Chandigarh, December 23, 2024: The Punjab government has sought central assistance to enhance police infrastructure in border districts and promote industrial development in semi-hilly areas. During a pre-budget meeting in Jaisalmer with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the state pushed for industrial incentives similar to those offered in Jammu and Kashmir and other hill states.
Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema called for restoring NABARD’s Short Term Seasonal Agricultural Operation (ST-SAO) loan limit, which was reduced by ₹1,100 crore to ₹3,041 crore. “Increasing this limit will help curb farmer dependency on moneylenders and align with the ‘Sahakar se Samridhi’ initiative,” Cheema said.
To enhance road infrastructure under Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti, Punjab requested ₹100 crore for a 5.6 km approach road connecting NH 44 to the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) in Rajpura. The minister also appealed for an additional Vande Bharat train to link Bathinda with New Delhi, emphasizing the need for improved connectivity in the Malwa region.
Punjab proposed a ₹2,500 per acre stubble management incentive to address crop residue burning, suggesting ₹2,000 be funded by the Center and ₹500 by the state. This initiative, with an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore, requires ₹1,600 crore in central funding. The government also outlined a diversification package for 10 lakh hectares of paddy farming, projecting savings of ₹30,000 crore annually.
Cheema urged increasing financial support for rural housing under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, raising the grant from ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh per beneficiary. The state also requested ₹300 crore for e-bus services, including purchasing 250 electric buses and setting up charging facilities, and sought reimbursement for pending Rural Development Fund arrears of ₹6,857 crore.
Other demands included settling ₹1,119 crore in outstanding National Health Mission (NHM) funds, modernizing driving license testing centers, and raising the honorarium for cook-cum-helpers under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Abhiyan from ₹600 to ₹2,000.
The state government thanked Union Finance Minister Sitharaman for allowing Punjab to present its proposals and urged timely budgetary support to address critical challenges in security, connectivity, and agriculture.
