Mann government’s zero-bill guarantee proves a blessing for the people

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): Punjab today stands witness to a governance model that has eliminated one of the biggest financial burdens from the life of the common citizen. The Zero Electricity Bill Guarantee introduced by the Bhagwant Mann–led government has not only fulfilled an electoral promise but has emerged as a revolutionary step in public welfare. This guarantee has truly illuminated the homes of millions of families across the state. By leaving behind the era of expensive power bills and empty promises of previous governments, the present administration has demonstrated that when intent and policy are clear, delivering direct relief to the people is not impossible.

The biggest proof of this model’s success is that 90% of Punjab’s households are now receiving zero electricity bills. This is not a small achievement—it represents massive financial relief for a vast population. In just one billing cycle of August–September 2025, 7,387,460 families received zero bills. This unprecedented accomplishment shows that the government’s welfare scheme is reaching every section of society, allowing families to save ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 every month—money they can now spend on their children’s education and other household needs.

The numbers tell the story of this historic success. Since the launch of the scheme in July 2022 until October 31, 2025, the Punjab government has issued a total of 113,943,344 zero electricity bills (nearly 11.40 crore). Along with this, more than 134,632,343 consumers have benefited from subsidized power. These massive figures are a sharp contrast to the failures of previous administrations, which—despite ruling for decades—never managed to offer such basic relief to the public.

With 90% of Punjab’s households receiving zero bills today, the obvious question arises: Why did earlier governments fail to do this? The truth is that they lacked both the political will and the vision needed to create truly people-centric policies. For them, the public was merely a vote bank—given election-time lollipops but denied meaningful relief. Focused more on safeguarding their political masters and mismanaging Punjab’s treasury, these governments never seriously tried to reduce the burden of electricity costs on ordinary citizens.

The current government’s move is a key pillar of the Roshan Punjab Mission. This mission aims not only to light up homes but also to strengthen Punjab’s backbone—its farmers. The government is ensuring that all 13.50 lakh farmers continue to receive free electricity for agricultural purposes. This cuts input costs, boosts farmer income, and reinforces Punjab’s agricultural sector, thereby contributing to the nation’s food security. It stands in stark contrast to the farmer-unfriendly attitude of previous administrations.

This is not a one-time relief measure—it is the outcome of a robust, sustainable policy that continues to benefit people year after year. A look at the figures shows the consistency:

FY 2023–24: 35,959,088 zero bills issued (around 3.60 crore)

FY 2024–25: 34,577,832 zero bills issued (around 3.46 crore)

This continuity proves that the government not only has a clear vision but also the financial discipline and management capability to implement it effectively on the ground. (Advertorial)