Punjab CM credits ₹181.50 crore Sanman Rashi to 70.92 lakh women on Rakhri Punia
Synopsis
On Rakhri Punia, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann turned a cultural occasion into a welfare milestone — crediting ₹181.50 crore directly to 5.30 lakh more women, pushing total beneficiaries of the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna to 70.92 lakh. With a target of 1 crore women and sharp attacks on the Akali Dal and BJP, the event blended direct cash delivery with pointed electoral messaging.
Key Takeaways
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann credited ₹181.50 crore as Sanman Rashi to 5.30 lakh additional women on 28 August at Baba Bakala, Amritsar .
Total beneficiaries under the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna now stand at 70.92 lakh women.
Government targets 1 crore women under the scheme; ₹51 crore paid to 1.38 lakh Satkar Sakhis as incentives.
An additional ₹25 crore is to be disbursed to Anganwadi workers who assisted in registrations.
Mann launched a sharp attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP , accusing them of sacrilege, drug trade patronage, and exploiting religion for political gain.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday, 28 August marked Rakhri Punia at Baba Bakala, a historic town in Amritsar district, by crediting ₹181.50 crore as three months' 'Sanman Rashi' into the accounts of 5.30 lakh additional women under the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna. The transfer takes the scheme's total beneficiary count to 70.92 lakh women across Punjab.
Scheme Expansion and Targets
Addressing a gathering at Baba Bakala, Chief Minister Mann announced that the state government is working on a 'war footing' to bring 1 crore women under the scheme. He added that ₹51 crore has already been disbursed as incentives to 1.38 lakh Satkar Sakhis — community volunteers who facilitated registrations — and a further ₹25 crore is to be paid to Anganwadi workers who assisted in the enrolment drive.
Mann's Attack on Political Rivals
The occasion also served as a platform for sharp political remarks. CM Mann took aim at unnamed leaders, calling them 'modern-day masands' — a reference to corrupt intermediaries in Sikh history — and accusing them of 'holding rallies on this occasion to mislead people on the pretext of religion.' He alleged these leaders were 'using religion to fool the people of Punjab' and 'displaying their wounds after the attack' to seek public sympathy.
Mann also targeted those who, he claimed, had 'promised to rule the state for 25 years' but had since been 'sent to political oblivion' by voters, adding they were 'not even able to find 25 members to constitute a committee.'
Accusations Against Akali Dal
Calling out the Shiromani Akali Dal directly, Mann accused the party of committing 'the sin of beadbi (sacrilege) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib' during its tenure, shielding those responsible, and 'allowing firing on innocent people.' He alleged the party had 'plundered the state mercilessly' and 'patronised several mafias,' including the drug trade.
'Every vote to Akalis will be a mandate in favour of beadbi,' Mann said. He further alleged that the drug trade 'bloomed during their long era of misrule,' holding the Akali leadership responsible for what he described as 'the genocide of several generations of the state.'
On Akali Dal-BJP Ties
Mann also trained his sights on a reported rapprochement between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling any potential alliance 'without any ideology or public welfare.' He alleged the BJP's 'hands were drenched with the murder of more than 700 farmers who attained martyrdom during the protest against draconian anti-farmers law.' He asserted that the people of Punjab 'will not get swayed away with the misleading tantrums of these parties.'
With Punjab assembly elections on the horizon, the Rakhri Punia event underscored the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's dual strategy of welfare delivery and electoral positioning ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
Mann is clearly framing the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna as AAP's flagship differentiator ahead of the next Punjab election cycle. The scale — 70.92 lakh beneficiaries with a target of 1 crore — is significant, but the scheme's long-term fiscal sustainability and independent verification of beneficiary data remain questions mainstream coverage has largely sidestepped. The political attacks, delivered on a religious occasion, also risk blurring the line between governance and campaigning.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna in Punjab?
The Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna is a Punjab government welfare scheme that provides direct financial assistance — called 'Sanman Rashi' — to women in the state. As of 28 August, the scheme has reached 70.92 lakh beneficiaries, with the government targeting 1 crore women.
How much money was credited under Sanman Rashi on 28 August?
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann credited ₹181.50 crore as three months' Sanman Rashi into the accounts of 5.30 lakh additional women on 28 August at a Rakhri Punia event in Baba Bakala, Amritsar.
Who are Satkar Sakhis and what role did they play?
Satkar Sakhis are community volunteers who assisted in registering women under the Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna. The Punjab government has paid ₹51 crore as incentives to 1.38 lakh such volunteers, with a further ₹25 crore to be paid to Anganwadi workers who aided registrations.
What political remarks did CM Mann make at the Baba Bakala event?
CM Mann accused the Shiromani Akali Dal of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, patronising the drug trade, and 'plundering the state.' He also attacked a reported Akali Dal-BJP alliance, alleging the BJP's role in the deaths of over 700 farmers during the farm laws protest, and warned voters against both parties.
Where did the Rakhri Punia event take place?
The event was held at Baba Bakala, a historic town in Amritsar district, Punjab, on Friday, 28 August.
