Hoshiarpur:- For 65-year-old Kewal Kaur, a resident of Panwa village in the Dasuya region of Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, April 17th brought immense joy. For several years, she had been battling unbearable knee pain—a condition that had confined her world solely to the realm of suffering. She could not walk without support, and every single day felt like a struggle.
Today, Kewal Kaur is on the path to standing on her own feet once again—and doing so without any financial burden—thanks to the healthcare initiative launched by the Bhagwant Mann government.
Under the 'Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana' (Chief Minister's Health Scheme), her knee surgery was successfully performed at the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Jalandhar. At one point, the family felt this treatment was financially out of reach, as the surgery previously cost approximately ?1.5 lakh; however, it was now performed completely free of charge.
Kewal Kaur’s son, Mandeep Singh—a farmer by profession—becomes emotional when recalling those difficult times. For nearly five years, his mother endured constant pain. They consulted numerous doctors and took various medications, yet found no lasting relief. Eventually, her condition deteriorated to the point where taking even a single step without support became nearly impossible.
He recounts, "When my mother became completely dependent on others, surgery emerged as our only hope."
Mandeep had initially read about this scheme in a newspaper and subsequently obtained a health card—a step that brought about a profound transformation in their lives. Following the necessary hospital formalities, on April 17th, Dr. Anit Sachar and his team successfully completed the surgery in a procedure lasting approximately two hours.
Recovery is now underway, bringing with it a renewed sense of self-respect and peace of mind. Although her stitches are still in place and are scheduled to be removed soon, the pain that had been an inseparable part of her life for years has finally begun to subside. Visibly moved, Keval Kaur says, "Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is like a third son to me. My surgery was performed without costing me a single penny. Now, I am no longer a burden on anyone. Life will be easier from now on."
For the family, this was not merely a medical procedure, but a restoration of self-respect. Mandeep explains that although his children live abroad and financial assistance was certainly an option, this scheme granted them a sense of independence and dignity.
He also noted that, alongside Keval Kaur, approximately five other elderly patients from Mohali, Hoshiarpur, and neighboring villages also underwent knee surgeries under this very scheme. While the initial diagnostic tests incurred a cost of around ?2,400, the entire treatment itself was provided free of charge.
According to Mandeep, the provision of free medical treatment worth up to ?10 lakh under this scheme is nothing short of a godsend for poor and middle-class families.
Keval Kaur’s story is not merely an account of a successful surgery; it stands as a vivid testament to the fact that when the right assistance arrives at the right time, it restores not only physical health but also hope, self-respect, and the very will to live.