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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann handed over licenses to 2,800 new ration depot holders and said the move will benefit around 5.5 lakh ration card holders.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday handed over licenses to 2,800 new ration depot holders and said the move will strengthen the state’s public distribution system and make ration more accessible to people across Punjab. Speaking at an event organized at Vikas Bhawan in Mohali, the Chief Minister said that this initiative will benefit about 5.5 lakh ration card holders as they will no longer have to travel long distances or miss work to collect their monthly ration.
Calling the initiative a transparent and inclusive move, Mann said the new depots have been allotted through an interview-based selection process, replacing the previous practice of allotment based on political recommendations. He said the government ensured representation for every section of the society while issuing licenses.
Representation in all social categories
Highlighting the distribution of new licenses, the Chief Minister said that 633 licenses have been allotted to Scheduled Castes (SC), 199 to Other Backward Classes (OBC), 181 to ex-servicemen, 39 to families of freedom fighters, 156 to persons with disabilities and 17 to riot-affected families.
“The allocation has been made in a fair and transparent manner, ensuring representation for every section of the society,” Mann said.
40 lakh families included under smart ration card scheme
Reiterating his government’s focus on food security, Mann said the Smart Ration Card Scheme is currently providing free wheat and My Kitchen ration kits to about 40 lakh families across Punjab.
He said previous governments distributed ration depot licenses through recommendations, while his government introduced an interview-based selection process to eliminate favoritism and ensure transparency.
‘Not just a license, but an opportunity to serve’
Congratulating the newly selected depot holders and their families, Mann said that the license has opened up a new source of livelihood for thousands of families and given them an opportunity to serve the society.
Describing the license as “much more than just a permit”, the Chief Minister said the depot holders would serve as an important link between the government and the people.
“This is not just a license but an opportunity to earn a livelihood while serving the people. You will serve as an important bridge between the government and the people and I consider it a blessing that you have been entrusted with this responsibility,” he said.
Government aims for better access to essential supplies
Describing the initiative as a historic step, Mann said it will strengthen the delivery of essential services at the grassroots level and make ration more accessible to people across the state.
He said the government’s policies are focused on public welfare and ensuring that no family goes hungry. Referring to the Meri Rasoi initiative, Mann said around 40 lakh families are receiving ration kits, which include essential household items ranging from turmeric to pulses.
“The duty of every government is to ensure that no family sleeps hungry and we are only fulfilling the mandate given to us by the people,” he said.
Government’s vision: Ration depot near every home
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the government’s long-term vision is to set up ration depots in every village and town so that people can get essential food supplies close to their homes.
Mann urged the newly appointed depot holders to perform their responsibilities with dedication and appealed to them to treat the license as a sacred responsibility rather than just a business. He asked them to ensure fair and honest distribution of ration, paying special attention to senior citizens, disabled persons and poor families. He also urged them to provide ration to the disabled persons at their doorstep wherever required.
The licenses were allotted on the basis of merit through a transparent interview process, the Chief Minister said, adding that the initiative would not only improve public service delivery but also provide dignified livelihood opportunities to thousands of families.
Main characteristics
• Vision: Ration depot in every village and city.
• Center: Better access to ration closer to the homes of the beneficiaries.
• Priority: Fair treatment of every beneficiary, special care of elderly, disabled persons and poor families.
• Excessive Direction: Door-to-door ration distribution to disabled persons wherever required.
CM attacked previous governments, targeted Congress
Mann alleged that public welfare initiatives had stalled under previous governments, accusing them of exploiting people instead of serving them.
Taking aim at Congress, he said that the party is embroiled in an internal leadership struggle. Quoting a statement by one of its leaders, Mann claimed that it costs ₹500 crore to become the chief minister in the party and questioned where that much money would come from.
He said such expenses are ultimately recovered from the common people, thereby impacting welfare-oriented governance.
He said, “When politics becomes so expensive, public welfare suffers the most.”
Punjab government highlights governance initiatives
Apart from the ration depot initiative, Mann highlighted several welfare measures taken by his government.
Road Safety Force (SSF):
• 1,597 specially trained personnel deployed.
• 144 fully equipped vehicles in service.
• Road accident deaths have declined by 48% since the introduction of the force in February last year.
• The force has also helped in safely bringing back valuables and cash of accident victims.
irrigation area
Canal water usage to increase from 22% to over 80% in 2022. Many villages got canal water for the first time in nearly 80 years. According to a report of the Central Government, the groundwater level of Punjab has improved by about four meters. The government aims to utilize 100 percent of the available canal water.
Reiterated Punjab’s stand on river water
Reaffirming the state’s position on the river waters, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab will protect its fair share and will not allow its waters to be diverted to any other state.
He said, “The water of Punjab belongs to Punjab. We will not let anyone snatch our water, be it Haryana or Rajasthan. Punjab was exploited in the past, but those days are gone now.”
Targeted Akali Dal, Sukhbir Badal
Taking aim at Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann alleged that the former Deputy Chief Minister was cut off from the ground reality of Punjab despite spending years in public life.
He claimed that Badal did not have basic knowledge of the state’s geography and agriculture and accused the Akali Dal of making baseless allegations against the AAP government.
Comments on SGPC boycott call
Referring to the decision of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to put up posters outside gurudwaras calling for their boycott, Mann questioned why similar action was not taken against Akali Dal leaders after they had reportedly accepted responsibility for the incidents of sacrilege.
Recalling the proceedings before Sri Akal Takht Sahib on December 2, the Chief Minister said the Akali leadership had publicly admitted its mistakes, accepted responsibility for the firing incidents and admitted that orders had been issued against the Sangat.
He questioned why no boycott posters were put up against the Akali leadership at that time and said such campaigns were being run against them because their political opponents had no other issue to raise.
Akali Dal accused of promoting the menace of drugs
The Chief Minister accused the Akali leadership of harming Punjab by patronizing the drug menace.
He alleged that generations of Punjabis have suffered due to the spread of drugs and claimed that reports showed that official vehicles were used to transport or distribute narcotics.
Mann further accused the Akali leadership of exploiting religion for political gains and described it as an “unpardonable sin”.
He also alleged that some leaders have worked in the interest of forces opposed to Punjab and the Sikh sect.
‘Congress, BJP and Akalis have joined hands’
Mann claimed that Congress, BJP and Akali Dal have joined hands against him as they are unable to accept the pro-people initiatives taken by his government.
Highlights on free power, thermal plant purchases
Reiterating his government’s commitment towards public welfare, the Chief Minister said that every rupee from the state treasury is being spent for the benefit of the people.
Major welfare measures highlighted
free electricity: More than 90% houses in Punjab are getting free electricity.
Electricity supply to farmers: For the first time, farmers are getting uninterrupted electricity for farming during the day.
thermal plant: Instead of privatizing public assets, Punjab has purchased a private thermal plant in the larger public interest.
Comparing Punjab’s approach with the central government, Mann alleged that while public assets were being sold at throwaway prices across the country, his government had strengthened public ownership by acquiring thermal plants.
‘Work together to make Rangla Punjab’
Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and many other dignitaries were present in the program.
Sharing highlights of the programme, Mann described the allotment of licenses to 2,800 new ration depot holders as both a livelihood opportunity and a responsibility to serve the society.
He appealed to the new depot holders to treat each beneficiary with fairness, honesty and compassion, paying special attention to the elderly, disabled persons and poor families.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to welfare-oriented governance, the Chief Minister said that every decision taken by the Punjab Government was guided by public interest and every rupee collected from taxpayers was being spent for the benefit of the people.
“Let us work together with service, honesty and trust to rebuild ‘Rangla Punjab’,” he said.
The Punjab government is developing 3,100 rural sports grounds with modern facilities across the state at a cost of Rs 1,250 crore in the first phase, with 250 grounds to be inaugurated on May 4, 2026. The aim of this initiative is to keep the youth away from drugs and channelize their energy into productive avenues.
Chandigarh, India, India
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