Chandigarh:
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday offered a Rs 2.36 lakh crore price range, which focusses on tackling drug menace within the state, and allotted a whopping Rs 5,598 crore for the well being sector.
No contemporary taxes have been imposed within the price range for monetary yr 2025-26. It was silent on giving month-to-month Rs 1,000 to girls which was one of many ballot guarantees of the AAP earlier than coming to energy.
He stated the largest menace to the progress and prosperity of Punjab is the drug downside.
“We’re taking one more landmark initiative to successfully combat the conflict towards medicine. We’ve to combat this conflict not simply with power and weapons but in addition scientifically by way of information and evaluation.
“We’ve determined to hold out the first-ever ‘drug census’ in Punjab subsequent yr (fiscal). This census will cowl each family of Punjab and can accumulate information to grasp the prevalence of medicine, utilization of de-addiction centres, and many others, moreover gathering information on socio-economic standing of the individuals of Punjab,” Mr Cheema stated.
This information can be used to craft an efficient and scientific technique to eradicate the drug menace.
He stated Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visionary management has been the driving power behind Punjab’s outstanding progress over the previous three years.
Mr Cheema proposed a complete price range expenditure of Rs 2,36,080 crore for FY 2025-26. The efficient income deficit and financial deficit are anticipated to be 2.51 per cent and three.84 per cent respectively.
Mr Cheema stated the Punjab authorities will set up a second line of defence at border by deploying 5,000 house guards alongside BSF.
He stated that for the primary time in Punjab’s historical past, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s authorities has determined to increase the state medical insurance scheme within the coming fiscal yr to make it common and canopy all of the 65 lakh households in Punjab.
There can be no bar or discrimination–rural or city, wealthy or poor–everyone can take part on this scheme, he stated.
Mr Cheema stated the federal government is extending the insurance coverage cowl for all of the households of Punjab to Rs 10 lakh every year.
“This consists of these enrolled in central authorities schemes too, they may get an extra top-up cowl of Rs 5 lakh from the state authorities. Additional, all households who’re lined below Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana will obtain a ‘Sehat Card’ subsequent yr by way of which they’ll avail cashless therapy as much as Rs 10 lakh in authorities and personal hospitals throughout Punjab,” he stated.
Furthermore, a budgetary allocation of Rs 5,598 crore has been offered for the well being sector, a rise of ten per cent over the earlier yr.
To incentivise crop diversification, a brand new scheme protecting three districts — Bathinda, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur — is being launched for Kharif maize crop.
On stubble burning difficulty, he stated it’s a nationwide concern and the Punjab authorities is dedicated to addressing it.
An allocation of Rs 9,992 crore has been made for offering energy subsidy to the agriculture sector. A state-of-the-art shrimp processing unit is proposed to assist farming in waterlogged areas, Mr Cheema stated.
Mr Cheema stated the price of availing doorstep supply of presidency companies is being lowered from Rs 120 to Rs 50.
Presenting the fourth price range of the AAP authorities in Punjab, Mr Cheema stated, Chief Minister Mann’s “unwavering dedication to the welfare of our individuals has guided us in delivering transformative change throughout a number of sectors, laying a robust basis for a affluent and empowered Punjab”.
Throughout his speech, Mr Cheema took a dig at rival events who dominated Punjab up to now, and alleged they’ve destroyed and looted the state. “..The one legacy these events left in Punjab was that of “Udta Punjab,” stated Cheema focusing on them on the drug difficulty.
A complete technology of youth is being eaten hole from inside resulting from medicine, he lamented including that the AAP authorities’s resolve is to construct a “Rangla Punjab”, a Punjab that’s inclusive, progressive, and brimming with alternative for all.
“That’s the reason the theme of this price range goes to be ‘Badalda Punjab’ (altering Punjab),” he stated as he offered the roadmap to be undertaken throughout varied sectors in FY2025-26.
In accordance with the Advance Estimates offered by Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Punjab’s economic system is on a robust development trajectory, registering a formidable 9 per cent development within the present yr, he stated.
Mr Cheema additionally introduced a ‘Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme’ below which funds can be spent on the “most essential native on a regular basis developmental wants” of the individuals of a district.
“The fund can be administered by Deputy Commissioners and can be spent based mostly on the advice of MLAs, neighborhood organisations, citizen teams and public spirited individuals of that district,” he stated.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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