Punjab CM Links Independence Milestone With Economic Empowerment Of Women

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday described the 80th year of India's Independence as a year of economic freedom for the state's women, pointing to government efforts aimed at giving mothers and daughters greater financial independence. After unfurling the national Tricolour at the state-level Independence Day function in Ferozepur, Mann said women were increasingly gaining the ability to spend money according to their own choices.

Mann said more than 65 lakh women were already receiving financial assistance under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, out of the 74.59 lakh women registered under the scheme. He linked the initiative to his government's broader efforts to empower women and improve welfare across Punjab. The Chief Minister said his government was working towards building a prosperous and ‘Rangla Punjab’ while fulfilling commitments made to the people.

The Chief Minister also outlined several areas in which his government was pursuing development and welfare measures. He referred to education and healthcare reforms, employment opportunities for young people, improved access to canal water for agriculture, efforts against drugs and stronger public safety. At the same time, he stressed the importance of preserving Punjab's peace, brotherhood and communal harmony, which he described as central to the state's identity.

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Speaking in Ferozepur, Mann paid tribute to the district's contribution to India's freedom struggle and remembered the 21 Sikh soldiers who fought in the Battle of Saragarhi. He also honoured the memories of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, whose association with Hussainiwala remains a significant part of Punjab's history. Mann said a heritage complex dedicated to the martyrs was being constructed at Hussainiwala at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

Mann also reflected on the impact of the 1947 Partition, noting that Punjab bore a particularly heavy human cost during the division of the country. He recalled that millions of families were forced to leave their homes and described Partition as not only the division of a country but also of families, relationships and shared emotions. He noted that many Punjabis continue to hope for easier access to religious shrines that were left across the border.

On Independence Day, Mann also warned against attempts to disturb Punjab's peace and communal harmony. He appealed for unity and reiterated the state's tradition of coexistence and service to humanity. He stressed that Punjab's future should be built around brotherhood and harmony, while the government's welfare measures, including those aimed at women's financial empowerment, remained focused on improving the lives of people across the state.

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