Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann released the second instalment of the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, transferring Rs 1,262.54 crore to 36.87 lakh women. At a gathering in Goindwal Sahib, CM Mann said eligible beneficiaries were receiving Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 and used the payment to contrast his government’s welfare record with opposition parties as Punjab’s election campaign intensifies ahead of the 2027 election.
Chief Minister Man said Rs 2,562.33 crore had been distributed in earlier payments and put the total amount released under the scheme so far at Rs 3,824.87 crore.
Women’s scheme becomes part of Punjab’s 2027 election campaign
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a BJP rally in Jalandhar on Wednesday and made the drug problem a central issue of his party’s campaign. Separate reports on Thursday said Warring had changed his social media bio to describe himself as a former Punjab Congress president after the party high command decided to replace him. Those figures were presented by the Chief Minister at the event and should be read as the state government’s assessment of the scheme’s intended reach. Chief Minister Mann also claimed that a Congress, BJP or Shiromani Akali Dal government would discontinue the women’s assistance programme along with benefits such as free bus travel and free electricity. The political exchange has intensified this week. He also accused the AAP government of failing to control the drug trade. The Congress had not named his successor at the time of those reports. He cited the women’s assistance scheme as part of that approach and referred to spending on electricity, roads, irrigation and government recruitment. At the Goindwal Sahib programme, CM Mann also paid obeisance and spoke about the religious and historical importance of the area. Punjab Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and other leaders attended the event.
He also said the government wanted to extend the scheme to one crore women and claimed around 97 per cent of women in Punjab would ultimately be eligible.
Shah said the BJP, if elected, would seek to make Punjab free of “chitta”, a term commonly used for synthetic drugs, by December 31, 2029. Chief Minister Mann said tax revenue should be spent on public services and welfare programmes.
