*Bhagwant Mann Govt delivers unprecedented social security & women empowerment reforms, disburses over ₹23,102 crore pensions to 35.7 lakh beneficiaries: Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*Over 5.2 lakh new beneficiaries added to social security net; ₹350 crore annual leakages plugged after removing over 1.9 lakh deceased or ineligible pensioners from records*

*₹450 crore lying unused in bank accounts due to previous govts’ failure to track deceased beneficiaries recovered & brought back into public welfare system*

*1,027 children rescued from begging & exploitation under Mission Jeevanjot*

*1.20 crore free bus journeys every month empower women across Punjab; 7.37 crore sanitary pads distributed to promote menstrual health & dignity*

CHANDIGARH, 5th March 2026:In a transformative push to strengthen the social safety net and empower women and children, the Punjab Government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has delivered historic achievements through the Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development between 2022 and 2026. This was stated by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur.

Reinforcing its commitment to the most vulnerable sections of society, the Bhagwant Mann Government added more than 5.2 lakh additional Punjabis from economically challenged backgrounds to the social security pension net. Over ₹23,102 crore has been disbursed to nearly 35.7 lakh elderly citizens, destitute and widow women, and persons with disabilities.

Correcting years of administrative neglect and the absence of proper monitoring mechanisms under previous governments, the Bhagwant Mann Government carried out a comprehensive verification of pension records. During this process, more than 1.9 lakh deceased or non-existent pensioners who continued to remain on official records were identified and removed. By plugging these loopholes and introducing stronger verification systems, the Punjab Government has ensured annual savings of more than ₹350 crore in public funds.

During this clean-up exercise, it was also found that pension amounts had continued to be transferred for years into bank accounts of beneficiaries who were no longer alive or eligible because previous governments had failed to establish proper systems to track such cases. As a result, nearly ₹450 crore had accumulated and remained unused in these accounts over time. The Bhagwant Mann Government identified these accounts and recovered the funds lying unused in banks, bringing them back into the public welfare system.

Under the statewide “Sade Bazurg Sada Maan” campaign, the Bhagwant Mann Government ensured last-mile delivery of services to senior citizens, registering over 20,110 elderly persons. The camps provided free eye and ENT check-ups, cataract screening, spectacle distribution, orthopedic consultations, issuance of Senior Citizen Cards, and on-the-spot pension facilitation.

Strengthening elder care infrastructure, the Punjab Government established a 72-bed Government Old Age Home at Mansa at a cost of ₹9.12 crore and extended nearly ₹7 crore in grant-in-aid to NGOs running old age homes across 14 districts. Financial assistance was also extended to senior citizen day care centres.

The implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 has been reinforced, with Maintenance and Appellate Tribunals operational across districts. A total of 1,120 cases were resolved under Maintenance Tribunals and 669 cases were disposed of under Appellate Tribunals, ensuring timely justice for elderly citizens.

The Elder Helpline 14567, in collaboration with HelpAge India, registered 2,956 cases in FY 2025–26 and successfully resolved 2,930 of them, providing counselling and assistance on pension, healthcare, and legal matters.

In a landmark initiative for women’s mobility and empowerment, the Free Bus Travel Scheme has enabled approximately 1.20 crore free bus journeys every month. The Punjab Government has spent over ₹2,000 crore on this scheme, enabling young women to attend colleges, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure for workers, and ensuring safe and independent mobility across Punjab.

To support working women, five Working Women Hostels are being constructed in Mohali, Jalandhar, and Amritsar at a total cost of approximately ₹150 crore. These hostels, equipped with crèche facilities, will be completed within a year and will enable women to pursue careers away from their homes while balancing family responsibilities.

Making early childhood development joyful and accessible, nearly 4,400 Anganwadi Workers have been recruited over the past four years, while recruitment of over 6,100 additional workers and helpers is ongoing.

Under the “Navi Disha Scheme,” the Bhagwant Mann Government is providing free sanitary napkins across all 27,314 Anganwadi Centres. Every month, nine sanitary pads are distributed free of cost to each eligible woman. So far, 7.37 crore sanitary pads have been distributed to 13.65 lakh women, promoting menstrual hygiene, health, and dignity.

Through the Matru Vandana Yojana, ₹5,000 is provided to eligible women for the first child in two instalments, and ₹6,000 for a second girl child in a single instalment. Against a Central Government target of 2,94,288 beneficiaries, Punjab registered 4,22,492 beneficiaries over four years, nearly doubling the assigned target.

The Mann Government is also upgrading Anganwadi Centres into hubs of foundational learning under the “Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi” focus. More than 8,600 workers have been trained, with training of over 12,000 more ongoing. A structured play-way curriculum will be implemented across all centres, including private Playway schools, whose online registration has been initiated to ensure monitoring, standardisation, and transparency.

Infrastructure expansion remains a priority, with 1,000 new Anganwadi Centres being constructed at a cost of ₹140 crore, of which 780 are completed and 220 are in advanced stages. Additionally, 337 out of 350 centres have been upgraded, with the remaining 13 nearing completion. Development of 100 Saksham Anganwadi Centres is underway in Moga and Ferozepur districts.

Under Project Jeevanjot, 1,027 children have been rescued from child begging and exploitation. Most were reunited with families, while others were placed in Child Care Institutions for protection and rehabilitation. Mission Jeevanjot–II has been launched to curb trafficking and exploitation, including DNA testing in cases where children are found begging with unrelated adults.

The Bhagwant Mann Government also took firm action against child marriage, preventing 150 out of 165 reported cases over four years and initiating legal proceedings in the remaining cases, alongside counselling and rehabilitation support.

Further, more than 11,000 vulnerable children have received ₹4,000 per month under the Sponsorship Scheme. The establishment of 16 new Government Specialised Adoption Agencies has streamlined the adoption process, resulting in 164 successful adoptions so far.

These achievements underscore the Bhagwant Mann Government’s unwavering commitment to transparent governance, social justice, and inclusive development. The marginalized sections of society, which were long neglected by previous governments, have now been placed at the centre of governance priorities, ensuring that welfare reaches every deserving household across Punjab.

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*PPCB and SGPC Join Hands for ‘Plastic-Free Hola Mohalla’ Campaign

· Over 20 Lakh Biodegradable utensils Distributed Free of Cost to Langar Committees in Sri Anandpur Sahib

Chandigarh, March 5:In a significant stride towards merging faith with environmental stewardship, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), in collaboration with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), successfully executed a comprehensive 'Plastic-Free Hola Mohalla' campaign. The initiative aimed to preserve the sanctity of the historic Sikh festival while championing environmental cleanliness in Sri Anandpur Sahib.

Under this pioneering campaign, the PPCB facilitated a large-scale shift to eco-friendly practices by providing lakhs of high-quality biodegradable and compostable disposable utensils and other items free of cost to various Langar Committees (community kitchens) across the holy town.

Providing details, an official spokesperson of Punjab Government stated that the campaign was formally inaugurated on March 1, 2026. A delegation led by PPCB Chairperson, Mrs. Reena Gupta, and Member Secretary, Mr. Lavneet Dubey, formally launched the drive after Meeting with Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib and Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Singh Sahib Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. The department’s groundwork for this campaign began weeks in advance, involving extensive coordination with Langar Committees to assess requirements and liaising with the district administration for seamless execution.

To effectively curb the use of single-use plastic during the festival, the PPCB ensured the supply of over 20 lakh high-quality biodegradable alternatives. The eco-friendly distribution included 7 lakh biodegradable plastic cups, 6.5 lakh biodegradable spoons, 2.5 lakh biodegradable plates, 5 lakh biodegradable bowls, 5,000 biodegradable garbage bags, 30,000 biodegradable carry bags (specifically for Karah Prashad)

The on-ground success of the campaign was driven by the dedication of 20 specialized teams comprising PPCB officials and volunteers. These teams worked tirelessly in the field from February 27 to March 4, 2026, ensuring the alternatives reached every corner of the langar operations.

“Guru Sahib’s universal message, ‘Pavan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat’, intrinsically teaches us to conserve our natural resources,” said Ms. Reena Gupta, Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. “Therefore, for the Punjab Pollution Control Board, there could be no more meaningful initiative than protecting the holy land of Sri Anandpur Sahib from plastic pollution during the sacred occasion of Hola Mohalla. We are grateful to the SGPC and all the volunteers for making this vision a reality.”

The campaign has been widely praised by devotees and community leaders for setting a powerful precedent for how large-scale religious gatherings can adopt sustainable practices without compromising on service.