Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on 10th March 2023 presented the financial budget of state for the FY 2023-2024. This is the second budget that Aam Aadmi Party presented in the Vidhan Sabha. Earlier, an interim budget was presented by the party. This is the first full-fledge budget of Mann’s government.
Punjab Government presented a Budget for Rs. 1, 96,462 crores which is 26% more than the last fiscal year. The state government has focused its budget on education, health, employment, and agriculture.
Here are the Key Highlights of Punjab’s budget 2023-24
1. Total Budget Expenditure of ₹1,96,462 crore is proposed for FY 2023-24 which reflects 26% growth compared to the FY 2022-23
2. Rs. 13,888 crores allocated for Agriculture i.e. 20% more than last year
3. Major Push to Diversification - Market intervention by Government for Basmati procurement, 33% subsidy on cotton seeds, and track and trace mechanism for ensuring quality seeds to farmers- 71,000 crore allocated
4. For the first time, procured Moong crop at MS, benefitting 20,898 farmers and Rs.79 crore transferred
5. For Horticulture Sector, Rs.7,253 crore is allocated which is More than double the budget allocated in FY 2022-23. A new risk mitigation scheme i.e. Bhaav Antar Bhugtan Yojn will be introduced in FY 2023-24.
6. Rs. 3350 crore has been allocated under the Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanism and free Power to farmers earmarked Rs.79,331 crores.
7. An outlay of Rs.17,072 crore for school and higher education, which is 12% higher than the previous year.
8. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UPKEEP OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS: Rs.99 crore for ensuring basic cleanliness and upkeep of schools while teachers shall concentrate only on academics
9. SKILL UP-GRADATION PROGRAMME FOR TEACHERS/ SCHOOL HEADS: Rs.20 crore allocated in FY 2023-24 for this purpose. Thirty-six principals/education officers were trained at the Principals Academy, Singapore, and another batch of thirty principals has also been sent this month.
10. SCHOOLS OF EMINENCE: 117 schools have been identified for upgrading as “Schools of Eminence”. On a pilot basis, work for upgradation has already started at 04 schools of district Amritsar. Rs.200 crores allocated in FY 2023-24 for upgrading the schools into Schools of Eminence.
11. PRE-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME: For OBC and SC students, provisioned Rs.18 crore and Rs.60 crore, respectively in FY 2023- 24 for providing these scholarships.
12. Rs. 7990 crore allocated for providing assistance to the various Universities and constituent colleges like Punjab University, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur State University of Law, Punjabi university, etc.
13. Punjab Young Entrepreneur Programme: Rs.30 crore @ Rs.2000 per student to be provided for proposing original business ideas.
14. For Installation of Roof-Top Solar Panel System in Government Schools Rs.100 crore has been allocated.
15. Two new schemes i.e. Professional Coaching for Employment and Soft Skill & Communication Training is proposed for providing coaching on professional lines.
16. The Government has revived the prestigious Shaheed-E-Aazam S. Bhagat Singh Raj Yuva Award and two youths from each district would be selected and honoured with a medal, an amount of Rs.51,000, and a Certificate.
17. For the purchase of sports equipment, Rs.3 crore has been allocated, and to promote sports education in specialized areas, Rs.53 crore is allocated for the Sports University, Patiala
18. An allocation of Rs.1,015 crore in FY 2023-24 for Medical Education and Research
19. AAM AADMI CLINICS (AACS): Against the initial target of establishing 117 Aam Aadmi Clinics, our Government has already established 504 Aam Aadmi Clinics. Another 142 clinics are in the pipeline and are expected to be operational in next few days. More than 10.50 lakh patients have availed OPD facilities, and 1 lakh lab tests have been conducted in these clinics
20. MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH (MCH): Rs.16 crore proposed in FY 2023-24 for construction/ upgradation of MCH Hospitals.
21. For the modernization of police forces the AAP government allocated Rs.64 crore
22. For construction and renovation of police complexes and buildings Rs.10 crore has been allocated
23. To strengthen the infrastructure in the border districts Rs.40 crore has been allocated.
24. Special assistance of Rs.26 crore for aiding the Police Housing Corporation for the repaying the loan undertaken from HUDCO.
25. Government has introduced 110 new services in the 535 Sewa Kendras.and is working overtime to introduce a flagship programme "Sarkar Tuhade Dwaar" for delivery of citizen centric services at doorstep.
26. Rs.231 crore for Employment Generation and Skill Development i.e. 36% higher than the previous year. Deen Daval Upadhyava Grameen Kaushalva Yoiana (DDU-GKY) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), etc I- 7163 crore for skill development
27. Rs.175 crore for various other welfare schemes such as Poshan Abhiyaan; Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana; Accessible India Campaign, etc.
28. For renovation and upgradation of state infrastructure a budgetary outlay of Rs.26,295 crore has been sanctioned which is 13% higher than FY 2022-23.
29. Government has committed to clear its pending subsidy payment of over 79,000 crore to PSPCL in the next 5 years, which was pending since 2014-15 and has allotted Rs.7,780 crore for providing power subsidy to the domestic consumers
30. The Government has decided to contribute Rs.57 crore for development of terminal building of Indian Airforce Station, Halwara and the work is expected to be completed by May, 2023 and flight operations expected to start by December, 2023.