Speaker extends Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas greetings to the people of Punjab
Chandigarh 19 October 2025:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan extended heartfelt greetings to the people of Punjab on the occasion of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas.
He said Diwali may bring peace, happiness and prosperity in the life of Punjabis. May God fulfill all the dreams of Punjabis. We should follow the path as shown by Lord Ram in our life.
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Punjab Cabinet Ministers Extends Greetings on Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas
- Appeal to Celebrate an Eco-Friendly, Green Diwali
Chandigarh, October 19:Punjab Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Sanjeev Arora, Dr. Balbir Singh, Lal Chand, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Harjot Singh Bains, Harbhajan Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Dr. Ravjot Singh, Barinder Kumar Goyal, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, and Mohinder Bhagat extended warm greetings to all citizens, especially Punjabis, on the joyous occasions of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas.
In a joint message issued here, the Ministers said that Diwali symbolizes the victory of truth over falsehood, righteousness over evil, and light over darkness. It reflects the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India, celebrating universal values of goodness and harmony.
They appealed to the people to celebrate a pollution-free, green Diwali, emphasizing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility. The Ministers noted that pollution is a serious concern affecting everyone and urged citizens to minimize the use of firecrackers and adopt eco-friendly practices during the festivities.
On this occasion, the Ministers also prayed for the well-being and good health of the people of Punjab and hoped that the festival would further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, and secularism across society.
The Ministers also extended special greetings to the Sikh community on the historic occasion of Bandi Chhor Diwas, marking the day in 1612 when the sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, secured the release of 52 Hindu kings from Gwalior Fort, symbolizing freedom, justice, and compassion.
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AAM AADMI CLINICS ACHIEVE LANDMARK AS 4.20-CR PEOPLE AVAIL TREATMENT AND 2.29 cr LAB TESTS DONE IN 3 YEARS
— CM BHAGWANT MANN LED PUNJAB GOVT COMMITTED TO PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS HEALTH FACILITIES TO PEOPLE OF STATE
— CLINICS CATERING OVER 73K PATIENTS DAILY, CUTS HEALTHCARE EXPENSES FOR INDIVIDUALS BY ₹ 2000 CR, SAYS DR BALBIR SINGH
— DR BALBIR SINGH REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO UNINTERRUPTED DRUG SUPPLY, SAYS AN IMPRESSIVE 98% PATIENTS REPORTED RECEIVING DRUGS IN SURVEY
CHANDIGARH, October 19:The ambitious 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' project initiated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab government to strengthening primary healthcare in the state, has achieved yet another significant milestone as the Outpatient Department (OPD) visits have now crossed the remarkable 4.20 crore mark and lab tests done crossed 2.29 cr in just three years.
Sharing this milestone here on Sunday, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh revealed that over 4.20 crore individuals in the state have received free treatment from the 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics since August 15, 2022. Notably, there are 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics— 316 in urban areas and 565 in Rural areas— functioning in the state providing free treatment, besides offering 107 types of free medicines and 47 types of free diagnostic tests.
Dr Balbir Singh reiterated the commitment of the department to ensuring the availability of all 107 types of essential drugs. He presented the survey findings, stating that as per the latest patient feedback, an impressive 98% of patients reported receiving drugs from the clinic. The Minister stated that officials have been strictly instructed to ensure that stocks of all required medicines are maintained at all times.
Providing a break-up about the footfall at the Aam Aadmi Clinics, Dr Balbir Singh mentioned that these clinics serve around 73,000 patients daily, with an average of 83 patients visiting each clinic everyday. This statistic underscores the efficiency and effectiveness of the clinics in managing a significant patient load, he added.
“Out of 4.20 crore visitors, 1.50 cr are unique visits, showcasing the broad accessibility of the clinics, while 2.7 crore visits are re-visits, indicating the trust and satisfaction of the patients,” said the Health Minister, while adding that the clinics have played a crucial role in reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for individuals by a substantial amount of Rs 2000 crores.
He further informed that 54% of OPD visits are by females, indicating a notable shift towards gender-inclusive healthcare. These clinics are actively breaking traditional barriers and ensuring equal access for all individuals. Furthermore, 13.9% of visits are by Children and Adolescents (0-15 age group), while a substantial 61.3% are by Adults (16-60 age group). Additionally, 24.8% of visits are by Senior citizens (Above 60). This diverse age representation underscores the Aam Aadmi Clinics' dedication to meet the healthcare needs of all age demographics.
The Health Minister further informed that each clinic is equipped with IT infrastructure, ensuring complete digitisation of registration, medical consultations, examinations and prescriptions.
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PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA DEPUTY SPEAKER GREETS PUNJABIS ON DIWALI AND BANDI CHHOR DIWAS
Chandigarh/Garhshankar, October 19:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Sh. Jai Krishan Singh Rouri extended greetings to people of Garhshankar constituency along with Punjabis living all over the world on the occasion of holy festivals Diwali, Bandi Chhor Diwas and Vishwakarma Diwas.
On this occasion, Deputy Speaker said that we should celebrate our traditional festivals with full pride and dignity. He urged the people to follow the teachings of the Gurus and Spiritual leaders to follow the path of truth. He also prayed to God for the happiness and peace of all.
Deputy Speaker Sh. Jai Krishan Singh Rouri appealed to the people to celebrate holy days of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas in the traditional manner and to refrain from bursting crackers. He said that bursting crackers causes pollution and due to the explosions of fireworks animals also got panicked. He said that therefore, we should not do any wrong which causes harm to anyone else.
Sh. Jai Krishan Singh Rouri also shared his greetings on Vishwakarma Day and said that Lord Vishwakarma has connected us with work and invention, therefore we should also remain loyal to our work and should always respect the tools.
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