Free Grocery Kits For 40 Lakh Families As Punjab Launches ‘Meri Rasoi Yojna’

Bhagwant Mann on Saturday launched the ambitious ‘Meri Rasoi Yojna’ in Punjab, aimed at distributing free nutritional kitchen kits to nearly 40 lakh poor and economically weaker families across the state.

The scheme was launched from Bhalwan village in Sangrur district, the chief minister’s home constituency. Under the initiative, beneficiary families will receive free kitchen kits once every three months containing essential grocery items such as mustard oil, pulses, sugar, salt, turmeric and other daily-use food products.

Addressing the gathering, Mann said the scheme has been introduced to reduce the burden of rising inflation on poor and middle-class households and to ensure that no family struggles to run its kitchen.

He said earlier governments limited welfare measures to the distribution of wheat and pulses, whereas the present government has adopted a broader approach by providing a complete package of essential household food items.

“ The objective of the scheme is to ensure that every household has access to nutritious food and that children do not suffer from weakness due to lack of proper nutrition ,” Mann said, stressing that food security and public welfare remain key priorities of the state government.

The chief minister stated that proper nutrition is important for children’s health, education and participation in sports, adding that the government wants to build a healthier and stronger Punjab through welfare-oriented policies.

Highlighting other initiatives of the Aam Aadmi Party government, Mann claimed that nearly 90 per cent of households in Punjab are receiving zero electricity bills under the free power scheme. He said the savings from electricity expenses are helping families improve their quality of life.

On agriculture and irrigation, Mann said the government has restored and laid nearly 14,000 kilometres of canals and water channels across the state to improve irrigation facilities and conserve groundwater. He added that improved canal water supply is reducing farmers’ dependence on tubewells.

The chief minister also spoke about the ‘Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna’, under which eligible women from the general category will receive Rs 1,000 per month, while women from Scheduled Caste families will receive Rs 1,500 every month.

He further said the state government is providing free health insurance coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh under the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna’, and claimed that over 35 lakh health cards have already been issued across Punjab.

The ‘Meri Rasoi Yojna’ is being seen as one of the Punjab government’s major welfare initiatives focused on food security, inflation relief and support for low-income families.