Reinforcing his government’s emphasis on direct, accountable and citizen-centric governance, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday reached Jalandhar for the second time in a month and held a Lok Milni at his residence in the city, drawing thousands of people from Jalandhar and adjoining regions. The large turnout once again underlined the political and administrative significance of the initiative, as residents arrived with grievances spanning civic services, employment, healthcare, education and infrastructure. The Chief Minister personally listened to each concern and issued on-the-spot directions to senior officials to ensure immediate redressal, turning the interaction into a live governance exercise rather than a ceremonial outreach.
Describing Lok Milni as the most effective single-platform grievance redressal mechanism, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that Punjab remains the only state in the country where the head of the government regularly conducts such an intensive public interface to safeguard public welfare. He emphasised that the Aam Aadmi Party government has institutionalised Lok Milni not as a one-time political event, but as a structured bridge between the government and the people, aimed at strengthening transparency, responsiveness and accountability in administration. According to the Chief Minister, the continuation of Lok Milni reflects the government’s resolve to resolve public issues with honesty and measurable outcomes.
Calling the initiative unmatched in the country, Mann said Lok Milni provides a rare opportunity for citizens to interact directly with the entire government machinery in a planned manner. He stated that the programme has consistently delivered results for people from all sections of society, enabling the government to not only resolve grievances but also assess the real-time performance of its officers. He described the exercise as a matter of pride for Punjab, noting that no other state has institutionalised such a comprehensive, Chief Minister-led grievance redressal system focused solely on public welfare.
Importantly, the Chief Minister stressed that Lok Milni rises above political considerations. He asserted that the initiative is not linked to party politics, but to democratic governance and inclusive development. According to Mann, the sole objective of the state government is to usher in prosperity and development by bridging the communication gap between citizens and the administration. He said the initiative enables the government to continuously recalibrate policies based on direct public feedback, which is critical at a time when public trust in institutions is under strain across the country.
Highlighting why the initiative is particularly important now, CM Mann pointed out that Punjab is at a decisive phase where governance outcomes must translate into visible relief for ordinary citizens. He said every file he signs is aimed at benefiting the common man and strengthening the state. In this context, he cited the government’s record of providing more than 63,000 government jobs to youth purely on merit, without corruption or political recommendation, calling it a fundamental shift from past recruitment practices in the state.
On education reforms, the Chief Minister reiterated that the government has prioritised long-term human capital development. Schools of Eminence have been established across Punjab to provide quality education, equipped with smart classrooms, modern laboratories and playgrounds to promote scientific and holistic learning. To upgrade teaching standards, teachers and principals are being sent abroad for specialised training, enabling them to adopt global best practices and prepare students for international-level competition. Mann highlighted that Punjab securing the top position in the National Achievement Survey conducted by the Government of India, surpassing even Kerala, stands as independent validation of these reforms.
Further strengthening the education ecosystem, the Chief Minister noted that students are being provided specialised coaching for competitive examinations including Armed Forces preparation, NEET, JEE, CLAT and NIFT. He said it is a matter of pride that students from Schools of Eminence and other government schools have successfully qualified in JEE Mains, JEE Advanced and NEET, challenging the long-held perception about the quality of government education in Punjab.
Turning to healthcare, CM Mann emphasised that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna marks a paradigm shift in public health policy. Under the scheme, cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh is being provided to all 65 lakh families in Punjab, without any income conditions. Government employees and pensioners have also been included, making Punjab the first state in the country to offer universal free healthcare coverage. He added that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics are operational across the state, delivering free treatment and medicines daily and significantly reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for citizens.
The Chief Minister also highlighted measures aimed at easing the financial burden on households and farmers. Since 2022, around 90 percent of households in Punjab are receiving free electricity. For the first time in the state’s history, more than eight hours of uninterrupted daytime power supply has been ensured for agricultural tube wells during the paddy season. He said 18,349 watercourses spanning nearly 6,900 kilometres have been revived to ensure irrigation water reaches tail-end farmers, addressing a long-standing structural issue in Punjab’s agrarian economy.
Infrastructure development, Mann said, is moving at an unprecedented pace. Construction work on over 49,000 kilometres of rural roads is underway and nearing completion, significantly improving connectivity in villages. The government has also opened several public libraries across the state to provide students with safe and resource-rich spaces to study and excel.
Citing immediate relief measures for the public, the Chief Minister said the closure of 19 toll plazas across Punjab has saved nearly ₹64 lakh per day for citizens in toll fees. He reiterated that all major promises made by the AAP government have either been fulfilled or are in advanced stages of implementation.
Concluding his address at the Lok Milni, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that the state government is preparing to launch a scheme to provide ₹1,000 per month to every woman, with necessary financial provisions to be made in the upcoming budget. He reaffirmed that every commitment made to the people of Punjab will be honoured, stating that the sole agenda of his government is the progress of the state and the prosperity of its people.
The Jalandhar Lok Milni, coming at a time of growing public expectations and political scrutiny, underlines why direct engagement has become central to Punjab’s governance narrative. For the Mann government, it is both a governance tool and a political statement, signalling that accountability, visibility and delivery will remain at the core of its approach in the months ahead.
