Arvind Kejriwal, CM Mann pay obeisance at shrines in Amritsar

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accompanied by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday paid obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal and Sri Durgiana Mandir to thank the almighty for the successful completion of three years of the state government.

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Both the leaders said they were blessed to get an opportunity to serve the people of Punjab and herald a new era of unprecedented development and progress in the state. Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that they were following in the footsteps of great Sikh Gurus to serve the people and vowed to give further impetus to development of the state. They said a vast change was witnessed in Punjab during the past three years and in the coming two years the state would lead the country in every field.

Mann said on this day in 2022, he had assumed the charge of Chief Minister’s office at the native village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He said the people of the state had bestowed a huge responsibility on him and his party by giving a thumping majority in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Mann said since then his government had made strenuous efforts to make Punjab a frontrunner state in every arena. Mann said the state government had launched the scheme to provide free power to the people in 2022. Since then, 90 per cent of the households in the state were getting free power and got zero electricity bills, he said.

Mann said this scheme had reduced a big burden on the pocket of the common man and saved huge amount of money for the poor households. He said along with domestic consumers, food growers of the country were also getting free and uninterrupted power in the state.

He recalled that few months after becoming the CM, he had got coal supply from Pachhwara mines resumed and created a history by purchasing Goindwal power plant owned by GVK Power, a private company.

The Chief Minister said to make youth an active partner in the socio-economic development of Punjab, the state government offered a record over 51,000 jobs to the youth during its 36 months rule.

Mann said in order to impart quality healthcare services to people, the state government set up 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across Punjab which revolutionised the health care sector in the state. He said more than 2.70 crore people had availed benefits of these clinics.

The Chief Minister further said the Punjab Government was committed to make 118 Government Senior Secondary Schools as Schools of Eminence, equipped with smart classrooms, labs and playgrounds for scientific learning. The enrolment in government schools increased by around 17 per cent in pre-primary classes, he added.

About agriculture, Mann said 21 per cent canal water was used for irrigation purposes in the state over three years ago. At present, its usage stands at 75 per cent, he said.

The Chief Minister said 43 citizen-centric services were being provided, which constitute more than 99 per cent of daily administrative works, under “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwar”.

He said, “Specially trained and freshly recruited 1,597 personnel, including girls, are the backbone of the dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force, which has been provided 144 fully equipped vehicles since its launch in February last year.”

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the major thrust of the state government would be on serving the weaker and underprivileged sections of society.