Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a ₹137-crore rural link road project in the border constituency of Khemkaran and said the AAP government was focusing on strengthening infrastructure, employment opportunities and improved public services in border regions. He also highlighted progress in canal irrigation, employment generation and education reforms.
Addressing a massive gathering after laying the foundation stone, CM Bhagwant Mann stated, “From roads to schools to playgrounds and industry, I assure you that my government is committed to ensuring everything in this area. Successive governments ignored the development of border areas, but the AAP government has made dedicated efforts for their progress.
We are committed to the welfare of the residents of these regions who are true patriots of the country.”The Punjab CM said that for the first time in the history of Punjab, the industrial policy of the state provides incentives to industrialists willing to establish units in border areas.
“Nine thrust sectors and borders as well as Kandi areas are being given 25 percent additional incentives. Border districts such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur and Fazilka have historically seen lower investment due to perceived geographical risks,” he said.
Emphasising employment generation, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann added, “We want to place a tiffin in the hands of our youth by providing them employment so that they stay away from syringes and the menace of drugs. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop, so we are making every effort to ensure that youth get jobs and do not fall prey to social evils. The AAP government has already provided more than 63,000 government jobs to the youth.”
Highlighting achievements in irrigation, he continued “When we assumed office, only 21 percent canal water was being used for irrigation. Today this figure has risen to 68 percent and it will reach 85 percent by the coming paddy season. 6,900 kilometres of canals and 18,349 watercourses have been revived to ensure water reaches tail-end farmers.”
The Punjab CM also said that the state government has spent Rs 6,500 crore to rejuvenate the canal system, enabling canal water to reach 1,365 villages for the first time, and added that work on constructing more than 49,000 kilometres of roads is underway at a cost of Rs 16,209 crore to improve rural connectivity.
Speaking about the education sector, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Schools of Eminence have been established across the state to provide quality education with smart classrooms, modern laboratories and playgrounds. Teachers and principals are being sent abroad for specialised training so that students can compete globally.
It is a matter of immense pride that Punjab has ranked first in the National Achievement Survey conducted by the Government of India, surpassing even Kerala.”He added that students are also being given specialised coaching for competitive examinations such as Armed Forces preparation, NEET, JEE, CLAT and NIFT, and said that students from Schools of Eminence and other government schools have already qualified for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced and NEET.
The Punjab CM also highlighted welfare initiatives of the state government. “The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna has been launched to provide cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh for all 65 lakh families in the state. Punjab has become the first state to provide free healthcare to all citizens, while 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics are providing free treatment daily,” he said. He added that around 90 percent of households in Punjab are receiving free electricity.
He further announced that the state government will soon implement the scheme to provide ₹1000 per month to every woman. “Necessary provisions will be made in the upcoming budget and every promise made to the people will be fulfilled,” he said.
Taking a dig at the Congress party, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The Congress is a divided house that will collapse due to its own infighting. Their leaders dream of returning to power but they neither have vision nor unity. They forget that 60 seats are required to form a government in Punjab, which is a distant dream for them. Their leaders cannot even manage basic arithmetic.”
Training his guns on Shiromani Akali Dal leadership, the Punjab CM added, “Akali leaders have nothing to offer except a roadmap to loot and harass the common man. They patronised gangsters and shielded drug smugglers during their rule. They have repeatedly misused religion for their vested political interests, but people of Punjab will not be misled by them again.”
The Punjab CM said that the renovation of 209 rural link roads in the Khemkaran constituency has been initiated under a project covering 275 kilometres at a total cost of Rs 137 crore 22 lakh. “An amount of Rs 127 crore 84 lakh will be spent on renovation and Rs 9 crore 38 lakh will be used for maintenance over the next five years.
Additional work on link roads spanning more than 249 kilometres in the Khemkaran constituency is also underway with an expenditure of Rs 35 crore 23 lakh,” he said.Reiterating the commitment of the AAP government, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our government will leave no stone unturned to ensure the welfare of every section of society and the comprehensive development of Punjab.”