Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal todaypresented the state budget for the financial year 2021-22 in the stateassembly. The size of the budget was Rs 1, 68,015 crore, and was termed azero-deficit Budget by the finance minister claiming that it has been prepared asper the present resources with the state government.
As the nation is today celebrating the InternationalWomen’s Day, therefore, giving special recognition to women’s of the Punjanb, ManpreetBadal announced free travel facilities for women in state-run buses besides aconsiderable hike of Rs 30,000 under the Punjab Ashirwad Scheme. He also announcedan increase in old age pension from Rs. 750 to Rs. 1500.
Manpreet Badal said that the “Budgets are notjust a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.This budget is a reflection of the values of our Government, and theaspirations of all Punjabi’s, whether they continue to live in this historicland or are a part of our large diaspora”.
He said that the determined steps taken bythe present government to bring a turnaround in the fiscal situation and tobring the State economy back on its track. The macro-economic parameter of aneconomy’s growth, reflective of impact of Government’s policies, GSDP, hasgrown, on an average, at the rate of 10.43% over the past 3 years (2017-18 to2019-2020) against an average growth rate of 8.87% during the last 3 years(2014-15 to 2016-2017) of the previous Government.
“The State GSDP, in absolute numbers, hasincreased from Rs. 4,26,988 crore in 2016-17 to Rs. 6,07,594 crore in 2021-22BE, i.e. an increase of 42.30% over 2016-17. Further, the Per Capita Income ofthe State has increased from Rs. 1, 28,780 in 2016-17 to Rs. 1,66,830 in2019-20 which is 24.29% higher than the national average of Rs. 1,34,226”, hesaid.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties have termedthe budget an election manifesto to lure voters in the state. They said thatthe announcements sounds good but are only useful if implemented in truespirit.
BudgetHighlights
· Eightnew maternal and child health wings will be set up in subdivisional hospitalsat Talwandi Sabo, Nabha, Patti, Dera Bassi Muktsar, Gurdaspur, Bhawanigarh, andRaikot.
· Anallocation of Rs. 92 crore has been proposed in budget 2021-22 for upgradationof the infrastructure of Government Medical College Patiala.
· Twonew medical colleges in Gurdaspur and Malerkotla will be setup post approval ofGovernment of India. Besides, new medical college and Hospital namely Sri GuruNanak Dev State Institute of Medical Sciences at Kapurthala and Shaheed UdhamSingh State Institute of Medical Sciences at Hoshiarpur with a total expenditureof Rs. 650 crore and an initial allocation of Rs. 80 crore have been proposed inthe Budget 2021-22.
· Aunit of Tata Memorial Hospital, named Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and ResearchCentre (HBCHRC) at Mullanpur, Mohali is going to be completed with a cost ofRs. 450 crore and is likely to be operational from July, 2021 and the work forconstruction of State Cancer Institute, Amritsar at a cost of Rs. 39 crore andTertiary Cancer Care Centre (TCCC) Fazilka at a cost of Rs. 16 crore are inprogress.
· TraumaCentre is being established at Government Medical College (GMC) Patiala, GMCAmritsar and GGSMC Faridkot at total cost of Rs. 42 crore, Rs. 93 crore and Rs.12 crore, respectively.
· Anallocation of Rs. 2,148 crore has been provided during 2021-22 to achieve thetargets of piped water supply and potable water for all.
· Allstudents studying in government colleges will be allowed free travel ingovernment-run buses.
· Rs100 crore worth museum on Baba Sahib Ambedkar to be established in Kapurthala, besidesRs 150 crore has been proposed for the Punjab Innovation fund.
· The Government willbe waiving off the loans to the extent of Rs. 1,186 crore of 1.13 lakh farmers and Rs. 526 crore oflandless farm workers in the next phase during 2021-22, for which necessaryallocation of Rs. 1,712 crore has been proposed. Besides, mobile vending cartsto be provided to farmers.
· Rs7,180 crore to go as a free power subsidy for farmers and new scheme formonitoring water quality for arsenic-affected villages was announced.
· Governmentproposed to launch a new umbrella program “Kamyaab Kisan Khushaal Punjab” (K3P)during 2021-22, with an outlay of Rs. 3,780 crore to be implemented during thenext three years.
· Acentre of excellence for vegetables at Village Gobindgarh in district 30 Fazilka at a cost of Rs.10 crore.
· Anoutlay of Rs. 11,861 crore has been earmarked for School Education for the year2021-22. Besides, an outlay of Rs. 140 crore proposed for promoting digitaleducation in 2021-22.
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· Freedomfighters pension to be increased from Rs 7,500 to Rs 9,500.
· 15thFinance Commission presented Punjab’s case well and increased devolution by0.23 percent. This will translate Rs 1500 crore additional devolutions in 2021.
· TheBudget for social sector expenditure increased from Rs 2,320 crore to Rs 4,000crore.
· PunjabSahit Ratan award money increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
· Pensionof Punjabi writers increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000.
· Apost-graduate institute of horticulture research to be set up in Amritsar.
· Rs100 crore announced for up-gradation of Government Colleges; Rs 1064 croreallocated for GNDU, Punjabi University, PAU, Rajiv Gandhi National LawUniversity.
· 29new schemes for canal systems; Rs 897 crore proposed for the same.
· PunjabSugarcane Research Development Institute to be set up in Kalanaur; Gurdaspurand Batala sugar mills to be enhanced; while Rs 300 crore to be set aside forbuying sugarcane.
· Rs750 crore set aside for giving scholarships to 2 lakh students under PostMatric Scholarship scheme.
· Vacanciesto be filled in state government jobs, 48,989 posts in the government to befilled in the first phase, against 1 lakh vacancies.
· Sevenhostels to be established for working women in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala,Mohali, Mansa and Bathinda.
· 250schools to be upgraded, Rs 100 cr for smartphones for 12th classstudents.