Fatehgarh Sahib, Mar 28 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal dedicated 109 new Aam Aadmi Clinics to the people of the state on Saturday.
With a major push on the party’s flagship healthcare model in Punjab, the total number of such clinics in the state has increased to 990 within four years, with 400 more set to be opened in the coming days.
Positioning it as a large-scale expansion of free public healthcare, Kejriwal said that the clinics are providing 107 medicines and 47 diagnostic tests free of cost.
The network has already recorded 5 crore OPD visits, he added.
“All these facilities are due to the AAP government. Soon, the biggest announcement (AAP’s key poll promise) will be implemented, where Rs 1,000 per month will be deposited into every woman’s account. For SC women, Rs 1,500 will be provided.” “Registration will begin around Baisakhi. Any woman above the age of 18 and is a resident of Punjab can register and start receiving the benefit. With this, we have fulfilled all our guarantees,” the former Delhi chief minister said.
Kejriwal also drew a comparison with Delhi, cautioning voters against the BJP.
While speaking on electricity and governance contrast, he said, “We have made electricity free across the state. Punjab and Delhi were the only two states where electricity was free under AAP governments. Now that BJP rules Delhi, I’ve heard within six months free electricity may be stopped there,” he said.
In Punjab, you are getting free electricity because of the AAP government. If by mistake you vote for those people, think about what will happen in Punjab, Kejriwal added.
“In Delhi, after BJP came to power, all Mohalla Clinics were shut, medicines and tests in government hospitals were stopped, and now they are planning to end free electricity. Tickets for free bus travel for women have also been stopped. That is why AAP is necessary. Do not vote for other parties even by mistake,” he emphasised.
In last four years, Kejriwal said, 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have already been built.
Today, 109 more are being added, taking the total to 990 Aam Aadmi Clinics. In the coming days, 400 more such clinics will be built, which means there will be around 1,500 clinics across Punjab, he added.
“In every corner of Punjab, in every village and ‘mohalla’, you will find an Aam Aadmi Clinic. If you have a minor illness, you can go there for treatment. The doctor consultation is free, the treatment is free, the tests are free, and the medicines are free,” he said, “In the last 75 years, all other parties that ruled Punjab, Congress, (SAD) BJP , Akali Dal… not a single clinic was opened by them where people could get such facilities and quality treatment,” Kejriwal said, adding that within four years, the AAP government has ensured free treatment across Punjab.
So far, there have been 5 crore OPD visits, he added.
Punjab has a population of 3 crore, which means many people have visited multiple times, he said.
Describing feedback and monitoring, he added, “From CM Mann’s office, random calls were made to all patients who visited Aam Aadmi Clinics. They were asked about their experience, they said it was very good… we have earned blessings of people.” He also touched upon the recently rolled out ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna’ scheme, which provides cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab.
He said while government hospitals are being improved, but it will take time.
Now, residents of Punjab can also avail treatment in private hospitals under the scheme, he said, adding that best private hospitals, where even CMs or ministers go, common people too can avail treatment there.
“For farmers, CM Mann has done a lot. Earlier, electricity for irrigation would come at 3 am or 4 am, sometimes only for half an hour. Now you get 7 to 8 hours of continuous electricity during the day, even up to 12 hours. There is no need to wake up at night anymore. Canal water is now reaching every field. Earlier only 22 percent farmers had irrigation water, now 78 percent farmers across Punjab have access to it,” Kejriwal said.
Addressing the gathering, CM Mann said the government is 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.” Lashing out at rival parties, Kejriwal said, “Other parties have nothing left to say. They only abuse us on Twitter (X). When they go to villages, people chase them away. They have now become Twitter parties”.
Appealing people to bring back AAP to power in the 2027 polls in Punjab, he said, “last time, you gave 92 seats. This time, do not give even a single seat to them. Give all 117 seats to AAP so that CM Mann’s hands are strengthened and we can work even harder.” Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, Mann said, “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. These leaders have no vision for Punjab and are driven only by personal ambition,” he said.
“On the other hand, we have provided free electricity to 90 per cent of households, given jobs to more than 65,000 youth in a transparent manner, improved roads, and strengthened infrastructure,” Mann said. PTI COR SUN NB NB
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.