Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, March 24:
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Mr. Sunil Jakhar has described the second budget of Punjab Government as a pro-farmer, balanced and growth oriented budget which would boost the overall development of the state.
In a statement issued here today, Mr. Sunil Jakhar gave his reaction to the budget presented by the State Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, said that this budget will put the state on path of progress as previous SAD-BJP government had lurched the state into deep economic crisis. He said that Congress government in Punjab had inherited a collapsed economy, but the Minister of Finance has created a budget with his abilities that is in the interests of all sections of the society and it will further accelerate the pace of development in the state. He said that this budget is centered on education, health, infrastructure development and social welfare in the state and all sections of the society will get benefit from this.
Mr. Jakhar said that the Punjab has an agriculture based economy and that is why the Punjab Government has made a provision of Rs. 14734 crores for agriculture sector this year with 40% increase in agriculture budget then the last year’s allocation. Likewise, the government also set a budgetary provision of 4250 crores for farmer debt waiver to fulfill its election promise. Whereas, the budget of Rs 6256 crores has been reserved for free power for the agriculture sector. Apart from this, provision of Rs 400 crore under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs 100 crore for disposal of Crop residue, Rs 55 crore for horticulture and Rs 750 crore for improvement of the Agriculture Mandi infrastructure will be a great help to the farmers of the state.
Lok Sabha member Mr. Jakhar describing it as growth oriented budget said that Rs. 1440 crores have been earmarked for the industry for the supply of power at the rate of Rs. 5 per unit. He said that industrial development would create new employment opportunities in the state.
Mr. Jakhar further said that the government has also given special priority to health, education and social welfare schemes. Describing this budget as a balanced budget, Mr. Jakhar said that Rs. 914 crore has been earmarked for the National Health Mission whereas in this budget funds have also been made available for the improvement of medical colleges and hospitals. The government has also proposed to open two more medical colleges except one at Mohali.
He said that to promote the education in state, finance Minister has decided to give free books to all the students up to class XII in this budget while 10 new colleges for higher education has been also proposed in the budget. Similarly, he said that Rs 860 crore has been earmarked for post matriculation scholarships.
Jakhar said that the basic duty of the government is to safeguard the interests of the backward classes of the society and that is why the government has set a budget of Rs 3,806 crore for social welfare schemes. He said that the budget also emphasizes the development of infrastructure. Mr. Jakhar said that while budgetary provisions have been made for urban development, the decision of repairing of 16000 kilometer rural roads with the cost of Rs. 2000 crore would further enhance the road connectivity in the state.
