Punjab Requests ₹1000 Crore for Police Modernization, Seeks Parity with Hill States in Industrial Incentives
Patiala, 22 December (Sports Desk)
Punjab has presented a comprehensive set of budget demands to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a pre-budget meeting in Jaisalmer. Key requests include significant financial support for police modernization, agricultural initiatives, and industrial development.
Key Demands:
- Police Modernization: A ₹1,000 crore grant to strengthen police infrastructure and security in border districts.
- Industrial Incentives: Incentives for MSMEs in border and sub-mountainous regions, comparable to those offered to Jammu & Kashmir and neighboring hill states.
- Agricultural Support:
- Restoration of NABARD’s Short-Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (ST-SAO) limit to ₹3,041 crore (from the reduced ₹1,100 crore for FY 2024-25) to prevent farmers from relying on moneylenders.
- ₹2,000 crore for crop residue management, with the central government contributing ₹1,600 crore towards a ₹2,500 per acre incentive (₹2,000 from the center, ₹500 from the state).
- Special budget allocation for paddy diversification, with potential savings of over ₹30,000 crore to be partially allocated to a diversification package.
- Infrastructure and Connectivity:
- ₹100 crore for a 5.6 km approach road connecting NH 44 to the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) in Rajpura under PM Gati Shakti.
- Another Vande Bharat train to connect Bathinda, a key agricultural and commercial hub, with New Delhi.
- Social Welfare and Other Requests:
- Increase in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) grant from ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh per beneficiary.
- Release of ₹1,119 crore in pending funds under the National Health Mission (NHM).
- Increase in the honorarium for cook-cum-helpers under the PM Poshan Abhiyaan from ₹600 to ₹2,000 per month.
- ₹300 crore for urban transportation e-Bus services, including the purchase of 250 electric buses and charging infrastructure.
- Reimbursement of procurement costs by the central government.
- Modernization of driving license testing using advanced technology.
- Reimbursement of pending Rural Development Fee (RDF) amounting to ₹6,857 crore.
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Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasized the need for an incentive package to address Punjab’s unique challenges, particularly its proximity to the Pakistan border, to enhance the state’s infrastructure and security. He expressed hope for the upcoming Union Budget to promote citizen welfare, regional development, and economic growth.
