Punjab Government Allocates ₹1170 Crore for Widows and Destitute Women in FY 2025-26: Dr. Baljit Kaur
₹593.14 Crore Disbursed to 6.66 Lakh Beneficiaries till August – Dr. Baljit Kaur
Financial Assistance Empowers Women with Confidence and Self-Reliance
Chandigarh, 3 October:Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women & Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, stated that the State Government has allocated a budget of ₹1170 crore for the financial assistance scheme for widows and destitute women for the financial year 2025-26.
She informed that till August 2025, ₹593.14 crore has already been disbursed directly to 6.66 lakh women beneficiaries. Dr. Baljit Kaur said, “The Mann Government’s aim is not just financial support, but to empower women to become confident and self-reliant.”
Dr. Baljit Kaur added that the government’s efforts go beyond mere disbursement of funds. The scheme aims to instill hope among women who face life’s challenges with courage. Each beneficiary, through this assistance, not only supports her family but also shapes a better future for her children.
She further emphasized that such initiatives strengthen women, enabling them to play a more active and constructive role within their families and society.
Highlighting transparency and efficiency, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that due to the continuous efforts of the Punjab Government, the assistance amount is now being directly credited into beneficiaries’ accounts without any delay, enhancing both transparency and trust.
Dr. Baljit Kaur concluded that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is progressing towards becoming a socially secure, empowered, and inclusive state.
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PUNJAB GOVERNMENT NOTIFIES MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS FOR ASHA WORKERS AND FACILITATORS
‘ASHA WORKERS TE FACILITATOR UNION’ EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO FINANCE MINISTER HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA AT MEETING
FINANCE MINISTER HOLDS MEETINGS WITH 5 EMPLOYEE UNIONS, DIRECTS OFFICIALS TO ACT ON LEGITIMATE DEMANDS
Chandigarh, October 3-During a series of meetings held today with representatives from five employee organizations to discuss their demands, Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, who also chairs the Cabinet Sub-Committee on employee issues, announced that the Punjab Government has issued a notification today to grant maternity leave benefits to ASHA and ASHA Facilitators in accordance with the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961.
Congratulating the ‘ASHA Workers Te Facilitators Nirol Union’, the Finance Minister said that under this new notification, ASHA and ASHA Facilitators will be eligible to receive fixed monthly honorarium while on maternity leave. Furthermore, all future amendments to the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961, will also apply to them. The union expressed their gratitude to the Finance Minister for accepting this long-standing demand.
Meanwhile, meetings took place at his office in the Punjab Secretariat with representatives from the Janglaat Workers Union, the Asha Worker Te Facilitator Nirol Union, the Adarsh School Teaching Non Teaching Mulazam Union, the E.T.T TET Pass Adhyapak Association (Jai Singh Wala), and the Beruzgar PSTET Pass Art & Craft Sangharsh Union.
During the discussions, Finance Minister Cheema directed the concerned departments to take immediate action on the legitimate demands raised by the union leaders. The Finance Minister also instructed the respective departments to draft proposals for the demands that pertain to the Finance Department and submit them promptly for consideration and necessary action.
Reiterating the government's commitment to resolving employee concerns, Finance Minister Cheema assured the unions that the dialogue would continue, and further meetings would be held to work towards the swift resolution of their legitimate issues.
Senior Vice Presidents Jaswinder Singh and Sulakhan Singh Mohali, and Vice President Satnam Singh Sangrur from the Janglaat Workers Union; State President Kirandeep Kaur Panjola, Shinderpal Kaur Balianwali, and Kiranjit Kaur Mansa from the Asha Worker Te Facilitator Nirol Union; State President Jasvir Singh Galoti, General Secretary Sukhdeep Kaur Saran, Assistant Secretary Salim Mohammad from the Adarsh School Teaching Non Teaching Mulazam Union; State President Kamal Thakur, General Secretary Sohan Singh Barnala, and Treasurer Gurmukh Singh Patiala from the E.T.T TET Pass Adhyapak Association (Jai Singh Wala); and Kirandeep, Jotinder Singh, and Harminder Saini from the Beruzgar P.S.T.E.T Pass Art & Craft Sangharsh Union presented their demands and issues during the meeting.
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Minister directs clean-up drive: removal of garbage, unclaimed vehicles from city roads, reviews NHAI, Health, Education, Sports, Power, and MC Projects in Ludhiana
Chandigarh/ Ludhiana, October 3 – Sanjeev Arora, Cabinet Minister for Power, Industry & Commerce, Investment Promotion, and NRI Affairs, Government of Punjab, chaired a high-level review meeting in Ludhiana to assess the progress of various infrastructure and civic development projects.
During the meeting, Arora directed PD NHAI to commence immediate repairs of service lanes along national highways in Ludhiana. In response, PD confirmed an allocation of ₹150 crore for the repair and maintenance work. Updates were also provided on the progress of Vehicle Underpasses (VUPs) near the Jalandhar bypass.
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In a bid to enhance urban aesthetics and enforce civic discipline, the Minister instructed the Municipal Corporation and Commissionerate Police to file FIRs against individuals defacing the pillars of the Ludhiana-Ferozepur Elevated Highway. He emphasized a zero-tolerance approach towards activities that compromise the city’s beautification efforts. Additionally, he directed the Municipal Corporation to ensure the prompt removal of garbage and unclaimed vehicles from public roads.
Arora also reviewed the status of several strategic infrastructure projects, including the Halwara International Airport, in coordination with the Airports Authority of India and the district administration. He assessed ongoing works related to the Ludhiana-Bathinda Highway, missing links on the Ludhiana-Kharar Highway, Ludhiana-Ropar connectivity, and the development of parking facilities along the Elevated Highway.
Further, the Minister evaluated the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited’s (PSPCL) initiative to upgrade power infrastructure across 13 municipal corporations, encompassing 87 PSPCL subdivisions of which Ludhiana’s civil lines Sub division tender will open on 9th October as a pilot project. This project aims to enhance public safety and minimize power disruptions. He also conducted a comprehensive review of development projects under the Education, Health, and other key departments.
Arora instructed the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, and the Zonal Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, to expedite pending works under the MPLAD scheme. He reiterated the Punjab Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Hon’ble National Conveyer Arvind Kejriwal and Hon’ble Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to delivering world-class infrastructure and ensuring timely completion of all development initiatives.
Prominent officials present during the review included Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, GLADA Additional Chief Administrator Ojsavi Alankar, ADC (Rural Development) Amarjit Bains, CS Dr. Ramandeep Kaur, PD NHAI Priyanka Meena, Zonal Commissioner MCL Shekon, and representatives from the Deputy ESA office.
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PUNJAB GOVT TO OBSERVE 350th MARTYRDOM DAY OF SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI WITH GRANDEUR: HARJOT BAINS
•EVENTS TO INCLUDE SPECIAL VIDHAN SABHA SESSION & DRONE SHOWS AT ANADPUR SAHIB, NAGAR KIRTANS, KIRTAN DARBARS, LIGHT & SOUND SHOWS ACROSS PUNJAB
• A tent city to be set up to accommodate over 10K devotees daily; Over 1-CR devotees expected to gather at Sri Anandpur Sahib, says Bains
Chandigarh, October 3;The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is all set to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji with grand events across the country. A series of programs, including Nagar Kirtans, Kirtan Darbars, Light & Sound Show, Drone Shows and major religious gatherings at Sri Anandpur Sahib, will honour the Guru's legacy of sacrifice and secularism. The events aim to spread the Guru Sahib's timeless message of secularism, universal brotherhood and sacrifice, promoting harmony and social unity among people of all backgrounds.
After attending the religious panel’s meeting today here at Tourism department’s office, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, along with Advisor to Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mr. Deepak Bali, addressed the media.
S. Bains informed that the Punjab Government is organising national-wide observance to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of 9th Guru Sahib, reflecting the profound reverence for the ‘Hind Di Chadar’. The events have been meticulously planned to perpetuate the Guru’s legacy of sacrifice, secularism and human rights. The programs will be started with the four Nagar Kirtans to be commenced from different parts of the country. One will begin from Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), on November 18 from Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will attend the Nagar Kirtan, while other three will originate from Malwa (Faridkot & Bathinda), and the Majha & Doaba regions. All four processions will converge at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the evening of November 22.
He said that the official commencement of the events will be marked by an Ardaas at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi on October 25, followed by a Kirtan Darbar the same evening at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. The primary celebrations will then shift to Sri Anandpur Sahib from November 23 to 25, where over one crore Sangat is expected to gather from across the globe. A Tent City would be established to accommodate over 10,000 Sangat daily from November 19 to 30. The events here will include an Akhand Path Sahib and Sarb Dharam Samelan (All-Religion Conference), exhibitions and drone shows.
S. Harjot Singh Bains further said that Punjab's first-ever large-scale Drone Shows depicting the Guru's life and martyrdom, and a special Nagar Kirtan from Kiratpur Sahib will be organised. A historic session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is also proposed to be held at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 24. The observances will conclude with a ‘Hukamnama’, ‘Ras Bhina Kirtan’, and a ‘Sarbat da Bhala’ congregation, alongside statewide blood donation camps and a mega plantation drive of 3.50 lakh saplings, besides organising a organ donation pledge event by the Health dept.
Furthermore, from November 1 to 18, all 23 districts of Punjab will host Light and Sound Shows focusing on the lives of the 9th Guru Sahib and his devoted disciples, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dayala Ji. Kirtan Darbars will also be held at 130 ‘Charan Chhoeh’ holy sites associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. Major events are also planned for other key cities linked to Guru Ji’s life, including Amritsar, Baba Bakala and Patiala.
He further informed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will lay the foundation stone for a Heritage Street in Anandpur Sahib on October 5 and will hold a meeting with the religious panel to review the preparations for the grand religious events.
The Education Minister emphasised that the events commemorating Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji's martyrdom aims to inspire people to embrace the values of secularism and humanism. By sacrificing his life to protect the right to freedom of worship, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji set a powerful example of standing up for one's beliefs and respecting the rights of others. These events would serve as a reminder of the importance of promoting tolerance, harmony and the protection of human rights.