Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann hoists national flag in Faridkot, announces health and education initiatives
PTC Web Desk: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hoisted the national flag during the state-level Independence Day celebrations in Faridkot, where he also inspected the parade and took the salute from the marching contingents. The event was attended by Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav.
Extending Independence Day greetings to citizens, particularly Punjabis, CM Mann highlighted that Punjabis contributed nearly 80% to India’s freedom struggle. Expressing joy at celebrating the occasion on the land of the 12th-century Sufi saint and the first great Punjabi poet, Baba Sheikh Farid, the CM reiterated his government’s commitment to providing employment to youth and eradicating gangsters and drugs from the state.
The celebrations featured tableaux from various government departments showcasing their achievements and agendas. Bhagwant Mann also honoured soldiers, Punjab Police personnel, freedom fighters’ families, and eminent personalities for their contributions. Remembering martyrs, including Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Sukhdev, and Lala Lajpat Rai, he emphasised the state’s responsibility in preserving their legacy.
Announcing key welfare initiatives, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojna’ will launch on October 2, providing health insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh to every family in Punjab. The scheme will include all government hospitals and 552 empanelled private hospitals, with treatment costs fully borne by the state.
He informed that the government has set up 881 ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ serving nearly 70,000 patients daily, with plans to increase the number to 1,000. In education, the government is establishing ‘Schools of Eminence’, and due to these focused efforts, Punjab has jumped from the 29th position in 2017 to first place in the Government of India’s National Achievement Survey rankings.
On the anti-drug campaign, CM Mann said strict action was being taken against traffickers, with strong public support for the ‘War Against Drugs’ initiative. An anti-drone system has been deployed in border areas to curb smuggling of drugs and weapons from Pakistan.
Highlighting employment generation, he said 55,000 government jobs had been given purely on merit in the last three years. Irrigation facilities have also improved, with canal water usage for agriculture rising from 21% to 63% during his tenure — reaching even the remotest villages for the first time in the state’s history.
- PTC NEWS
