over 90 per cent of households and a new healthcare initiative offering cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh per family.
The Chief Minister said recruitment had been carried out on merit without bribery or political recommendations. Citing the performance of government schools, he said the number of students qualifying for NEET had risen to 882 this year, compared with just 80 in 2021.
On agriculture, Mann said farmers were receiving daytime electricity for their tube wells and that canal irrigation had been expanded to 1,587 villages through an expenditure of ₹7,200 crore. According to the figures shared by him, canal-irrigated land increased from 20.89 lakh acres in 2022 to 60.30 lakh acres, while coverage rose from 26 per cent to more than 80 per cent.
He also cited the renovation of approximately 45,000 kilometres of roads and the closure of toll plazas, claiming that the latter had saved commuters around ₹70 lakh every day.
Healthcare and women’s welfare featured prominently in the government’s account of its achievements. Mann described the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, which provides cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh per family, as a major step towards reducing the financial burden of medical emergencies. He also referred to the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar scheme, under which eligible women are to receive ₹1,000 per month and eligible Scheduled Caste women ₹1,500 per month. The government expects around 97 per cent of women to benefit, with a budgetary allocation of ₹9,300 crore.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of ₹51 lakh for Kamalpura village and said the state was planning to establish 3,100 sports stadiums to encourage young people to participate in sports and keep away from drugs.
Turning to political issues, Mann criticised previous governments and levelled allegations against opposition leaders, including SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. His remarks concerning the case and the chargesheet were political claims; the allegations remain subject to legal proceedings and judicial determination.
The Lok Milni programme was presented as an opportunity for residents to raise local concerns directly with the government. Mann used the occasion to defend his administration’s performance and argue that employment, public services and infrastructure development were changing Punjab’s direction.
With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, the government’s claims on jobs, healthcare, women’s welfare, agriculture and infrastructure are likely to become central to the political debate. The challenge for the ruling AAP will be to translate these announcements and figures into visible improvements in people’s everyday lives, while the opposition is expected to scrutinise the implementation and outcomes of the schemes.
