In Fatehgarh Sahib, Kejriwal, Mann count AAP govt’s achievements

Patiala: The Bhagwant Mann govt on Saturday dedicated 109 new Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) to the people in Fatehgarh Sahib, taking the total number of such clinics in Punjab to 990.AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said these clinics provided 107 medicines and 47 diagnostic tests free of cost and had already recorded five crore OPD visits.It was also informed that 400 more clinics would be opened in the state in the coming days.Kejriwal said the govt was issuing health cards to 65 lakh families under the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana', of which 30 lakh beneficiary families had already been enrolled, and 1.65 lakh people had availed treatment.Kejriwal compared the model with Delhi and cautioned the voters against the BJP. He said a change in govt would lead to the rollback of welfare measures such as free electricity, healthcare and other public services.Addressing a gathering in Fatehgarh Sahib, Kejriwal said: "109 new Aam Aadmi Clinics are being inaugurated, where the poor will receive treatment and free medicines. In the last four years, 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have already been built. Today, 109 more are being added, taking the total to 990. In the coming days, 400 more Aam Aadmi Clinics will be built, which means there will be around 1,500 Aam Aadmi Clinics across Punjab.""Within four years, the Aam Aadmi Party govt has ensured free treatment across Punjab. So far, there have been five crore OPD visits. Punjab has a population of three crore, which means many people have visited multiple times. There are diabetes patients who visit these clinics every month for medicines. There are blood pressure patients who visit these clinics every month, and others who may have gone once, twice, or three times," he said."Each clinic is being monitored closely by the chief minister's office, and all work is being carried out properly. From these five crore OPD visits, nearly 1.5 to 2 crore people have received treatment," Kejriwal added.He said, "CM Bhagwant Mann has started the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana'. Aam Aadmi Clinics have been set up near your homes... If someone suffers from a serious illness like cancer, a heart attack, or needs a knee replacement, what will they do? Govt hospitals are being improved, but it will take time. Until then, we have launched another scheme. The best private hospitals, where even Bhagwant Mann goes for treatment, such as Fortis Hospital in Mohali, have now been opened for you as well.""Any farmer, labourer, rickshaw puller, teacher, or any citizen of Punjab can get free treatment in the same hospitals where the CM, ministers, and MLAs get treated," the AAP leader added.CM Mann said farmers now get 7 to 8 hours of continuous electricity during the day. Earlier, canal water reached only 22% farmers, but now 78% farmers across Punjab have access to it, he added.CM Slams Opposition"From this stage, we are talking about education, health, power, agriculture, and other sectors, whereas on the stages of other parties, only claims are being made to grab power. These opportunist leaders are baffled because people are not responding to them. Their agenda is limited to the welfare of their own families, not the people. Sukhbir Badal is carrying leaders of the ‘Smack Organisation of India' to plunder the state, and this is not acceptable," he said."Even Parkash Singh Badal never made Sukhbir the head of the state because he knew he would push Punjab into disarray. The Akali Dal was once known as the party of martyrs, but the Badal family ruined it by selling and supplying drugs to the youth, laying the pyres of our generation. They have misused the SGPC and the money from the golak (coffers) of gurdwaras for their own vested interests," alleged Mann.He further said: "The former deputy chief minister talks about development but turns a blind eye to Kotakpura, Behbal Kalan, and other places where ‘beadbi' (sacrilege) of Guru Granth Sahib took place, and innocents were killed. Their ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra' is nothing but a ‘Parivar Bachao Yatra'. After looting the state for 15 years, from whom are they trying to save Punjab? The Akalis have plundered the state mercilessly, bruised the psyche of Punjabis, and patronised mafias.""We have revived 6,900 km of watercourses and 18,349 channels to ensure water reaches the tail ends, benefiting farmers immensely. Earlier, canals would stop at the residences of certain leaders, and they never bothered about the farmers," said the CM."We have provided free electricity to 90% of households; given jobs to more than 65,000 youth without corruption; improved roads, closed toll plazas, saving Rs 70 lakh daily; and strengthened infrastructure. We have launched the ‘Maavan Dhian Satkar Yojna' under which women above 18 years will receive Rs 1,000 per month, and Rs 1,500 for women from the SC community," Mann elaborated."We have closed 19 toll plazas in Punjab, saving Rs 64 lakh daily for the common man. We are exploring the feasibility of putting high-tension wires passing through farmers' land underground. This will be implemented soon and will provide major relief to farmers, as these wires pose a huge risk to them and their crops," he added."Today, two major irrigation projects are being launched in Fatehgarh Sahib with an investment of Rs 41.22 crore to deliver canal water to farmers' fields. This includes the concrete lining of the 1L Distributary, Sangatpura Minor, Reethkheri Minor, and Chaleila Sub-Minor. Earlier, due to low capacity, surplus water flowed to Haryana while Punjab's fields suffered. Now, every drop of Punjab's river water will reach Punjab's fields, benefiting 41,726 acres across 70 villages," said the CM.Mann further said: "The capacity of 1L will increase from 95.5 cusecs to 142.91 cusecs. Sangatpura Minor's capacity will increase from 17 to 30.74 cusecs, Reethkheri Minor from 49.70 to 73.69 cusecs, and Chaleila Sub-Minor from 18.80 to 31.27 cusecs. This canal originated from the Bhakra Main Line in 1960, but over time, structural weakening reduced its efficiency. With concrete lining, the carrying capacity will increase by 1.5 times.""We have restored 21,000 feet of previously non-functional sections of Reethkheri and Chaleila, which will provide irrigation to an additional 6,534 acres. Since 2022, around 11,477 acres of land have already been brought under canal irrigation," he said.MSID:: 129866375 413 |