Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann rolls out child safety helpline and water‑saving rice initiative

The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has launched the Shakti Helpline program to teach children about personal safety, recognizing abuse, cybercrime, drug risks and how to use emergency numbers 112 and 1098. Seminars are being held in schools across districts such as Amritsar and Khanna, with plans to reach every school in the state and to provide workshops for parents.

In parallel, the government announced a Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) mission targeting 5 lakh acres for the 2026‑27 kharif season, backed by a Rs 40 crore budget. DSR sows seeds directly in fields, cutting irrigation water use by up to 50 % and reducing labor and greenhouse‑gas emissions. The scheme builds on a 2025 pilot that covered about 23,410 farmers on 2.35 lakh acres and involved direct cash transfers of Rs 1,500 per acre to beneficiaries.