Punjab Govt committed to dedicated service & development to realise vision of ‘Rangla Punjab’: Governor Gulab Chand Kataria
CHANDIGARH(The Uttam Hindu): Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria reiterated the firm commitment of the Punjab Government to serve Punjab and its people with utmost dedication and sincerity and said the government is working to take Punjab forward on the path of development for carving out a vibrant and progressive ‘Rangla Punjab’. Addressing the twelfth Budget Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria presented a comprehensive account of the initiatives undertaken by the Punjab Government across healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, governance, welfare, industry and public services.
Highlighting the Punjab Government’s efforts to strengthen public healthcare, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said, “The Punjab Government is committed to build a robust, inclusive and people-centric healthcare system that ensures quality, affordability and accessibility for every citizen by operating an extensive healthcare network comprising 23 District Hospitals, 42 Sub-Divisional Hospitals, 162 Community Health Centres, 523 Primary Health Centres, 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics and 2453 Health and Wellness Centres reflecting the Punjab Government’s strong commitment to universal health coverage.”
He further stated, “881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across Punjab provide 107 medicines and 47 diagnostic tests free of cost and have already recorded over 4.7 crore OPD visits, including 1.55 crore unique patients. In 2025-26, Punjab is set to cross nearly 2 crore primary healthcare OPD visits, thus demonstrating a new, cost-effective, patient-centric primary healthcare model that is being widely recognised. 240 additional Aam Aadmi Clinics will be operational shortly.”
The Governor said, “Pregnancy care services introduced at Aam Aadmi Clinics across Punjab have led to a decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio from 105 to 90, reflecting the Punjab Government’s sustained focus on safe motherhood. The Punjab Government has also introduced anti-rabies vaccination services at Aam Aadmi Clinics.”
Emphasising the strengthening of the healthcare workforce, the Governor said, “The Punjab Government has undertaken the largest-ever recruitment of doctors in its history. Since 2022, the Punjab Government has recruited a total of 934 doctors for government hospitals, accounting for nearly 25 percent of the total doctors currently serving in Punjab.”
He added, “The Punjab Government has initiated the recruitment and empanelment of nearly 400 specialist doctors, representing the largest specialist expansion. Recruitment of nearly 400 nursing personnel is almost complete, while an additional 500 positions are currently in the pipeline.”
Highlighting universal health coverage, Governor noted, “The Punjab Government has launched Universal Health Coverage ensuring 100 percent coverage of the entire population of Punjab under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana’. The scheme will provide cashless health cover of up to ₹10 lakh per family per year for 2356 medical and surgical procedures through a wide network of Government and empanelled private hospitals which are approximately 900 in number in Punjab and Chandigarh.”
He added, “Under this scheme every Punjabi shall get a Sehat Card to facilitate the easy cashless insurance claim processing.”
Speaking about road safety and emergency response, the Governor said, “The Punjab Government has launched the ‘Farishtey’ and the ‘Sadak Surakhya Force’ aimed at ensuring timely assistance to road accident victims. The Farishtey Scheme provides immediate cashless treatment to accident victims and incentivises Good Samaritans with ₹2,000 along with a certificate for helping injured persons reach hospitals. This initiative has already enabled timely assistance to more than 600 road accident victims.”
Highlighting tertiary healthcare development, he noted, “The Punjab Government has taken a landmark initiative of strengthening advanced tertiary healthcare by operationalising the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences. With the successful conduct of the first liver transplant in December 2025, liver transplant services have formally commenced under the public health system.”
He further said, “Punjab is going to set a new milestone by planning to commence kidney transplant services from May 2026 onwards at Government Medical College Patiala and Government Medical College Amritsar.”
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said, “‘CM Di Yogshala’ is a flagship wellness initiative currently holding 5000 supervised classes daily in different cities in all districts involving about 1.5 lakh individuals.”
Addressing the issue of drug abuse, the Governor stated, “The Punjab Government has launched the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign as a comprehensive and determined effort to combat drug abuse and trafficking across Punjab.”
He further said, “Under this campaign to provide accessible and effective de-addiction services a total of 548 Opioid Assisted Treatment clinics are operational across Punjab to provide treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. In addition, 36 Government and 177 private de-addiction centres along with 19 Government and 74 private rehabilitation centres are functioning to support treatment and long-term recovery. De-addiction services have also been extended to 19 jails ensuring continuity of care for incarcerated individuals.”
He added, “Since the launch of these interventions, over 10.63 lakh patients have been registered and provided treatment through the de-addiction and rehabilitation network.”
Highlighting support for cancer patients, the Governor stated, “Punjab is the first state in the country to provide cashless cancer treatment under the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Rahat Kosh Scheme. So far assistance amounting to over ₹957 crore has been provided to more than 74,000 cancer patients.”
Speaking about disaster response, he said, “During the recent floods, extensive medical camps and special public health campaigns were conducted in affected areas including fogging, door-to-door outreach by ASHAs and distribution of medicine kits. Through health camps across more than 2,300 villages, over 8 lakh patients were examined ensuring timely healthcare and disease prevention during the crisis.”
Highlighting education reforms, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria asserted, “Under Punjab Sikhya Kranti the Punjab Government has recruited a total of 13,765 teachers since April 2022.”
He added, “Seven batches of 234 Principals and Education Officers were sent for a five day Leadership Development Programme to Singapore, four batches of 199 Headmasters were sent to IIM Ahmedabad and two batches of 144 Primary Cadre Teachers were sent to Turku in Finland.”
He further said, “Punjab has emerged as a top performing state in PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 and around ₹160 crore have been allocated for safety and cleanliness in schools. A total of 118 government schools are being transformed as state-of-the-art Schools of Eminence.”
Speaking about irrigation and agriculture, the Governor noted, “To make canal water available to all farmers the Punjab Government has planned to construct a total of 3,443 kilometres of new water courses and underground pipelines with an investment of approximately ₹787 crore. Till date 2,650 kilometres of this work has already been completed.”
He added, “The Punjab Government has carried out 2,600 kilometres of canal lining works amounting to ₹4,557 crore. It has resulted in canal water reaching about 1,365 locations for the first time, with 465 locations having received water in 2025. The long pending project of relining of Sirhind Feeder Canal has been completed.”
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria further said, “To provide canal water for the first time to the semi hilly areas of Kandi region the Punjab Government has identified 28 new lift schemes, out of which 15 schemes have already been made operational.”
Highlighting support for farmers, he said, “During the year 2025-26 the Punjab Government provided 33 percent subsidy on Bt Cotton Hybrid seeds recommended by Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana. A pilot project has been launched in six districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Kapurthala to increase the area of kharif maize in Punjab and financial assistance of ₹17,500 per acre is provided to farmers.”
He added, “The Punjab Government has increased the State Agreed Price of Sugarcane this year by ₹15 per quintal compared to last year and is providing ₹416 per quintal for Sugarcane for the upcoming crushing season which is the highest price in the country being given to sugarcane farmers.”
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that during the financial year 2025-26 the Punjab Government distributed 84,889.7 quintals of wheat seed worth ₹33.96 crore and 620.5 quintals of mustard seed worth ₹65.15 lakh free of cost to flood affected farmers and has earmarked ₹9,992 crore for the year 2025-26 for the facility of free electricity to farmers.
He further said that the project for Sustainable Development of Horticulture in Punjab with Japan International Cooperation Agency amounting ₹1,300 crore is on anvil which will ensure cluster level integrated value chain establishment and introduce horticultural crops resilient to seasonal variations and extreme weather conditions.
Highlighting infrastructure development, the Governor said, “Punjab Mandi Board is undertaking the project for upgradation and modernization of 40,103 kilometres of damaged link roads at a total cost of ₹12,597 crore.”
He added that in the fiscal year 2025-26 Punjab State Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank Ltd has set a recovery target of ₹350.25 crore and has already recovered ₹220.54 crore up to December 12, 2025.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that in 2025-26 the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training has provided job facilitation to 48,912 candidates through 959 placement camps and job fairs.
Speaking about sports development, he said, “The Punjab Government has kept a budget of ₹362.24 crore for sports in financial year 2025-26 and the Department of Sports is disbursing ₹12.15 crore to 10,406 players through Direct Benefit Transfer for the purchase of sports equipment, ₹4.91 crore to women cricketers and their coaches who won the World Cup 2025 and ₹23.1 crore to 1060 players in recognition of their achievements in national championships, inter-university tournaments and junior and senior championships held between April 2023 and March 2025.”
He further said, “An amount of ₹15 crore has been allocated to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University Patiala for the year 2025-26 and ₹190 crore has been allocated for development of 3,100 playgrounds across Punjab.”
Highlighting investment and industrial growth, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said, “Since March 2022 Punjab has received 8,261 investment proposals with proposed investment of about ₹1,50,817 crore and the proposed employment potential of about 5,31,619 persons.”
He added that the Punjab Government is actively engaging with foreign businesses from Japan, South Korea and Germany as well as businesses from various Indian states to invest in Punjab and as part of the ‘Udyog Kranti Initiative’ the Punjab Government has launched 24 sectoral committees in 2025.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria also said that the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation has recently commissioned seven out of 15 large surface water projects covering 606 villages with an expenditure of ₹519.88 crore benefiting 7.37 lakh population and all these 15 projects on completion will benefit approximately 25 lakh population.
He further said that the Punjab Government has successfully cleared all power subsidy dues including pending liabilities up to December 2025 and the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board is advancing key infrastructure projects through the Public Private Partnership model combining private investment and expertise with strong public oversight.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that from February 2024 to January 2026 the Sadak Surakhiya Force responded to 43,983 road accident cases helping a total of 47,386 people. He said that during these interventions 19,973 persons were provided first aid at the spot while 27,413 injured persons were shifted to hospitals contributing towards saving lives through prompt emergency response.
He added that the Punjab Government has sanctioned ₹50 crore for procurement of ERSS Dial-112 vehicles during the financial year 2025-26 for purchase of 500 additional vehicles.
Highlighting cultural and historical commemorations, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that the Punjab Government organised a series of events to commemorate the 350th year of martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji with deep reverence during October-November 2025. He said that Nagar Kirtans were held across Punjab culminating at Sri Anandpur Sahib and a special Vidhan Sabha session dedicated to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was held at Sri Anandpur Sahib on November 24, 2025 where members paid tributes to the supreme sacrifice of Guru Sahib.
He further said that a new air terminal has been completed at Adampur at a cost of ₹140 crore and after obtaining permission to build an international airport at Indian Air Force station Halwara 161 acres of land has been acquired out of which the airport will be built in 135.54 acres. He said that the Punjab Government has released ₹50 crore for completion of the interim terminal building and additional funds for road connectivity to start flights soon.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has passed a resolution to name this airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha.
Speaking about governance reforms and transparency, the Governor said that the Punjab Government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption. He said that from January 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026 the Vigilance Bureau registered 135 trap cases against 20 gazetted officers, 134 non gazetted officials and 44 private persons who were caught red handed while accepting illegal gratification.
He further said that the Vigilance Bureau established an Anti Corruption Action Line number 95012-00200 on March 23, 2022 and 63 cases have been registered based on complaints received on this number.
The Governor also said that GST collections continue to show strong growth and during April-October 2025-26 Punjab collected ₹15,494.03 crore compared to ₹13,550.62 crore during the corresponding period of the previous year registering a growth of ₹1,943.41 crore or 14.34 percent.
He added that the Punjab Government has notified the One Time Settlement Scheme 2025 from October 1, 2025 to provide relief to the trading community and resolve long pending litigation.
The Governor said that to ensure balanced development across Punjab the Punjab Government launched the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme during 2025-26 under which local infrastructure and public assets will be created or upgraded in all 117 Assembly constituencies.
He further said that Punjab has launched India’s first fully digital Flood Relief System enabling rapid surveys and direct online transfer of compensation ensuring that thousands of flood affected families received support without delays or intermediaries.
Highlighting governance reforms, he said that all 56 transport services have been shifted exclusively to Sewa Kendras ending public counters at RTA and RTO offices and making services more citizen friendly while the Doorstep Delivery programme has expanded from 43 to 412 services.
The Governor said that during KMS 2025-26 Government procurement agencies procured 156.11 LMT paddy and transferred ₹37,294.68 crore MSP directly into bank accounts of nearly 7.38 lakh farmers.
He added that during Rabi Marketing Season 2025-26 116.17 LMT wheat was procured and ₹28,171.23 crore MSP was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 7.30 lakh farmers and Punjab contributed nearly 40 percent wheat to the Central Pool.
He said that nearly 40 lakh households and 1.52 crore beneficiaries are registered under the food distribution system and under the Punjab Government Food Program eligible families receiving free wheat will also receive 2 kg dal, 2 kg sugar, 1 kg salt, 1 litre oil and 200 grams haldi every quarter.
The Governor further said that by December 31, 2025 an estimated 60 crore free trips have been availed by women under the free Bus Travel scheme.
Highlighting digital governance reforms, he said that the Punjab Government launched the Easy Jamabandi initiative enabling citizens to request Jamabandi copies via WhatsApp along with mutation services, Rapat entries and other land related services through online portals or home visits by Sewa Sahayaks.
He added that the Easy Registry project has been implemented across Punjab ensuring transparent property registration through simplified deed formats and digital communication.
The Governor said that the Mukhyamantri Tirath Yatra Yojana has been launched and the Punjab Government plans to facilitate pilgrimages for 7.50 lakh citizens every year.
He further said that under the Smart Cities Mission 75 projects costing ₹809.26 crore have been completed in Ludhiana, 41 projects costing ₹686.51 crore in Amritsar, 58 projects costing ₹722.88 crore in Jalandhar and eight projects costing ₹33.77 crore in Sultanpur Lodhi.
The Governor said that the Punjab Government is implementing several welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes and backward classes including the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC students under which ₹195.99 crore has already been disbursed to 1.65 lakh students against a target of 2.70 lakh students in 2025-26.
He added that under the Ashirwad Scheme ₹242.70 crore has been released benefiting 47,588 families while Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation has disbursed ₹6.85 crore to 322 beneficiaries and Punjab Backward Classes Land Development and Finance Corporation has disbursed ₹9.28 crore to 286 beneficiaries under self employment schemes.
The Governor further said that 11 Industrial Training Institutes in Amritsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Lalru, Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Nangal and Roopnagar have been upgraded as Centres of Excellence.
Highlighting power sector reforms, the Governor said that the Punjab Government is investing over ₹5,000 crore under the Roshan Punjab initiative to strengthen grid infrastructure. He added that good quality coal from Pachhwara has improved plant operations resulting in savings of approximately ₹380 crore compared to Coal India Limited coal and PSPCL thermal power stations are now facing no coal shortage.
He further said that the Punjab Government implemented the free electricity scheme of 300 units per month to domestic consumers since July 2022 benefiting around 90 percent households receiving zero bills in a billing cycle while all agricultural consumers continue to receive free power and industrial consumers are being provided electricity at a subsidised rate of ₹5.837 per unit.
Concluding his address, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria reiterated that the Punjab Government remains committed to transparent governance, inclusive development and public welfare while working continuously to strengthen healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, industry and citizen services across Punjab to realise the vision of a vibrant and progressive ‘Rangla Punjab’.