Legitimate demands of MGNREGA employees will be addressed sympathetically: Tarunpreet Singh Sond
Cabinet Minister Sond visits Khanna Civil Hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured MGNREGA employee
Chandigarh/Khanna (Ludhiana), July 16:Punjab Cabinet Minister and MLA from the Khanna Assembly constituency, Mr. Tarunpreet Singh Sond, visited Civil Hospital Khanna late last night to inquire about the condition of injured MGNREGA employee Saudagar Singh and DSP Khanna Vinod Kumar. He directed the Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Maninder Singh Bhasin, to ensure that both receive the best possible treatment free of cost. Senior officials from the civil and police administration, MGNREGA Employees' Union Patron Varinder Singh, President Gursewak Singh, and other union representatives were also present on the occasion.
Speaking to the media, the Cabinet Minister said that continuous discussions and meetings with MGNREGA employees were being held for nearly the past 20 days. He stated that the current situation faced by the employees is primarily due to the Central Government's decision to discontinue the MGNREGA scheme and introduce a new scheme. He said these employees have devoted many years of their lives to the MGNREGA programme and should be given appropriate opportunities under the new system. He added that the employees have expressed their willingness to work under the new scheme, provided that their genuine demands are accepted.
Mr. Sond said there is no disagreement between the Punjab Government and the MGNREGA employees on this issue, and that the state government wants to resolve every concern through dialogue.
The Cabinet Minister further said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has issued clear directions that the concerns of MGNREGA employees should be heard with full sympathy and that their genuine demands should be addressed. He said that after completing his meetings in Chandigarh, he immediately travelled to Khanna and held discussions with the MGNREGA employees for more than an hour. He also spoke with senior officials over the phone and directed them to provide a written assurance regarding the employees' legitimate demands. He assured that the Punjab Government is fully committed to safeguarding the interests of the employees and that all their genuine demands will be addressed in a constitutional and compassionate manner.
On the occasion, Mr. Varinder Singh, Patron of the MGNREGA Employees' Union, Punjab, told the media that MGNREGA employees have been serving under the scheme for the past 18 years and that their primary demand is for the government to ensure continued employment.
He said that Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond personally visited Civil Hospital Khanna along with civil and police administration officials and directed doctors to provide free and quality treatment to the injured employees.
Varinder Singh added that earlier, a detailed meeting lasting nearly an hour was held at the residence of Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond regarding the employees' demands. During the meeting, the Minister instructed departmental officials to submit the genuine demands in writing and to initiate the process for resolving them, while assuring a positive outcome. He said that all legitimate demands would be resolved through mutual dialogue and that the MGNREGA Employees' Union is fully satisfied with the assurances given by Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khanna Dr. Darpan Ahluwalia, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Khanna Ms. Swati Tiwana, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr. Maninder Singh Bhasin, other senior civil and police officials, and representatives of the MGNREGA Employees' Union were also present.
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*Ludhiana Tops Beneficiary List Under Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana*
*Patiala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur Follow*
CHANDIGARH: July 16 :Ludhiana has emerged as the district with the highest number of beneficiaries under the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government's Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana, with 7.4 lakh beneficiaries enrolled under the scheme.
The district is followed by Patiala with 5.3 lakh beneficiaries, Amritsar with 4.9 lakh, Jalandhar with 4.8 lakh, Gurdaspur with 4.4 lakh and Hoshiarpur with 4.2 lakh beneficiaries. Malerkotla has recorded the lowest number, with 1.3 lakh beneficiaries in the state.
Across Punjab, a total of 68.9 lakh beneficiaries have been registered under the scheme as of July 14, 2026.
Punjab's Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr Baljit Kaur, said the higher enrolment figures in districts such as Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur can be attributed to several factors, including larger populations, stronger administrative networks and greater public awareness about welfare programmes. "The entire government machinery is working collectively to ensure the success of the scheme," she said.
Population size remains one of the key reasons behind the higher enrolment numbers. These districts have larger urban and rural populations, more Assembly constituencies and a greater number of eligible families, naturally increasing the pool of beneficiaries. Major cities such as Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar also attract residents from neighbouring districts for employment, education and livelihood opportunities, contributing to a larger resident population.
A significant proportion of households in these districts belong to rural areas and economically weaker sections, increasing eligibility under welfare schemes designed to support families with girl children. Improved levels of birth registration, Aadhaar enrolment, availability of bank accounts and other required documentation have also helped more eligible beneficiaries access the scheme.
District administrations have also undertaken awareness campaigns and worked closely with local bodies and Anganwadi workers to encourage eligible families to apply. Officials have focused on verifying applications and completing the registration process, contributing to higher enrolment figures.
In comparison, districts with smaller populations, including Malerkotla, have recorded fewer beneficiaries. Their lower population and comparatively smaller number of eligible households are among the key reasons for the lower registration figures.
*District-wise Registered Beneficiaries*
Sr. District Beneficiaries (Lakh)
1. Amritsar 4.9
2. Barnala 1.6
3. Bathinda 3.8
4. Faridkot 1.8
5. Fatehgarh Sahib 1.5
6. Fazilka 2.9
7. Ferozepur 2.5
8. Gurdaspur 4.4
9. Hoshiarpur 4.2
10. Jalandhar 4.8
11. Kapurthala 1.7
12. Ludhiana 7.4
13. Malerkotla 1.3
14. Mansa 2.4
15. Moga 2.6
16. Pathankot 1.8
17. Patiala 5.3
18. Rupnagar 1.8
19. S.A.S. Nagar 1.7
20. S.B.S. Nagar 1.6
21. Sangrur 3.6
22. Sri Muktsar Sahib 2.7
23. Tarn Taran 2.6
Total Registered Beneficiaries: 68.9 lakh
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*Dr. Baljit Kaur Interacts with Students at Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses*
*Distributes Certificates to Students on Successful Completion of Courses*
*Urges Students to Avail Benefits of State Government Welfare Schemes for Scheduled Castes*
*Directs Officials to Launch Extensive Awareness Campaign on Skill Development and Employment-Oriented Courses*
Chandigarh, July 16:Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur today held a special interaction with students at the Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses, Mohali, encouraging them to pursue skill development and become self-reliant. She also distributed certificates to students who had successfully completed their respective courses.
The programme commenced with the recitation of Sri Sukhmani Sahib, in which Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, Member of Parliament Mr. Malvinder Singh Kang and Mohali MLA Mr. Kulwant Singh participated and offered prayers for the well-being of all.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has spent Rs. 1.35 crore on the development of the institute's infrastructure and the upgradation of basic facilities to provide students with a more conducive learning environment.
Interacting with the students, the Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is implementing several welfare initiatives to promote education, skill development and employment opportunities for Scheduled Caste youth.
She informed that the Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses offers free coaching for Bank PO, AAO, Punjabi and English Stenography, and Civil Services examinations, including IAS and PCS. She added that hostel facilities are also available for students and stipends are provided as per the prescribed norms.
She urged students to make optimum use of the government's welfare schemes and training programmes to enhance their skills and build a bright future.
Dr. Baljit Kaur also chaired a review meeting with departmental officers to assess the functioning of the institute. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on administrative matters relating to the institute, the implementation of various welfare schemes of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities and future plans for the institute's overall development.
The Cabinet Minister directed the officials to launch a comprehensive awareness campaign highlighting the skill development and employment-oriented courses being offered by the institute so that more eligible youth can enrol, enhance their employability and secure better career opportunities.
Principal Secretary, Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Mr. V.K. Meena, Director Mrs. Vimmi Bhullar and other senior officers of the department were also present on the occasion.
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*Vigilance Bureau nabs Inspector red handed accepting bribe of Rs. 50,000/-*
Chandigarh, 16 July 2026:The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Inspector Harsh Bansal posted at Cooperative Society Tapa, district Barnala red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 50,000/-.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Jang Singh, Secretary retired from Co-operative Society Tapa.
He informed that a departmental enquiry is currently underway against the complainant. The accused Inspector allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 1,00,000/- to clear pending dues of retirement and resolve the enquiry in the complainant's favour. The deal was later settled at Rs 50,000/-.
Unwilling to pay the illegal gratification, complainant approached the VB range Patiala. Acting on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused Inspector was arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 50,000/- from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.The tainted currency notes were also recovered from his possession.
In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Patiala and further investigation into this case is under progress.
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*MRSAFPI SENDS 25 CADETS TO DEFENCE TRAINING ACADEMIES IN 3 MONTHS, TOTAL SELECTIONS REACH 175 UNDER MANN GOVT*
*• Aman Arora lauds cadets & wishes them success in training*
Chandigarh/Mohali, July 16:In a remarkable feat, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), SAS Nagar has sent 25 cadets to various undergraduate and pre-commissioning training academies of the Defence Services in the last three months. With this, the total number of selections from the Institute has reached 175 since Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led State Government assumed office in Punjab.
These cadets have secured admission to the country’s premier defence institutions, including the National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
A total of 16 cadets have joined the NDA-156 Course at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla for undergraduate training. The selected cadets include Abhish, Agammjit Virk, Bhuvan Dhiman and Vishesh Kardwal from Mohali; Gurkaranjit Singh from Malerkotla; Paramjot Singh and Rajpal Singh from Gurdaspur; Guntaaz Sachdeva from Bathinda; Eknoor Singh and Lovish from Amritsar; Sukhmanjit Singh Maan from Pathankot; Channpreet Singh Sidhu from Barnala; Armaan Sharma from Faridkot; Harshvir Singh from Rupnagar; Deepinder Singh from Patiala and Jasjot Singh from Hoshiarpur.
In addition, Abhay Pratap Singh Dhillon from Hoshiarpur has joined the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala. Meanwhile, Mannoorpreet Singh from Gurdaspur, Sanket from Pathankot and Samrath Singh Dhillon from Jalandhar have joined the TES-55 Course at the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Secunderabad and the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow.
In the graduate entries, Ishpreet Singh Dhillon has joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. Manveer Singh Bedi from Ludhiana has joined the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala for the NOC (Ext) Course, while Jasnoor Singh from Pathankot has joined the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal.
Sukhraj Singh Heera from Rupnagar and Jagbir Singh from Sri Fatehgarh Sahib have joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
Congratulating the cadets, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora, lauded their hard work and wished them success in their training. He encouraged the cadets to serve the nation with distinction.
Director of MRSAFPI, Major General Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM (Retd) congratulated the selected cadets, while stating that 25 cadets of the Institute are presently in the process of SSB interviews and medicals. MRSAFPI has emerged as the primary feeder institution for the Armed Forces, he added.