Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in early 2027, the Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, has unveiled the “Meri Rasoi” scheme. This initiative aims to provide nutritious food to 40 lakh blue card holders in the state starting from April. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann made this announcement following a Council of Ministers meeting.
Under the “Meri Rasoi” scheme, each blue card holder will receive a ration kit containing 2 kg dal, 2 kg sugar, 1 kg iodised salt, 200 grams haldi, 1 litre of mustard oil, in addition to the free wheat they currently receive monthly. The distribution of these kits, with a budget of Rs 1,000 crore, will be managed by the state-run Markfed and the Food and Supplies Department.
Starting April, beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act or Smart Ration Card Scheme will receive a separate bag of food items each month. This includes 15 kg of wheat every month, provided quarterly in a 45-kg bag. Chief Minister Mann emphasized the importance of ensuring that every citizen in Punjab has access to wholesome meals, especially addressing the issue of undernourishment among children.
The Punjab Cabinet has also scheduled the Budget session from March 6 to 16, with the Budget presentation set for International Women’s Day on March 8. Additionally, investigations are ongoing regarding the tragic deaths of two security personnel at a border checkpoint in Gurdaspur. Assistant Sub-Inspector Gurnam Singh and home guard Ashok Kumar were discovered deceased near the Pakistan border.
Chief Minister Mann expressed the government’s commitment to supporting the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. However, he emphasized the opposition to any attempts to remove voters from the electoral rolls.
