While Congress, Akalis and BJP were worried about sons & in-laws, AAP concerns itself with children of Punjab says CM Mann
Jalandhar: Launching the distribution of scholarships to more than 2.7 lakh Scheduled Caste (SC) students at the PAP Ground in Jalandhar, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the ₹271 crore Post-Matric Scholarship under the ‘Mission Rangla Punjab’ drive reflects a fundamental shift in governance priorities, asserting that while Congress, the Akalis and the BJP remained preoccupied with family interests, AAP has focused squarely on securing the future of Punjab’s children.
Highlighting a 35 percent rise in beneficiaries since 2020–21, the Chief Minister said the surge was the result of genuine education reforms, not tokenism, and stressed that scholarships are not mere financial aid but a tool of self-reliance, correcting years of systemic neglect in which delayed and diverted funds had even prevented students from appearing in examinations.
Emphasising the transformative power of education, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Education is the only key to changing the destiny of the weaker and underprivileged sections. Unfortunately, successive governments deliberately kept these students away from books. Today, our government is giving them a chance to realise their dreams and excel in life.” Congratulating parents, he added that their sacrifices and hard work were the real source of inspiration for students to move forward through education.
The Chief Minister recited Sant Ram Udaasi’s poem Maghda Rahin Ve Surja Kammian De Vehre from the stage. “This poem is very close to my heart and has always inspired people to believe in hard work, ” he said, urging youth to remain grounded, set clear goals and pursue them with dedication, as hard work alone leads to success.
Highlighting the impact of the scheme, the Chief Minister said it was enabling students to transform their destiny and contribute to making India a global frontrunner. “The objective is to connect economically weaker Scheduled Caste students with higher education. The scheme is meant for families with an annual income below ₹2.50 lakh and is being implemented in Punjab with complete transparency, ” he said.
Sharing key achievements, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The number of beneficiaries has increased unprecedentedly. Compared to 2020–21, there has been a 35 percent increase in beneficiaries in 2024–25.” He added that the budget had been enhanced from ₹245 crore to ₹271 crore, underlining that it was the Punjab government’s duty to ensure the well-being of every section of society. “For the first time, bio-authentication has been made mandatory for students, heads of institutions and nodal officers to prevent fraud, ” he said.
The Chief Minister said a new accountability system had been introduced on the Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Portal. “The Post-Matric Scholarship is not just financial assistance. It is a pathway to self-reliance. We are firmly committed to ensuring that no talented child’s dream remains unfulfilled due to lack of money, ” he reiterated.
Expressing pride, the Chief Minister said Punjab had topped the National Achievement Survey, surpassing even Kerala. “Government schools have become temples of the modern era, illuminating thousands of young lives, ” he said, noting that students were being provided coaching for competitive exams such as Armed Forces preparation, NEET, JEE, CLAT and NIFT.
He said it was heartening that students from government schools had qualified for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced and NEET. Referring to healthcare reforms, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh is being provided to all 65 lakh families in Punjab, without any income condition, including government employees and pensioners.”
Stating that Punjab had become the first state to provide free healthcare to all citizens, he said 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics were offering free treatment daily. He added that over the last four years, 63, 027 government jobs had been given transparently, without bribe or recommendation. “Since 2022, 90 percent households are receiving free electricity and, for the first time, farmers are getting more than eight hours of uninterrupted daytime power during the paddy season, ” he said.
On the occasion, Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Dr Baljit Kaur also addressed the gathering.
