Mann Government Expands Welfare Net: ₹693 Cr for Social Security, ₹100 Cr for Pilgrimage Scheme, ₹10 Lakh Health Cover for All

In a sweeping social push blending welfare and inclusivity, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has widened its net of citizen-centric schemes — stretching from direct financial support to women and elderly citizens to a universal health cover and a multi-faith pilgrimage programme.

The government has so far disbursed ₹693 crore under the social security pension scheme, directly benefiting more than 6.65 lakh widows and destitute women across the state. Officials said the assistance aims to provide both economic relief and a sense of self-worth to women who often stand at the margins of the welfare system.

Alongside, the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme — launched last year and now entering its second phase — has been allocated ₹100 crore. The scheme offers free travel for senior citizens of all faiths to their respective places of worship. For Sikh pilgrims, the destinations include Amritsar Sahib, Patna Sahib and Hemkunt Sahib; for Hindus, Haridwar, Mathura and Vaishno Devi; and for Muslims, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Speaking at the relaunch event in Dhuri, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the programme was “an expression of Punjab’s composite culture and shared heritage,” adding that “no religion teaches division — all paths lead to the same truth.” Around 16,000 pilgrims are expected to be chosen from each assembly constituency in this phase.

The government has also sought to build on its health infrastructure through a growing network of Aam Aadmi Clinics, 881 of which are operational across the state (565 in rural and 316 in urban areas). An additional 236 are in the pipeline, taking the total to over 1,100. The clinics, offering free consultations and medicines, are part of the administration’s drive to make primary healthcare universal.

Complementing this effort, the government has rolled out a health insurance scheme covering every family up to ₹10 lakh, irrespective of caste, religion, or income category. Officials said the plan was designed to ensure that “no one in Punjab is forced to sell assets or borrow heavily for treatment.”

Together, the three initiatives — pensions, health cover, and the interfaith pilgrimage programme — reflect the Mann government’s broader attempt to recast governance through a secular and welfare-oriented prism. By rooting its politics in service delivery rather than identity, the state leadership appears keen to position Punjab as a model of unity amid growing social fault lines elsewhere.

Whether this blend of symbolism and substance holds through the state’s political churn remains to be seen. But for now, the Mann government’s message is unambiguous: equality, dignity, and welfare, not division, are to define Punjab’s public life.