Chandigarh, May 9 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday launched the ‘Meri Rasoi Yojana’ at a programme in Bhalwan village in Sangrur district, marking the beginning of distribution of free nutritional food kits to nearly 40 lakh poor and economically weaker families across the state.

Describing it as one of the country’s largest household nutrition support initiatives, CM Mann said the scheme was aimed at reducing the burden on household kitchens amid rising inflation.

He said the AAP government was not merely making announcements, but delivering “tangible relief” to people through free electricity, healthcare, women-centric welfare schemes and food security measures.

The Chief Minister also asserted that alongside strengthening social welfare, the government was rapidly modernising infrastructure, with underground power cabling work progressing to make Punjab completely “pole-free” in the coming years.

Addressing a public gathering during the launch event, CM Mann said: “Previous governments had restricted welfare measures merely to the distribution of wheat and pulses, whereas the Punjab government has taken a comprehensive step to ensure that kitchens of poor and middle-class households remain functional with all essential cooking items required for daily needs.”

Under the Meri Rasoi scheme, every beneficiary family will receive a specially prepared kitchen kit every three months containing mustard oil, pulses, sugar, salt, turmeric and other essential grocery items required for running a household kitchen.

Emphasising that the scheme had been designed keeping in mind the practical needs of ordinary families, especially women managing household responsibilities, CM Mann said a strong and prosperous Punjab could only be built when every household kitchen remained functional and no child slept hungry.

“Proper nutrition for children is extremely important for their education, health and participation in sports. Our government wants every household to have access to nutritious and essential food items so that children do not suffer weakness due to lack of protein-rich food,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s welfare-oriented governance model, CM Mann said nearly 90 per cent of households in Punjab were now receiving zero electricity bills, significantly helping families save money and manage household expenses with dignity.

“The money saved from electricity bills is now being used by families for household needs and improving their quality of life,” he added.

–IANS

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