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Punjab News: 2011

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PUNJAB POLICE ORGANISES PANEL DISCUSSION ON ‘HEALTH & DIETARY SYSTEMS’

·       DGP underlines the need to regulate the dietary habits of jawans

 Chandigarh, March 15:
The Punjab Police today organized a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Health & Dietary Systems’ here at PPHQ. The experts’ panel comprised of Sh. Harmohan Dhawan, Former Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Dr.G.P.Malik, Dr. Manisha Arora, Sr. Dietician and Dr. Arun Tondon, Medical Officer while Senior Officers of the rank of DGPs, ADGPs, IGPs, DIGs & AIGs of Punjab Police also took part in the deliberations.

       Expressing their views the experts mainly stressed on management of diabetes and hypertension through modulated dietary system. They brought out clearly that modulation of dietary systems was the most effective and entails least cost in the management of these ailments. It may be mentioned here that recent studies have shown that almost 40% of the police force suffers from ailments like hypertension, obesity, diabetes due to job related stresses and irregularities in their life style including food habits.

      Showing concern about the status of health of the police force, the DGP, Punjab, Mr. P.S.Gill underlined the need to regulate the dietary habits of jawans so that they not only lead a healthy, ailment-free life but also remain fit to perform professional duties more efficiently. The DGP emphasized that  Punjab Police should organize such deliberations at the police units level as well so that the message of modulated and regulated dietary habits could be passed on to the larger target group.
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Badal`s budget does not address the problem of youth unemployment : Virdi

Chanran Singh Virdi  

Secretary

Punjab  state  commetty

Communist  party of india (Marxist)

Chandigarh/15 March 2011 :  Comrade  Charan Singh Virdi, Secretary Punjab state committee of CPI(M) commenting on the pre poll budget of Badal Govt. for the yeat 2011-12 has observed that this is a fatigued man`s no growth budget since it has totally ignored the problem of mounting unemployment of youth and also criminally ignored the problem grim of industrialization of Punjab.

        He further observed that no concrete measure is evident in budget for enhancing the purchasing power of the common peasantry which is groaning under debt and worst agrarian crises caused by neo liberal corporate agricultural policy being dogdly pursued by AKALI-BJP Government.

        The 52% enhancment in the allocation for education is welcome step.

        It was required that to improve the fiscal health of the state revenue deficit should have been further reduced by slashing the extravagancy of the Minister and big officers and also by cutting to size the  top   heavy  administration. And also imposing direct tax on the wealthy.

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PUNJAB BUDGET FALSIFIES MANPREET’S PROPAGANDA: SAD

  • RESURGGENT REVENUE, DECREASE IN DEBT TO GSDP RATIO EXPOSES FALSE PROPAGANDA OF S.MANPREET
  • EXPOSES HIS ANTI PEOPLE ANTI FARMER FACE

Chandigarh, March 15: Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday said that former Finance Minister S. Manpreet Singh Badal was flummoxed by his hidden agenda of crushing dedicated vote bank of SAD going haywire, with the Present Punjab Budget contradicting his false propaganda.

            In a statement issued here today Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda Spokesman SAD today said that S. Manpreet as a Finance Minister during last four budgets carried out a systematic campaign secretly to erode the loyal vote bank of SAD-BJP government, creating a false impression of poor financial health of state and the present budget has falsified all his contentions. He said that Punjab government by achieving highest ever 44 percent growth in revenue, reducing fiscal deficit to Rs. 3300 crore, while carrying out all pro people pro poor welfare programmes besides expanding the scope of all welfare schemes to major strata of population, has put a question mark on the credibility and real motive of S. Manpreet. He said that embarrassed by his own created web of half truths former Finance Minister was carving out excuses everyday to stay away from Assembly, facing the wrath of representatives of people. Mr. Dhanda said that  S. Manpreet instead of writing advertorials on budget should have guts to put forward his point in the house for which the people of his constituency have elected him. He said that S. Manpreet by terming the budget figures and parameters ‘fudged’, should remember that he had been presenting the same figures and parameters in four budgets. Quoting the budget speech of S.Manpreet, the SAD spokesman said that he had said that “it would be my dream to have Punjab plan reaching the size Rs. 10,000 crore” and now when the plan size has reached  Rs. 11,500 crore, now S. Manpreet was saying that why can’t we have plan size of Rs. 150000 crore.  

            The SAD Spokesman said that it was matter of fact that  S. Manpreet as Finance Minister as part of his secret agenda tried to derail the  welfare programmes of SAD-BJP government, creating the hoax of financial instability,  while having a secret parleys with the senior leaders of Congress led UPA government in the centre. He instead of asking Congress led UPA government to reimburse Rs. 3400 crore subsidy for free power to the farmers given by SAD-BJP government to fulfil the national objective of food security, advocated to withdraw all pro farmer, pro poor subsidies. When faced with stout resistance from Chief Minister and all Ministers, S. Manpreet created a web of lies of loan waiver that was never initiated by the Union government.

            He said that now this budget has exposed the real face of S. Manpreet who had been with a set agenda trying to discourage to investment in Punjab. Mr. Dhanda said that SAD by presenting this pro people budget has shown to the people of Punjab that it was party of principles that was committed to fulfil all promises made to the people rather than to create excuses like Congress party.
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CHANDIGARH, MARCH 15:

          The Punjab Government has directed all the heads of the Government Departments, Divisional Commissioners, Registrar Punjab and Haryana High Court, all the Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrates to ensure the proper implementations of the recommendations of the guidelines of Punjab State Administrative Reforms Commission in letter and spirit.

          Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the government reiterated that while obtaining information from the government offices, a self declaration system has been opted instead of an affidavit. The self attested photograph of the applicant is however essential, he added. The facility of digital photograph on the application could be taken from the Suvidha Kendras after depositing the requisite fee fixed for this purpose.

          Adding further, the spokesman said that the submission of affidavits is must with the complaint or with the sale, purchase of any vehicle.

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JUSTICE JAGDISH BHALLA APPOINTED

CHAIRPERSON OF PSHRC 

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 15:

          His Excellency the Governor of Punjab Sh. Shiv Raj V. Patil has appointed Mr. Justice Jagdish Bhalla (Former Chief Justice Rajasthan High Court) as the Chairperson of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission under the Protection of the Human Rights Act, 1993 as amended from time to time. His appointment will come into force with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

I would like to bring it to your kind notice that a “Public Rally” is being organized by Punjab Youth Congress at the “Shaheedi Samarak/ Memorial” of our revered “Amar Shaheed S. Beant Singh Jee, Late Chief Minister, Punjab", situated at Sector-42, Chandigarh, on 17th March, 2011 from 09:00 A.M. to 01:00 P.M.

You are, therefore,  requested to kindly make it convenient to attend the programme as per the schedule, for Press and Media Coverage.

With warm regards,
Ravneet Bingh Bittu,

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PUNJAB BUDGET FALSIFIES MANPREET’S PROPAGANDA: SAD

  •  RESURGGENT REVENUE, DECREASE IN DEBT TO GSDP RATIO EXPOSES FALSE PROPAGANDA OF S.MANPREET
  • EXPOSES HIS ANTI PEOPLE ANTI FARMER FACE

Chandigarh, March 15: Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday said that former Finance Minister S. Manpreet Singh Badal was flummoxed by his hidden agenda of crushing dedicated vote bank of SAD going haywire, with the Present Punjab Budget contradicting his false propaganda.

            In a statement issued here today Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda Spokesman SAD today said that S. Manpreet as a Finance Minister during last four budgets carried out a systematic campaign secretly to erode the loyal vote bank of SAD-BJP government, creating a false impression of poor financial health of state and the present budget has falsified all his contentions. He said that Punjab government by achieving highest ever 44 percent growth in revenue, reducing fiscal deficit to Rs. 3300 crore, while carrying out all pro people pro poor welfare programmes besides expanding the scope of all welfare schemes to major strata of population, has put a question mark on the credibility and real motive of S. Manpreet. He said that embarrassed by his own created web of half truths former Finance Minister was carving out excuses everyday to stay away from Assembly, facing the wrath of representatives of people. Mr. Dhanda said that  S. Manpreet instead of writing advertorials on budget should have guts to put forward his point in the house for which the people of his constituency have elected him. He said that S. Manpreet by terming the budget figures and parameters ‘fudged’, should remember that he had been presenting the same figures and parameters in four budgets. Quoting the budget speech of S.Manpreet, the SAD spokesman said that he had said that “it would be my dream to have Punjab plan reaching the size Rs. 10,000 crore” and now when the plan size has reached  Rs. 11,500 crore, now S. Manpreet was saying that why can’t we have plan size of Rs. 150000 crore.  

            The SAD Spokesman said that it was matter of fact that  S. Manpreet as Finance Minister as part of his secret agenda tried to derail the  welfare programmes of SAD-BJP government, creating the hoax of financial instability,  while having a secret parleys with the senior leaders of Congress led UPA government in the centre. He instead of asking Congress led UPA government to reimburse Rs. 3400 crore subsidy for free power to the farmers given by SAD-BJP government to fulfil the national objective of food security, advocated to withdraw all pro farmer, pro poor subsidies. When faced with stout resistance from Chief Minister and all Ministers, S. Manpreet created a web of lies of loan waiver that was never initiated by the Union government.

            He said that now this budget has exposed the real face of S. Manpreet who had been with a set agenda trying to discourage to investment in Punjab. Mr. Dhanda said that SAD by presenting this pro people budget has shown to the people of Punjab that it was party of principles that was committed to fulfil all promises made to the people rather than to create excuses like Congress party.
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CHANDIGARH, MARCH 15:

          The Punjab Government has directed all the heads of the Government Departments, Divisional Commissioners, Registrar Punjab and Haryana High Court, all the Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrates to ensure the proper implementations of the recommendations of the guidelines of Punjab State Administrative Reforms Commission in letter and spirit.

          Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the government reiterated that while obtaining information from the government offices, a self declaration system has been opted instead of an affidavit. The self attested photograph of the applicant is however essential, he added. The facility of digital photograph on the application could be taken from the Suvidha Kendras after depositing the requisite fee fixed for this purpose.

          Adding further, the spokesman said that the submission of affidavits is must with the complaint or with the sale, purchase of any vehicle.
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Key Features of Budget 2011-12

 

Major Fiscal indicators

·      Total size of the Budget is Rs. 48594.85 crore.

·      Revenue Receipts are Rs. 32026.76 crore.

·      Revenue Expenditure is Rs.35405.75 crore.

·      Revenue Deficit is Rs. 3378.99 crore.

·      Revenue Deficit is 1.33% of GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) against 1.80% recommended by Thirteenth Finance Commission for Punjab.

·      Capital Expenditure is Rs.5418.34 crore.

·      Fiscal Deficit is Rs. 8801.33 crore.

·      Fiscal Deficit is 3.45% of GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) against 3.50% recommended by Thirteenth Finance Commission for Punjab.

·      Total size of the Annual Plan is Rs. 11500 crore.

State of Economy

  • State achieved growth rate of 9.25%, 6.55% and 7.84% in    2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 as per the new series of National Accounts Statistics introduced by the Central Statistical Organization in June, 2010 with base year 2004-05. The corresponding figures for National Growth Rate are 9.34%, 6.76% and 7.96%. Thus, Punjab is now among fastest growing States of the Country and its growth rate is practically equal to National Average.
  • As per Advance Estimates for 2010-11, the State is expected to grow at 7.78% against National average of 8.58%.
  • The growth rate of the Primary Sector which was 1.94% in 2005-06 and 2.78% in 2006-07 improved to 3.89% in 2007-08.   In 2008-09, the Primary sector of the State grew at 2.40% against the National Average of only 0.04%.
  • The Secondary or Manufacturing Sector in the State grew at 7.77% in 2005-06 and 11.22% in 2006-07. Its growth improved to 17.20% in 2007-08.
  • Due to global recession, the growth rate of Secondary Sector was only 6.51% in 2008-09. After the end of the global recession, the growth in Manufacturing Sector has again picked up and the Secondary Sector recorded a growth rate of 11.99% against National Average of 8.06% in 2009-10.
  • The Tertiary (Services) Sector recorded growth rate of 4.73% in  2005-06 and 8.45% in 2006-07. The Tertiary Sector grew at 7.63%, 9.31% and 9.10% in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively. It is expected to grow at 9.41% in 2010-11.
  • The per capita income of the State at 2004-05 prices is expected to increase from Rs. 43539 in 2009-10 to Rs. 46182 in 2010-11 indicating a growth rate of 6.07%. The per capita income at current prices is estimated to increase from Rs. 62153 in    2009-10 to Rs.70072 in 2010-11 showing an increase of 12.74%.

State Finances

·         The growth rate of State’s own Tax Revenue which was only 0.31% in 2006-07, improved to 9.78% in 2007-08, 12.64% in 2008-09,  7.98% in 2009-10 and to 44.49% in 2010-11 (RE).

·         The 2011-12 (BE) project growth rate of 17.31% in State’s own Tax Revenue.

·         Despite the implementation of recommendations of Pay Commission for employees and pensioners and part payment of arrears to pensioners, the committed expenditure on Salaries and Wages, Pensions and Retirement Benefits and Interest Payments as percentage of Revenue receipts (Lotteries net) is likely at 75.30 % as per 2010-11 (RE) and 74.14 % as per 2011-12 (BE).

·         The outstanding debt of Punjab for 2010-11 (RE) is Rs.69,549 crore which is30.40% of GSDP of the State. Similarly, the outstanding debt for the year 2011-12 (BE) is estimated at Rs.77585 crore which will be 30.43% of GSDP of the State against debt to GSDP ratio of 41.80% recommended by the 13th Finance Commission for Punjab.    

·         Interest payments pre-empted Rs. 5011 crore in 2009-10 which will increase to Rs. 5499 crore in 2010-11(RE) and further to Rs.6530 crore in 2011-12.

Annual Plan

  • Approved Annual Plan outlay for the current year (2010-11) is Rs. 9150 crore. Against this outlay the implementation is likely at Rs.8931 crore as per 2010-11 (Revised Estimates).
  • The Annual Plan for the year 2011-12 amounts to Rs. 11,500 crore, after aggregating the budgetary and extra-budgetary resources. This is the highest ever in the history of the State and marks a 25.68% increase over the current year’s plan.
  • The Plan focuses on Power, Irrigation, Infrastructure, Human Resource Development, greater stress on welfare of Scheduled Castes and other weaker sections of the Society, development of agriculture, development of rural and urban areas, improved Health and Medical Services, etc.
  • Some of the Sectoral allocation for 2011-12 are:-

            Infrastructure

    • Rs. 986 crore including Rs. 626 crore as State Plan Budget is proposed to be spent on road infrastructure and Transport in 2011-12.
    • Rs. 916 crore for creation of Infrastructure by Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB).
    • Rs. 3300 crore for the Power Sector which is about 30% of the total plan outlay for 2011-12.
    • Rs. 1030 crore for Irrigation and Flood Control - an increase of 59.68%.

Agriculture

    • Rs. 453 crore for Agriculture and Allied Sectors – an increase of 36.99%.
    • The State shall give a renewed emphasis to agricultural research and development by providing an allocation of Rs. 25 crore to Punjab Agriculture University in the year 2011-12. This is apart from the normal grant-in-aid of Rs 85 crore which is being provided on the non-Plan side.

Rural Development

·         The State Government allocated Rs. 133 crore for construction of rural toilets in the State in the current year.  A sum of Rs. 220 crore has been earmarked for this purpose for the year 2011-12.

·         A sum of Rs. 200 crore is proposed to be spent in 2011-12 for cleaning of village ponds.

·         A sum of Rs. 200 crore has been provided for construction/brick paving of passages/ drains in villages/dhanis in Annual Plan 2011-12.

Education

o   The outlay for the sector has been  increased  by  52%. A sum of Rs. 1441 crore has been earmarked for various schemes for 2011-12.

o   Rs.60 crore for providing furniture in all Government primary schools in the State in one go, so as to provide basic amenity that was missing in our schools since independence.

    • Rs. 9 crore for providing free utensils in all schools that have been covered under the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme.
    • The girl students are presently not being charged any tuition fee in Government schools upto Class 10th.                        

However, they are still required to make a contribution towards some local funds being administered by the schools. To make the education of the girls genuinely free up to class 12th, it is proposed to provide Rs.26 crore so that their education till class 12th becomes ‘free’ in actual sense of term.

    • Government has proposed a new Plan scheme, to be called “Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme” with an outlay of Rs 75 crore, to provide free bicycles to all girl students studying in classes 11th and12th in all Government schools.  This scheme shall be implemented on a continued basis. Resources permitting, Government shall strive to extend this scheme to all girl students studying in 9th and 10th classes.
    • The State Government is already supplying free text books to all students and free uniforms to all SC and BPL students upto class 8 in Government schools.  To make the elementary education truly free in the spirit of the Right to Education Act, it is proposed to also extend this facility of free uniforms to the children of Backward Classes/Castes (BCs) and economically weaker families, with annual income up to Rs 30,000.  To commemorate the sacrifice of Bhai Jaita ji (Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh ji), this scheme with an outlay of Rs 16 crore shall be named after him.
    • The State Government, subject to legal advice, also intends to restore the pension to the teachers of the State-Aided schools, who were deprived of the same by the previous Government, by incorporating a provision in the statutory rules.  

Higher Education

    • Rs.229 crore for Higher Education and Languages in the Annual Plan 2011-12 which is an increase of 264% over the year 2010-11.
    • With a view to strengthen Languages Department, its Plan and non-Plan allocation for the year 2011-12 is being doubled from the current levels to Rs. 2.88 crore and Rs. 12.09 crore respectively.  It is also proposed to allocate Rs 30 lakh to the Languages Department of the State for setting up its own printing unit.
    • 17 new post graduate degree colleges are being set up in the educationally backward districts where Gross Enrolment Ratio is low and shall be made functional from July, 2011. While the capital contribution for the construction of these colleges has already been provided, Rs. 1.5 crore per college per annum shall be provided to each university to run these colleges at affordable fees.
    • Grant-in-aid to Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University and Guru Angad Dev University of Veterinary Sciences, which is being provided on non-plan side of this budget, has been increased by 50%.
    • The existing Government degree colleges shall be provided funds on a lasting basis to re-furbish and upgrade their infrastructure. An amount of Rs. 70 crore is being provided in the year 2011-12 for this purpose. 

Sports & Youth Services

o   Rs 142 crore, shall be earmarked for Sports and Youth Services, out of which Rs 22 crore shall be out of budgetary sources for the construction/ upgradation of 6 hockey stadiums, 7 multipurpose stadiums and the Centre of Excellence in Sports at Jalandhar. To be dedicated to the pious memory of Sahibzada Ajit Singh.

o   Government intends to institute scholarships worth Rs.10,000 per annum for top 1100 sportspersons covering all the eleven recognized sports disciplines. Similarly, 1100 scholarships worth Rs 5000 per annum shall be instituted in the memory of Sahibzada Fateh Singh for the junior sportspersons below the age of 16 years. These two schemes shall be earmarked Rs 16.5 crore. 

o   To further promote the culture of physical fitness, the Government shall be distributing gymnasium equipment throughout the State, at an outlay of Rs 15 crore. This scheme shall be named after Sahibzada Jujhar Singh.

o   Another Rs 10 crore shall be earmarked for distribution of sports equipment, material and kits etc., in the memory of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh

Tourism and Art & Culture

o   Rs. 1.50 crore for promoting cultural, artistic and literary activities of Punjab Lalit Kala Academy, Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy and Punjab Sahitya Academy.

o   Rs. 2 crore grant to Punjabi Sahitya Academy, Ludhiana, established in 1954, to add Sai Miya Mir Bhawan to Punjabi Bhawan Ludhiana for housing its library and other allied activities.

o   Capital grant of Rs. 2 crore to The Anad Foundation, New Delhi for setting up an institute dedicated to study of devotional music at Sultanpur Lodhi.

o   Rs 25 lakh are being earmarked for the promotion of classical music tradition associated with Baba Harvallabh Sangeet Sammelen.

o   Rs 1 crore to the North Zone Cultural Centre to fulfil its objectives.

o   Rs 40 lakh would be earmarked for other not-for-profit societies and institutions engaged in the promotion of Punjabi Language, literature and cultural activities in the State. Out of this, Rs 5 lakh each would to allocated to Punjab Jagriti Manch, Jalandhar; Punjabi Bhasha Academy, Jalandhar; Punjabi Kendri Lekhak Sabha (Regd.); Punjabi Lekhak Sabha (Sekhon); Chandigarh School of Drama, Chandigarh; Manch Rang Manch, Amritsar; Punjab Gatka Association (Regd.), and Sarang Lok, Mohali.

Health

o   A sum of Rs. 720 crore is proposed to be spent by the Health Department.

o   The BPL families are being provided health care free of cost in all Secondary Level Government Hospitals. It is proposed to extend this benefit to the Backward Classes/ Castes (BCs) and economically weaker families whose family income is below Rs. 30000/- per annum.  An amount of Rs 25 crore shall be provided for this purpose by the state exchequer. This initiative is expected to benefit an additional 14 lac families.

o   Announced in-principle approval of the cashless medical insurance scheme for all members of the Police Department, providing free indoor treatment up to Rs 2 lac per annum to them and their dependent family members. A budgetary provision of Rs. 25 crore is being made for this purpose.

o   The Emergency Medical Response Service would be made functional by 31st March, 2011. A total of 240 ambulances would be deployed in phases (90 ambulances by March 2011, 64 by May 2011 and remaining 86 by July 2011) across the State. These ambulances would be available within 20 minutes of an emergency call from anywhere in the State by dialling a toll free number 108. The total cost of the project is Rs. 70 crore.

o   The number of institutional deliveries in Government hospitals has increased by 3 times during the last 3 years. To further encourage institutional deliveries, Government has announced a new Plan scheme, to be called “Mata Kaushalaya Kalyan Scheme”, with an outlay of Rs. 12 crore to provide Rs 1000/- cash incentive to all mothers who undergo institutional deliveries in Government hospitals.

o   Rs 20 crore shall be earmarked for the seed Corpus of a Cancer Relief Fund, dedicated to the welfare of cancer patients.   

Industries

o   The State Government has spent Rs. 30 crore for upgradation of industrial focal points upto 2010-11.  A sum of Rs. 10 crore will be spent during 2011-12 for this purpose.  Similarly, an allocation of Rs.16 crore is being provided during 2011-12 for NIIFT Mohali

Social Security

o   Outlay for Social Security has been increased by 24% to Rs.924 crore. A sum of Rs. 591 crore has been earmarked for old age and other pensions to 19.70 lac beneficiaries. Besides, 1.84 lac BPL beneficiaries would receive an additional pension under National Social Assistance Programme.

o   It is proposed to lower the qualifying age limit for old-age pension in case of women to 58 years from 60 years at present.

o   A new scheme to be called “Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Kalyan Scheme” for providing benefit of Rs 15,000 at the birth of a girl child. This amount shall be invested in the name of the child with the Life Insurance Corporation of India and enhanced payments shall be made available to the girl at various stages of her life.  A budgetary allocation of Rs.16.50 crore is accordingly being made.  This benefit shall, however, be restricted only upto two girls per family.

Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes

o   An outlay of Rs. 275 crore has been earmarked for welfare of Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes.

o   In addition to providing shagun of Rs. 15000/- to SCs and Christian girls, the Government has decided to effect a quantum increase in the coverage of this scheme by extending it to girls belonging to the Backward Classes/ Castes (BC),  and other economically weaker families, with a new overall income limit of Rs 30,000/- per annum. The new income limit shall also become prospectively applicable to the SC and Christian girls/ families. A substantially increased sum of Rs. 130 crore is, therefore, being earmarked for shagun scheme in the Annual Plan 2011-12.

o   To meet the long standing demand of different communities, Ravidas Bhawan, Valmiki Bhawan and Masih Bhawan, dedicated to our great saints and prophets, shall be constructed during 2011-12. 

o   Rs. 2 crore shall be also earmarked for the integrated development of the holy Ram Tirath in Amritsar district, which houses the Maharishi Valmiki sthall.

o   A memorial in the honour of Guru Ravi Das ji at village Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district shall also be constructed, apart from the integrated development of the village, at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

o   Attendance scholarship at the Primary School level shall now be extended to all girl students, students of Backward Classes and Castes (BCs) and economically weaker students with a family income less than Rs 30,000 per annu

Pension to Freedom Fighters

o   The pension of freedom fighters and the families was increased from Rs. 3000/- per   month to Rs.4250/- per month in 2010-11. It is proposed to further increase it to Rs.5,000/- per month.

Defence Services Welfare

o   Rs. 2.00 crore for providing grant of Rs. 5 lac each for purchase of plot or house for the widows of martyrs or disabled soldiers.

o   Rs. 6 crore for construction of Sainik Rest House and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum, Ludhiana.

o   It has been decided to raise allowances of all our war decorated soldiers by 40%.

o   Rs.13 crore for defence service welfare in Annual Plan 2011-12.

            Employment Generation and Skill Development

o      Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute is being established at Mohali to prepare students for NDA exam. A sum of Rs. 15 crore has been provided as corpus for this purpose in 2011-12
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SUKHBIR DESCRIBES PUNJAB BUDGET AS PROGRESSIVE FUTURISTIC AND HOLISTIC

·       INCREASED ALLOCATION FOR YOUTH WELFARE , EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE REFLECT THE PRIORITY AREAS OF THE GOVERNMENT

·       AAM ADAMI TO BENEFIT FROM INCREASED SCOPE OF WELFARE SCHEMES

Chandigarh, March 14: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister today congratulated the Punjab Finance Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur for presenting the progressive, futuristic and holistic budget that would further accelerate the tempo of development in the state without imposing any new tax on the people of Punjab.

          Talking to media after presentation of Budget by the Finance Minister in the Punjab Assembly, Mr. Badal described it the "best budget" during the present tenure of the government that besides ensuring increased outlay for Social Security and Welfare schemes also focused on maintaining tempo of development in the infrastructure sector besides emphasis on Youth Welfare and  Education Sectors. He said that he was happy that the "mess and chaos" created by previous congress government has been cleared by this budget as revenue deficit has been brought down to Rs. 3378.99 crores, 1.33% of the GSDP  against 1.80% recommended by 13th Finance Commission of Punjab.  He said that the Punjab was able to present Rs. 48594.85 crores budget due to 44.49% resurgence in the tax revenue. Lashing at Congress government for messing up of State finances, Mr. Badal said that due to lack of vision, during Congress regime, the Revenue growth remains static, retarding the growth of the state. He said that we had been able to achieve record growth despite implementation of 5th Pay Commission recommendation. Mr. Badal said that if Union government as its earlier promise would have taken care of increased expenses due to 5th Pay Commission recommendation, Punjab would have been revenue surplus state today. Mr.Badal said that Punjab government has increased the scope of various welfare schemes; to give relief to the people reeling under the impact of price rise due to faulty policies of congress led UPA government.

          The Deputy Chief Minister said that this budget has exposed the propaganda of Congress Party that was crying hoax about the poor financial health of Punjab. He said that Finance Minister by balancing the priorities of SAD-BJP government, while maintaining Revenue growth has left the Congress party speechless and issueless.
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KALIA DESCRIBES PUNJAB BUDGET AS PROGRESSIVE, GROWTH ORIENTED AND PRO-PEOPLE

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 14:

          Local Government and Industries Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia today described the State Budget-2011-12 presented by the Finance Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur as progressive, growth oriented and pro-people, which would further boost the tempo of overall development in the state.

          In a statement Mr. Kalia said that the power sector has been given the lion's share of 30% of the total outlay for 2011-12 which is not only creditable but also unprecedented in the history of state finances.  He said that Rs. 3300 crore allotted under power sector would be primarily spent on strengthening on transmission, generation, distribution and maintenance and up-gradation of other schemes. Likewise a sum of Rs. 919 crore has been allocated in the year 2011-12 to PIDB for creation of infrastructure which would certainly give fillip to strengthen the infrastructure base in the state. 

           Mr. Kalia also lauded the path breaking step to earmark Rs. 20 crore for the seed Corpus of a Cancer Relief Fund, dedicated to the welfare of cancer patients. New schemes like Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 75 crore, to provide free bicycles to all girl students studying in classes 11th and 12th in all government schools and a provision of Rs. 26 crore to make the education of the girls genuinely free up to class 12 were really the landmark decisions to herald revolution in school education. Restoration of pension to the teachers of the state-aided schools, who were deprived of the same by the previous government was also a welcome step, said Mr. Kalia.

          Mr. Kalia also appreciated the vision of the SAD-BJP government in enhancing the outlay for social security by 24% to Rs. 924 crore, of which Rs. 591 crore has been earmarked for the old age and other pensions to 19.70 lac beneficiaries. He also commended the government for showing special concern for the well-being of the socially disadvantaged sections of the society, who are beset with socio-economic and educational backwardness, for which an outlay of Rs. 275 crore has been earmarked for the year 2011-12. 

Special efforts have been made to ensure women empowerment and balanced growth of rural and urban sectors in the state budget with the allocation of adequate funds, added Mr. Kalia. …

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Budget Speech 2011-12

                                          

Hon’ble Speaker Sir,          

I regard it my good fortune and personal privilege to be presenting the fifth Budget (2011-12) of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party Government led by Punjab’s undisputed leader Hon’ble Sardar Parkash Singh ji Badal before this august House.

 

I am indebted to the national statesman and the towering figure in the public life and polity of Punjab, Sardar Parkash Singh ji Badal, for having reposed faith in me and assigning me the responsibility and honour of managing the complex task of State’s finances. The Budget is a very important document which, while projecting the income and expenditure of the State Government in the forthcoming financial year, also delineates the overall growth and development of the State. Although it has been described in the Constitution of India simply as an “Annual Financial Statement”, the Budget is not merely a compendium of income-expenditure statistics of the Government but rather a vision document that seeks to address the hopes and aspirations of all the stakeholders and all sections of the society. People expect that it shall act as an instrument to tackle effectively the twin problems of poverty and social injustice and improves their incomes, livelihoods and standard of living, apart from providing better educational and healthcare facilities and a responsible and responsive public administration, which delivers efficiently the various essential public services. Our Government is firmly committed to maintain law and order, ensure peace and prosperity and foster communal harmony and mutual brotherhood in the State and to also strengthen democratic values and traditions at all levels. The Government is also making concerted efforts to uproot poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and corruption in the State and usher in a new era of economic and social justice, while working for the welfare and upliftment of the socially and economically weaker and backward sections of the society. The First Guru, Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji has stated:

Our Hon’ble and beloved Chief Minister and senior Statesman of the Nation has a firm conviction that Fiscal Consolidation should not deprive our Farmers, Weaker Sections of Society, Small Industrialists and Traders, Senior Citizens and Daughters of Punjab, Youth, Sports Persons, Employees and Pensioners of their legitimate  rights on the resources of the State. Power Subsidy, Old-Age Pension, Shagun Scheme, Simplification of Tax Administration, Governance Reforms, Improvement in Government Educational and Medical Institutions, Empowerment of Rural and Urban Local Bodies, Welfare of Employees and Pensioners are our Flagship programmes for ensuring inclusive growth in the State. The aims of Fiscal Consolidation and Financial Stability are served better by stimulating and accelerating the growth of the economy rather than cutting down the welfare expenditure of the State. The twin tasks of Fiscal Consolidation and increase in Welfare Expenditure of State are challenging but necessary to fulfill the aspirations for a better life among large sections of our under-privileged population. We have been able to wed the twin aims of Fiscal Prudence and Inclusive Growth as enumerated in succeeding paragraphs.  The palpable and concrete development effected out by the present Government in the last four years bears a testimony to my assertion that we have put the murky days behind us and are on the threshold of an era of renewed and inclusive growth and prosperity. However, we must not become complacent and slip back into a phase of sluggish growth, or worse still, stagnation and recession.

Undisputedly, India is the world’s biggest functioning democracy and Punjab has traditionally been at the forefront of its developmental process. The Punjabi people greatly value the basic tenet of personal liberty and freedom and have stoutly defended their beliefs, often at cost of great hardships, risks and sacrifices. They have also reaped the benefit of their hard work with increased prosperity and well-being. Changing times may have temporarily pushed us behind in the economic race, but the people of Punjab are not the ones who will despair; they will always strive to forge ahead by the sheer dint of their hard work, confidence and perseverance. Inspired by resounding and inspirational words like “Shubh karman te kabhu na taron”, the Punjabi clan, with a deep sense of self-esteem and dignity, cannot fail to achieve even the most difficult of targets and challenges. I recall the words of Surjit Pattar, the famous poet of Punjab:

Mr Speaker Sir,

I now seek your kind permission to briefly review and survey the various facets of the economy of the State of Punjab.

ECONOMY

2.                     The economy of State was in cycle of low growth during the Tenth Five Year Plan period 2002-03 to 2006-07. The average growth rate of the State during this period was only 5.11 % as compared to National Average of 7.80%. For Eleventh Five Year Plan 2007-08 to 2011-12, the Planning Commission had projected growth rate of only 5.9% for the State of Punjab as compared to National Average of 9%. The projected growth rates for Gujarat was 11.2%, Haryana 11%, Himachal Pradesh 9.5%, Jharkhand 9.8%, Karnataka 11.2%, Kerala 9.5% and Bihar 7.6% for Eleventh Plan 2007-12. Therefore, when present Government assumed office in February, 2007, the uppermost priority was to bring back Punjab on the path of vibrant growth so as to narrow the gap between National Growth Rate and Growth Rate of Punjab.

3.                     The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) has introduced new series of National Accounts Statistics in June, 2010 with base year 2004-05. I feel proud and happy to inform this August House that under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Chief Minister, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal ji, the State achieved growth rate of 9.25%, 6.55% and 7.84% in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 as per the new series of National Accounts. The corresponding figures for National Growth Rate are 9.34%, 6.76% and 7.96%. Thus, Punjab is now among fastest growing States of the Country and its growth rate is practically equal to National Average. This may be seen in the context of the economic reality that the so-called fast growing States are at a very low level of per Capita GDP, whereas Punjab is exhibiting dynamic increase even over high per Capita GDP figures. As per Advance Estimates for 2010-11, the State is expected to grow at 7.78% against National average of 8.58%. I am very optimistic that performance of the State will be even better in 2011-12. However, I must mention that on the basis of per Capita Income, Punjab which was at one time the top State in the country has slipped to number four among the bigger states and to number eighth if all the States and Union Territories are reckoned (Source: Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 2010, pp. 96-97). Punjab cannot be satisfied with anything but the first place in this regard. To achieve this, not only the State Government but all sections of the society have to work relentlessly to restore Punjab to its rightful place. Let us, therefore, resolve to work towards this objective in unison with each other.

4.                     The sectoral analysis of GSDP of the State under new series of Accounts reveals that growth rate of the Primary Sector which was 1.94% in 2005-06 and 2.78% in 2006-07 improved to 3.89% in 2007-08. In 2008-09, the Primary Sector of the State grew at 2.40% against the National growth of only 0.04%. The Secondary or Manufacturing Sector in the State grew at 7.77% in 2005-06 and 11.22% in 2006-07. Its growth improved to 17.20% in 2007-08. Due to global recession, the growth rate of Secondary Sector was only 6.51% in 2008-09. After the end of the global recession, the growth in Manufacturing Sector has again picked up and the Secondary Sector recorded a growth rate of 11.99% against National Average of 8.06% in 2009-10. The Tertiary (Services) Sector recorded growth rate of 4.73% in 2005-06 and 8.45% in 2006-07. The Tertiary (Services) Sector grew at 7.63%, 9.31% and 9.10% in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively. It is expected to grow at 9.41% in 2010-11.    

5.                     The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of the State at current prices increased from Rs. 82249 crore in 2002-03 to Rs. 1,26,791 crore in 2006-07 which represents an increase of 54.16%. The GSDP of the State during 2007-08 was at Rs.1,52,772 crore. As per projections of Ministry of Finance, Government of India, the GSDP of the State at current prices during 2011-12 is likely at Rs. 2,54,931 crore. Therefore, during the period 2007-08 to 2011-12, the growth rate of GSDP at current prices is likely at 66.87% against 54.16% during the period 2002-03 to 2006-07.

6.                     The per capita income of the State at 2004-05 prices is expected to increase from Rs. 43539 in 2009-10 to Rs. 46182 in 2010-11 indicating a growth rate of 6.07%. The per capita income at current prices is estimated to increase from Rs. 62153 in 2009-10 to Rs. 70072 in 2010-11 showing an increase of 12.74%.

STATE FINANCES

7.                     Punjab was a revenue surplus State until 1986-87 and its debt burden was only 27% of GSDP. By 1994-95 the debt has risen almost to 36% of GSDP owing to successive revenue and fiscal deficits in these eight years. These were the years of militancy in Punjab and the State was under a long spell of President’s Rule from 1987 to 1992. The Central Government, which was then running the administration of the State, followed a policy of high non-productive expenditure without raising any resources and to achieve this, it plugged the gap with unproductive and often high-cost loans. The debt burden of the State is a legacy of militancy, long years of President’s Rule and an indiscriminate fiscal policy followed by the Central Government during that period.

8.                     Another feature of State finances is the continued discrimination by Central Government/Finance Commissions in giving Punjab its due share in Central taxes. The States in their Joint Memorandum had requested the Thirteenth Finance Commission to devolve at least 50% of the Central taxes to the States. But the Thirteenth Finance Commission has enhanced the share of the States only marginally from 30.5% to 32% only. This is gross injustice to all the States. Punjab has been persistently denied its legitimate share in Central taxes which has progressively come down. The share of Punjab in tax devolution from Centre has declined with the recommendations of successive Finance Commissions. The Fifth Finance Commission (1970-75) recommended share of Punjab at 2.450%, Sixth Finance Commission (1975-80) at 2.380%, Seventh Finance Commission (1980-85) at 2.181%, Eighth Finance Commission (1985-90) at 1.713%, Ninth Finance Commission (1990-95) at 1.724%, Tenth Finance Commission (1995-2000) at 1.532%, Eleventh Finance Commission    (2000-05) at 1.147% and Twelfth Finance Commission (2005-10) at 1.299%. The Thirteenth Finance Commission has only marginally increased the share of Punjab from 1.299% to 1.389%.

9.                     The implementation of the recommendations of Pay Commission for employees and pensioners with effect from 01.01.2006 on Central pattern has also adversely affected the financial position of the State. The annual liability on account of implementation of recommendations of Pay Commission is about Rs. 3000 crore. The arrears for the period 01.01.2006 to 31.07.2009 involve additional expenditure of Rs.7200 crore. The Thirteenth Finance Commission and Central Government have not given any grant whatsoever to the State for implementation of recommendations of Pay Commission or for payment of its arrears despite near unanimous demand of various State Governments in this regard.

10.                   The Central policy of giving costly Small Saving Loans to the States has also adversely affected the financial position of the State. The mandatory share of the State Governments in Small Saving Loans is 80%. The difference between interest rates on Market Loans and Small Saving Loans at present is 1% to 1.5%. The Government of India should consult the State Governments before passing on fresh Small Saving Loans to the States. States should have freedom to choose between Small Saving Loans or market borrowings, within their overall borrowing limits. In spite of a clear-cut recommendation of the Thirteenth Finance Commission, the Central Government has still to re-set downwards the interest rates in respect of the Small Saving loans, thereby causing huge loss to all the States, including Punjab.

11.                   The Central policy of providing tax holiday for industrial units in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand has effectively caused de-industrialization in the State with large number of manufacturing units migrating to these neighbouring “tax havens”. Punjab does not have comparative advantage in manufacturing many products. It is a matter of serious concern for our State that about 274 Industrial Units have either shifted or have set up their expansion units, with an investment of Rs 3675 crores in the neighbouring states having privilege of fiscal concessions, from the mid- year 2002 to mid-year 2008.There is, therefore, an urgent need for providing level playing field to the State. Government of India should not extend the present policy of tax holiday in any form. The State does not agree with the proposal of Central Government to provide tax holiday to new units in these States from 01.04.2011.

12.                   Despite these in-built constraints, our Government has made sincere efforts to improve the financial position of the State. Tax collections during the current year have been robust. There is substantial improvement in the size and achievement of the Annual Plan, Debt to GSDP ratio, growth rate of State’s own tax revenue and other recognized Fiscal Indicators of the State. I would now share some of the fiscal indicators of State with Hon’ble Members:-

·        The Revenue Deficit in 2009-10 was at Rs. 5251.36 crore (2.63% of GSDP) as compared to Rs. 3856.20 crore in 2008-09 (2.20% of GSDP). The Revenue Deficit in 2009-10 increased owing to the implementation of recommendations of Pay Commission for Employees and Pensioners with effect from 01.08.2009 and lower growth in Central and State taxes in 2009-10 attributable to the global recession. The Budget Estimates for 2010-11 projected a Revenue Deficit of Rs. 3787.73 crore (1.66% of GSDP). But as per 2010-11 (Revised Estimates), the Revenue Deficit of the State is likely to be Rs. 3705.18 crore (1.62% of GSDP), which is a decrease from our Budget projections. This has been achieved in spite of a stepped-up increase in pension benefits and payment of one instalment of pension arrears.  The 2011-12 (Budget Estimates) project a Revenue Deficit of Rs. 3378.99 crore (1.33 % of GSDP). This is in compliance with the target set by the Thirteenth Finance Commission.

·        The Fiscal Deficit of the State during 2009-10 was at Rs. 6170.09 crore (3.09% of GSDP) as compared to Rs. 6690.45 crore in 2008-09 (3.82% of GSDP). The Budget Estimates for 2010-11 projected a Fiscal Deficit of Rs. 6706.11 crore (2.93% of GSDP). But as per 2010-11 (Revised Estimates), the Fiscal Deficit of the State is likely to be Rs. 7188.68 crore (3.14 % of GSDP). This increase of Rs 483 crore in the current year’s fiscal deficit is less than Rs 967 crore, the anticipated increase in Capital Expenditure during the current year. This signifies that the additional deficit has been on account of higher capital expenditure, which is productive in nature, and thus signifies prudent fiscal management and a development oriented Government spending. The 2011-12 (Budget Estimates) project the Fiscal Deficit of Rs. 8801.33 crore (3.45% of GSDP). This is also in compliance with the target set by the Thirteenth Finance Commission.

·        The growth rate of State’s own Tax Revenue, which was only 0.31% in    2006-07, improved to 9.78% in 2007-08, 12.64% in 2008-09, 7.98% in 2009-10 and to 44.49% in 2010-11 (RE). The 2011-12 (BE) project growth rate of 17.31% in State’s own Tax Revenue. I have been consciously modest in my revenue growth estimates, owing to global uncertainties and high- inflation environment which the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India are supposed to manage, but should the economic environment improve, I am sure the actual outcome shall be even better than these estimates. The current year’s increase reflects a buoyant economy of the State, modest tax rates and an effective tax compliance ensured by the State Government’s administrative machinery and cooperation of the trade and industry.

·        Despite the implementation of recommendations of Pay Commission for employees and pensioners and part payment of arrears to pensioners, the committed expenditure on Salaries and Wages, Pensions and Retirement Benefits and Interest Payments as percentage of Revenue receipts (Lotteries net) is likely at 75.30 % as per 2010-11 (RE) and 74.14 % as per 2011-12 (BE). I may submit that the corresponding figure was as high as 108.02% during the period of the previous Government in the year 2002-03.

·        The Annual Plan implementation during 2009-10, the year of global meltdown, was at Rs. 4974 crore against approved outlay of Rs. 8625 crore. However, there has been a substantial improvement in implementation of the State Plan during the current year. Against approved Annual Plan Outlay of Rs. 9150 crore for the current year, the implementation is likely at Rs. 8931crore as per 2010-11 (Revised Estimates), an achievement of 97.6%. The Approved Plan outlay of the State for 2011-12 is pegged at Rs. 11,500 crore, the highest ever in the history of the State. 

DEBT

13.                   The problem of public debt of the Punjab is due to the fact that Punjab has always been on the fore-front in performing its duties to the Nation; it bore the burden of proxy war unleashed on the country by our neighbour during the 1980s and 1990s. The progressive decline in relative share of the State in Central taxes over the period of time has further compounded the debt problem of the State. As Stated before, the share of Punjab in horizontal distribution of Central taxes has dwindled from 2.45% under Fifth Finance Commission (1970-75) to 1.389% under Thirteenth Finance Commission (2010-15). The Central Government’s policy of giving tax concessions to the neighbouring States of Punjab has been responsible for shifting of manufacturing units out of the State and consequent adverse impact on the economy and tax revenue of the State. The Central Government has also not given any assistance to the State Government for implementation of recommendations of Pay Commission for employees and pensioners. The implementation of recommendations of Pay Commission involve annual additional liability of Rs. 3000 crore and of Rs. 7200 crore for payment of arrears. All these factors have aggravated the debt problem of the State. In spite of all these problems, the State has not defaulted on any of its debt obligations and the present Government has made sincere efforts to bring down the Outstanding Debt to GSDP ratio of the State. The debt-to-GSDP ratio which was as high as 46.52% in 2004-05 has been brought down by this Government to 31.80% in 2009-10, through prudent fiscal measures. The target for 2010-11 (BE) was 31.08%, whereas it has been brought down to 30.40% for 2010-11 (RE). The target for this Debt-GSDP ratio for 2011-12 (BE) is at 30.43% and is fully compliant with the Thirteenth Finance Commission roadmap. I am confident that our achievement would actually be much better, since the Government of India has projected a relatively conservative growth of merely 11.44% in our GSDP (at current prices) for the year 2011-12. Thus, contrary to the popular misconception that Punjab is getting more and more indebted, this universally accepted parameter, the debt-to-GSDP ratio, demonstrates that our Government has progressively reduced its relative indebtedness.

14.                   The total outstanding debt of the State which was only Rs. 879 crore (17.49% of GSDP) at the end of 1980-81 had ballooned to Rs. 6870 crore (36.38% of GSDP) at the end of 1990-91  and to Rs. 27830 crore (37.27% of GSDP) at the end of 2000-01, Rs. 48344 crore (38.13% of GSDP) at the end of 2006-07, Rs. 69549 crore (30.40% of GSDP)  at the end of 2010-11 (RE) and is likely to be Rs. 77585 crore (30.43% of GSDP) at the end of 2011-12. The decreasing trend in this ratio in the recent years reflects a dynamic economy as well as prudent fiscal management

15.                   The State Government pointed out to the Thirteenth Finance Commission that mounting debt burden in absolute terms has led to vicious cycle of interest payments, large borrowings to service the debt, compression in Capital Expenditure and consequent adverse impact on the growth of the economy of the State. The State on its own is not in a position to reduce the debt burden, especially when the macro-economic control of the interest rates is in the control of the Central Government and RBI. Under the present fiscal situation, huge expense on interest payments leaves only a small portion of the State’s finances to be utilized for capital investment. The State Government requested the Thirteenth Finance Commission to write off the entire National Small Saving Fund (NSSF) loans of Rs. 21428 crore outstanding as on 31.03.2009. In the alternative, the Commission was requested to consolidate and re-structure these loans for a fresh term of 30 years and interest rate of 7.0% be charged thereon. However, the Thirteenth Finance Commission has recommended that the loans from NSSF contracted till 2006-07 and outstanding at the end of 2009-10 be re-set at a common interest rate of 9% per annum instead of 10.5% or 9.5%. The repayment schedule, however, remains unchanged. The relief to the State on this account is only of Rs.703 crore during the period 2010-15. This relief is too meagre as compared to the gigantic debt problem of the State, and even this relief is yet to be passed on to the State Government by the Central Government.

16.                   The Government of India, vide its notification No.40/1/PF-1/2009 dated 21.07.2010, has constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Secretary Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India to explore ways to assist Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal in getting out of their fiscal distress. The Committee has held its first meeting at the officers’ level on 10.08.2010 at New Delhi and there was a consequential meeting on 20.8.2010. Although the Committee was expected to submit its report to Government of India by the end of August, 2010, but its report is still awaited. The Hon’ble Chief Minister, Punjab has requested the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister for early report of the Committee. I have also written to the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister in this regard to inter alia:

·        Waive off fully, in the first instance, the National Small Savings Loans given to the State of Punjab, so as to pave way for restoration of its vibrancy. In case it is not found feasible for some reason, then kindly extend help in the form of resetting the effective rate of interest on National Small Savings Loans at 4% per annum and also to re-schedule all the outstanding loans for a further period of 30 years;

·        Increase the States’ share in Central Taxes to 50%, in modification of the report of the 13th Finance Commission;

·        Double the Grant-in-Aid component of the Central devolution (which was Rs. 2320.00 crore during the year 2009-10);

·        Waive off the entire outstanding Central Term Loan, which was Rs.3286.36 crore as on 31.03.2010; and

·        Increase the Current Year’s (2010-2011) borrowing limit of the State by Rs. 1000 crore, which is presently Rs. 6586.00 crore.

However, nothing has been heard from the Central Government on this subject so far.

FISCAL ROADMAP RECOMMENDED BY THIRTEENTH FINANCE COMMISSION FOR PUNJAB

 

17.                   The Thirteenth Finance Commission in its report has recommended a revised Roadmap for Fiscal Consolidation at Central and State level. The fiscal consolidation path recommended for Punjab is:

REVENUE DEFICIT

18.                   The Thirteenth Finance Commission in its report has indicated that only three general category States namely Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal incurred Revenue Deficit in 2007-08. For these States, the Thirteenth Finance Commission has recommended an Adjustment Path commencing 2011-12 and to eliminate the Revenue Deficit by 2014-15. The Revenue Deficit reduction path for the State of Punjab is:

Revenue Deficit Path for Punjab

                                                                                                (Percent of GSDP)

State

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Punjab

1.8

1.2

0.6

0.0

 

19.                   The Revenue Deficit of Punjab for 2010-11 (RE) is at Rs. 3705.18 crore (1.62% of GSDP) and for 2011-12 (BE) at Rs.3378.99 crore (1.33% of GSDP).

 

FISCAL DEFICIT

20.                   The Thirteenth Finance Commission has recommended a Fiscal Deficit Path for Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal to achieve a target of Fiscal Deficit at 3 percent of GSDP by 2014-15. The Fiscal Deficit reduction Path for Punjab is:

Fiscal Deficit Path for Punjab

                                                                                                (Percent of GSDP)

State

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Punjab

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.0

3.0

 

21.                   The Fiscal Deficit of Punjab for 2010-11 (RE) is at Rs. 7188.68 crore (3.14% of GSDP) and for 2011-12 (BE) at Rs.8801.33 crore (3.45% of GSDP).

DEBT GSDP RATIO

22.                   The 13th Finance Commission has set a target of 68 percent of GDP for combined debt of Centre and States to be achieved by 2014-15, and has recommended that the Fiscal Consolidation Path should lead to the steady reduction in the debt stock of the Centre to 45 percent of GDP by 2014-15 and for the States to less than 25 percent of GDP by   2014-15. The targets of Debt to GSDP ratio recommended for the State of Punjab are:

Debt to GSDP ratio

State

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Punjab

42.5

41.8

41.0

39.8

38.7

 

23.                   The outstanding debt of Punjab for 2010-11 (RE) is Rs.69,549 crore which is30.40% of GSDP of the State. Similarly, the outstanding debt for the year 2011-12 (BE) is estimated at Rs.77585 crore which will be 30.43% of GSDP of the State.   We are thus quite comfortably placed as regards these milestones.

 

Mr Speaker Sir, there is no denying the fact that the State is under heavy debt burden. But I would like to quote from Prof. E. Domar’s article, “The Burden of Debt and National Income”, which seems to be relevant. He says:

“If all the people and organizations who work and study, write articles and make speeches, worry and spend sleepless nights- all because of fear of debt- could forget it for a while and spend even half their efforts trying to find ways of achieving a growing National Income, their contribution to the benefit and welfare of humanity and to the solution of debt problem would be immeasurable.”

AMENDMENTS IN THE FRBM ACT AND STATE’S OWN FISCAL CORRECTION PATH

 

24.                   The Thirteenth Finance Commission/Government of India has linked the benefit of interest relief of Rs. 703.34 crore for 2010-15 and release of State Specific Grants of Rs. 1450 crore for the period from    2011-12 to 2014-15 to the State, subject to the amendments in the FRBM Act, 2003 and formulation of State’s Own Fiscal Correction Path according to fiscal roadmap for the State suggested by the Thirteenth Finance Commission. The process of amendments in FRBM Act, 2003 to make it conform to the recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission is under way and hopefully it will be completed in the current session of the House. The State has also formulated its own Fiscal Correction Path to achieve the targets of Revenue Deficit, Fiscal Deficit and Debt to GSDP ratio for the period 2010-11 to 2014-15 as recommended by the Thirteenth Finance Commission.

GOODS AND SERVICE TAX (GST)

25.                   The Government of Punjab is in favour to implement GST in the country. However, there are few issues which are of serious concern to the State and these issues must be resolved before GST is implemented in the country. The State of Punjab, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) and Rural Development Fund (RDF) are getting revenue of about Rs. 2500 crore per annum on account of purchase tax on paddy, wheat and cotton etc., cesses on food grains and petrol and market fee etc. If these are subsumed in GST, the State will lose this revenue which is growing at the rate of at least 20% per annum on a continuous basis. The State of Punjab has made huge investments in agriculture sector over a period of time and in the process even natural resources of the State like soil and water are getting depleted. The State of Punjab is contributing about 50% of the total food grains in Central kitty and thereby playing a major role in the food security of the Nation. Hence, the State of Punjab strongly objects to the subsuming of purchase tax, market fee and cesses on food grain and petrol in the proposed GST model. Even if Government of India gives compensation, it will be only for few years. But the State will lose substantial revenue on a permanent basis. Therefore, any equitable agreement in this regard must be accompanied by full and perpetual compensation to the State, with due regard to increases in production, productivity, Minimum Support Prices and inflation.

26.                   Further, while framing the GST, the interest of small traders and small scale industries needs to be kept in mind. Punjab is known for small scale industries like Hosiery, Auto Parts, Cycle parts etc. and if the threshold limit is reduced and brought at par with VAT limit then it will affect the numerous small scale industries in the State. In view of this, the threshold limit for small scale industries needs to be kept at Rs. 1.5 crore.

27.                   The calculations of revenue neutral rate should be based on the latest revenue figures for the year 2010-11. 

WELFARE OF STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS

 

28.                   The SAD-BJP Government is aware of the important role played by State Government employees in the development of the State and implementation of various welfare schemes of the State Government. Pensioners also deserve our respect and attention.

29.                   Despite difficult financial position, the present Government implemented the main recommendations of the Pay Commission for employees and pensioners with effect from 1st August, 2009 which involve annual additional recurring expenditure of about Rs.3000 crore. The arrears for the period 1st January, 2006 to 31st July, 2009 of employees and pensioners involve huge expenditure of Rs. 7200 crore. No State Government can incur such big expenditure in one go without posing risk to the financial stability of the State. Therefore, the present Government has decided to pay the arrears to the pensioners in three equal instalments in the months of November, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The first instalment in this regard has already been disbursed to the pensioners, through the banks. Similarly, the Government has decided to pay arrears to the employees in three instalments i.e. 40% in the month of May, 2011, 30% in the month of May, 2012 and remaining 30% in May, 2013. The State Government has also sanctioned 18% additional Dearness Allowance (27% to 45%) to its employees and pensioners in the current financial year. This has led to an additional expenditure of Rs. 1428 crore in the current year with annual liability of Rs. 1606 crore. The State Government has also implemented many recommendations of Pay Commission regarding Rural and various other allowances, bringing relief to a large number of Government employees.

DEVOLUTION TO LOCAL BODIES

30.                   The present Government constituted the Fourth Punjab Finance Commission to recommend devolution of State taxes and duties to Rural and Urban Local Bodies of the State during the period 2011-12 to 2015-16. The Commission is expected to submit its Report to the State Government shortly.

31.                   The SAD-BJP Government has been most liberal in transfer of resources from State Government to Rural and Urban Local Bodies of the State. The total transfers by State Government during five year 2002-03 to 2006-07 to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) was Rs. 670.02 crore and to Urban Local Bodies was Rs. 1206.99 crore. During the first three years of the present Government 2007-08 to 2009-10, the total transfers from State Government to Panchayati Raj Institutions were Rs. 877.00 crore and Urban Local Bodies at Rs. 3310.50 crore. The total budgetary transfer to PRIs and Urban Local Bodies during 2010-11 (RE) is likely at Rs.1319.39 crore. In addition, the Urban Local Bodies are expected to receive approximatelyRs.1000 crore (10% of total VAT collections) as grants-in-aid in lieu of abolition of octroi. The provision for budgetary transfers to PRIs and Urban Local Bodies is at Rs.1473.60 crore for 2011-12 (BE). The Urban Local Bodies will also get Rs.1170 crore (10% of VAT collections) as grants-in-aid for abolition of octroi. The provisions for Local Bodies for 2011-12 will be amended in the light of recommendations of Fourth Punjab Finance Commission at the time of finalization of revised estimates for 2011-12.

32.                   The State Government has established a not-for-profit company nomenclatured “the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company” for undertaking and funding of various infrastructure projects in urban areas of the State. The State proposes to assign a dedicated revenue stream to this Company through statutory rules. The Company also proposes to raise Term Loan of Rs. 1000-1200 crore from the Scheduled Banks.

33.                   The State Government already assigns 10% of total VAT collections in the State to Urban Local Bodies to compensate them for losses on account of abolition of octroi. The State Government has recently promulgated an ordinance to assign 20% of Surcharge on VAT to Urban Local Bodies.  We hope to convert this ordinance into an Act in the current session.

PLAN PROPOSALS

Mr Speaker, Sir, I now present the Plan proposals for the year 2011-12. The Plan amounts to Rs 11,500 crore after aggregating the budgetary and extra-budgetary resources. This is the highest ever in the history of the State and marks a handsome increase of 25.68 % over the current year’s Plan.

 

AGRICULTURE

34.                   Sir, the State Government has accorded top priority to the development of Agriculture Sector and has achieved about 3% growth in the first 4 years of 11th Plan. Sustenance of cereal production and productivity is not only important for the State but also for the food security of the nation.  The State has been consistently contributing about 45% of wheat and 25% of rice towards the central pool thereby ensuring the national food security. In the year 2010-11, the State produced 162 lac MT paddy, out of which 129 lac MT has been procured.  Similarly, the State produced 152 lac MT  wheat, out of which 108 lac MT has been procured.

35.                   A total outlay of Rs. 453 crore has been provided for Agriculture and Allied Sectors which includes:

·        Rs. 299 crore for  crop husbandry,

·        Rs. 31 crore for agriculture research and education and agricultural financial institutions,

·        Rs. 45 crore for animal husbandry,

·        Rs. 34 crore for soil & water conservation,

·        Rs. 25 crore for dairy development, fisheries and  cooperation, and

·        Rs. 19 crore for forestry and wildlife. Additional funds under MGNREGS have been allocated to expand plantation and afforestation on a large scale.

36.                   A series of measures have been taken to sustain the rate of growth in agriculture. In the current financial year, under a new Plan scheme, “Providing Relief Bonus to Farmers for Paddy Crop,” an amount of Rs.150 crore was provided to the farmers as compensation for additional cost on cultivation of paddy crop during 2009.  Secondly, the State Government also decided to pay a productivity bonus equal to the due payments of bills of the Punjab State Power Corporation in the year 2010-11.  For this purpose, an amount of Rs. 117 crore was provided under the Plan scheme “Provision for Productivity Bonus to the Farmers of the State”.  Thereafter, to simplify the procedures and provide relief to the farmers, free electricity supply to agricultural pump sets has been restored by the State Government with effect from 3/11/2010.

37.                   To sustain and conserve water resources, the focus areas during 2011-12 will be those of underground pipeline system, assistance on drip/sprinkle irrigation system, erosion control in Ghaggar catchments, assistance on individual water storage tanks, watershed development in kandi areas and rain water harvesting in kandi areas.

38.                   Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY), the State Government received Rs. 165 crore in the first three years of the 11th Plan against which an expenditure of Rs. 162 crore was incurred.   The State has received an amount of Rs. 179 crore in 2010-11, which is being utilized for setting up of agro service centres and farmers’ training centres, for promotion of low cost net house technology, reclamation of degraded soil, strengthening of marketing infrastructure, conservation of irrigation and rain water, agricultural R&D, dissemination of technologies, wheat seed replacement, enhancement in quality of milk production etc.  The outlay for the year 2011-12 under RKVY is Rs. 100 crore, apart from allocation in other allied sectors. 

39.                   The State is also successfully implementing the National Horticulture Mission. The utilization of funds under NHM has picked up.  The State Government has already spent Rs. 118 crore in the first four years of 11th Plan against an allocation of Rs. 274 crore under NHM.  An action plan has been prepared for Rs. 60 crore for the year 2011-12 under NHM  for promotion of green house technology, development of high-tech nurseries, tissue culture, cold chain and refrigerated storage etc. in order to promote fruit cultivation, floriculture and vegetables. 

40.                   Although the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister in his Budget speech on 28th February, 2011 spoke in terms of a second Green Revolution, we are disappointed that no special provision has been made for the State of Punjab, which was a pioneer in the original Green Revolution. Nevertheless, the State Government shall encourage and facilitate crop diversification, organic farming, vegetable clusters near urban centres, new storage capacity and cold chains. We shall also encourage our farmers to take benefit of National Mission for Protein Supplements and Fodder Supplements, sprinkler irrigation and water harvesting. We shall also endeavour to revive and revitalize Government Poultry farms, through Public Private Partnership.  The State Government is already encouraging agro-processing industries in the State by lowering the threshold limit for investment from Rs. 100 crore to Rs. 25 crore. This shall afford the new investments in this sector all benefits reserved for Mega Projects.

Last year, a number of Punjabi farmers were deprived of the benefit of the Central Government’s Debt Relief Scheme since they were not defaulters. We shall impress upon the Government of India to provide incentives to our farmers who make timely payments of their instalments to the banks and Cooperative institutions.

41.                   Livestock is a major contributor to the State income and has been supplementing the incomes of the farmers.  Emphasis is being laid on improvement of animal breeds, their housing and creation of related infrastructure viz. chilling centres, supply of bulk milk coolers, upgradation of veterinary hospitals etc.   

42.                   A new centrally sponsored scheme AGR-22 ‘Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme’ has been incorporated with an outlay of Rs. 10 crore in 2011-12 to insulate farming community against various risks.  3 districts namely Gurdaspur, Ropar and Hoshiarpur have been selected by Government of India for implementation of this scheme.  Another new State Plan scheme AGR 23 – ‘Setting up of a College of Agriculture at Gurdaspur’ has been included in the Annual Plan 2011-12 with an outlay of Rs. 2 crore.

43.                   The State shall give a renewed emphasis to agricultural research and development by providing an allocation of Rs. 25 crore to Punjab Agriculture University in the year 2011-12. This is apart from the normal grant-in-aid of Rs 85 crore which is being provided on the non-Plan side. Besides, the State Government has paid adequate attention for the development of allied sectors like animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries and cooperation for increasing the income of the farmers with an allocation of Rs. 70 crore. 

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

44.                   The State Government is committed to providing modern amenities, sanitation facilities and creation of employment opportunities for rural poor in the villages. An outlay of Rs. 300 crore has been earmarked for ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme’ for the year 2011-12. This scheme is being successfully implemented in the State and a sum of Rs. 180 crore shall be spent in the current year 2010-11 against Rs. 149 crore in the year 2009-10.  An outlay of Rs. 17.60 crore has been earmarked under the programme “Swaran Jayanti Gram Swa-Rozgar Yojna” which has now been re-structured as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Outlay for Indira Awaas Yojana scheme has been increased from Rs.72 crore to Rs. 80 crore in the year 2011-12.

45.                   The State Government allocated Rs. 133 crore for construction of rural toilets in the State in the current year.  A sum of Rs. 220 crore has been earmarked for this purpose for the year 2011-12 under NABARD project.  Besides this, an assistance of Rs. 75 crore is already being availed from NABARD for rural toilets in 2010-11.  This shall enable the construction of nearly 4.50 lac toilets for the poorer sections of the society in rural areas.  A sum of Rs. 200 crore is proposed to be spent in 2011-12 for cleaning of village ponds. A sum of Rs. 200 crore has been provided for construction/brick paving of passages/ drains in villages/dhanis in Annual Plan 2011-12.

IRRIGATION

46.                   Our Government has accorded high priority to revamping of the canal network in the State.  With an outlay of Rs. 1030 crore for the year 2011-12, we aim to enhance the intake capacity of canals to provide irrigation  water  at  the  tail-end,  to  increase  irrigation potential and also to control the problem of flooding and water-logging in the State.  The main areas of focus are:-

(a)       Rs. 741 crore under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit programme which includes:

·        Rs. 240 crore for command area development and water management programme to stop the seepage of water  by constructing pacca khalas in the State,

·        Rs. 245 crore for completion of work of  extension of   phase-II of kandi canal from Hoshiarpur to Balachaur,

·        Rs. 150 crore for relining of Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder,

·        Rs. 20 crore for rehabilitation of channel of First Patiala feeder and Kotla Branch, and

·        Rs. 300 crore for construction of Shahpur Kandi Dam including Rs. 214 crore for power component to get optimum benefits from Ranjit Sagar Dam already completed.

 

(b)       Rs. 131 crore for antiwater-logging measures and flood  control   works that includes embankments of Sutlej, Ravi and Beas & widening of river Ghaggar, canalization of Sakki Nallah flowing in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts apart from Rs. 50 crore recommended by 13th Finance Commission. This is a multiple increase with reference to the previous year and shall also save the State Government huge recurring expenditure on calamity relief, apart from preventing misery for the farmers cultivating land near these rivers.

(c)       Rs. 98 crore for the NABARD Projects involving lining of canals and construction of channels and distributaries, installation of 280 deep tube-wells in kandi area and other anti water logging activities in the State.

47.                   The State is expected to get Rs. 50 crore every year for the next four years from Government of India for creation and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure as recommended by the 13th Finance Commission. The 13th Finance Commission has also recommended a grant of Rs. 200 crore for tackling the problem of water logging in the southern-west districts for a period of 2011-15.

 

POWER

48.                   Power sector has been given the lion’s share of 30% of the total Plan outlay for 2011-12.  The important components of the Rs. 3300 crore allocated amount are:-

Rs. 1778 crore for transmission including R-APDRP,

Rs. 684 crore  for generation,

Rs. 828 crore for distribution, and

Rs. 10 crore for maintenance and strengthening of other schemes.

49.                   The State Government has launched a massive programme for increasing the power generation capacity in the State. The construction work is in full swing at the 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Plant and also at 540 MW Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Plant. The 1400 MW Rajpura Thermal Power Plant is being developed by Larsen and Toubro Limited. The development of Gidderbaha 2640 MW coal based thermal power plant has been allocated to NTPC for which notification under section 6 for land acquisition has been issued.  Under Power Generation Policy 2010 of State Government, MoUs have been signed for additional 5850 MW generation capacity to the ongoing thermal power plants at Goindwal Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura & two new power projects of 1320 MW at Kot Shamir and 1350 MW at village Gobindpur in district Mansa.  In addition to this, Punjab has been allocated 2272 MW from 6 ultra mega power projects of Government of India.

50.                   I would like to inform the August House that all the villages of Punjab will be provided urban pattern supply by 1/4/2011, which will increase the reliability of power supply to rural areas of the State. Some of the other initiatives planned for achieving full and effective electrification of rural and urban areas include clearing of pending agriculture power connections and conversion of Low Voltage distribution system into high voltage distribution System in agriculture sector and shifting of meters outside consumer premises in pillar boxes. 

51.                   Under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), the work of providing electric infrastructure to rural households including single point connection to 1.5 lac BPL families will be completed by 31/10/2011.  Re-structured Accelerated Power Development & Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) has been allocated Rs. 508 crore in 2011-12 and is being implemented in 47 towns having a population of more than 30,000 each. Under this programme major thrust would be given to adoption of information technology for improving quality of service to the consumers and reducing the Transmission and Distribution losses. T&D losses have been brought down to 20.12% during 2009-10 from 30.82% during 1999-2000 and will be further brought down to 15% by the end of 11th Plan.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 

52.                   State Government has notified a New Industrial Policy, 2009 of Punjab, under which special package of concessions has been provided for Information Technology & Knowledge based industries, agro based industries and food processing industries.  To boost private investment in the State, 69 mega projects worth Rs. 42,000 crore have been approved during the last 4 years.  The important projects are:

Metro Cash & Carry

Amtak Rail Car Industries Private Ltd.

Merial India Private Ltd.

Symmetrix Biotech Ltd.

While Mega Projects and Super Mega projects under the extant Industrial Policy are being encouraged, special emphasis is being laid on such Industrial Infrastructure projects that create Industrial Parks/ estates for the setting up of manufacturing and Information Technology units.

53.                   The State Government has spent Rs. 30 crore for upgradation of industrial focal points upto 2010-11.  A sum of Rs. 10 crore will be spent during 2011-12 for this purpose.  Similarly, an allocation of Rs. 16 crore is being provided during 2011-12 for NIIFT Mohali.

54.                   In order to encourage the development of Special Economic Zones, ‘Punjab Special Economic Zones Act, 2009’ has been enacted and implemented which is a model for other states.  Under the Act, purchase of land for SEZ and first sale of plots are exempted from all State duties and taxes including stamp duty of registration fees. The State Government, in order to attract private investment in the knowledge based industries, is setting up two self-contained mixed use and integrated information technology and knowledge industry parks spread over 1350 acres at Rajpura and 226 acres at village Jhall Thikriwala in district Kapurthala for which land has been acquired.  The IT industry has been exempted from the purview of pollution and zonal regulation.  Besides, a dedicated fund of Rs. 150 crore has been created for extending fiscal incentives to IT industries.

55.                   The State Government disbursed capital subsidy to the tune of Rs. 400 crore to industrialists till 2010-11 out of a total pending subsidy of about Rs. 500 crore and the remaining amount will be disbursed in 2011-12.  Major concessions amounting to over Rs. 300 crore have also been given under VAT and turn over tax to State’s trade and industry. The State Government has been vigorously pursuing with Government of India for sanction of cluster projects of different types of industry.  A project for handloom tools cluster, Jalandhar has already been approved by Government of India with a project cost of Rs. 79 crore and first instalment of Rs. 17 crore has been received. Besides, Government of India has agreed in principle for setting up of a foundry and machine tool cluster at Batala with a cost of Rs. 59 crore.

ROAD TRANSPORT 

56.                   A sum of Rs. 986 crore including Rs. 626 crore as State Plan budget is proposed to be spent on road infrastructure and transport in the year 2011-12.  The major allocations include:-

Rs. 350 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna for upgradation of 500 km of rural roads. The State has allocated Rs. 30 crore for land acquisition under PMGSY.

Rs. 225 crore for the World Bank assisted road sector project for the strengthening of 960 km roads in 2011-12.

Rs. 250 crore for NABARD assisted projects for upgradation of 400 km roads and 12 bridges in the State.

Rs. 100 crore towards Central Road Fund for up-gradation of existing road infrastructure. Rs. 80 crore was received from Government of India under CRF during 2010-11 and more funds are expected to be received during 2011-12.

Rs. 10 crore under Inter-State Connectivity scheme.

57.                   Punjab Mandi Board has undertaken a project of Rs. 275 crore for repair and strengthening of rural link roads, which is likely to be completed by June, 2011.  Besides, 13th Finance Commission has also recommended a grant of Rs. 620 crore for maintenance of roads on non-Plan side to be disbursed in the next 4 years.

58.                   The State Government has already constructed new bus-terminals at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur. The work of integrated bus complex at Mohali is in progress at a cost of Rs. 350 Cr. The remaining bus-stands at Patiala, Bathinda, Kapurthala and other towns would be developed in a phased manner.  An outlay of Rs. 1.60 crore has been provided for the purchase of two Volvo buses- one from Amritsar to Lahore and other from Amritsar to Nankana Sahib during 2010-11.  An outlay of Rs. 10 crore has been provided for replacement of old buses during 2011-12.

INFRASTRUCTURE

59.                   A sum of Rs. 916 crore has been allocated in the year 2011-12 for the PIDB for creation of infrastructure.  The important projects are –

Southern Bye-pass at Ludhiana/Road along Sidhwan Canal, 4 laning of Ropar-Nawanshehar-Phagwara Road, IIT Ropar (Phase-I), IIT Ropar (Phase-II), Approach road to Rajpura Thermal  Power Plant, Amritsar-Ajnala road (NH-25), Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Sarhali Harike road, 4 laning of road from Vallah Bye pass to NH-1 to NH-15, Amritsar, construction of Grade Separator at Jamalpur chowk on Chandigarh road at Ludhiana, 17 ongoing RoB's and 20 new RoB’s and 5 ongoing HLBs.

Construction of Government Medical College and Associated hospital at Amritsar, construction of Buildings/Campus at Baba Farid University for Health sciences at Faridkot, construction of Hostel Block in IIT Ropar, Girls College in Jalalabad.

Hockey stadium and multipurpose stadium at Amritsar and Gurdaspur.

Installation of reverse osmosis plants in 552 villages of 8 districts.

60.                   Punjab Infrastructure Development Board has invested Rs. 800 crore during 2010-11 for facilitating and financing investments for creation of infrastructure in irrigation, roads, urban development, medical education and other important sectors.

CIVIL AVIATION

61.                   A sum of Rs. 24 crore has been earmarked for upgradation and extension of air terminals and aerodromes. The work of upgradation and extension of Amritsar International Airport is under progress at a cost of Rs. 250 crore.  It is likely to be completed by the end of 2011-12.  The State has given 43 acres of land for this project.  The construction of International Airport at Mohali is also being taken up at the cost of Rs. 2300 crore by the Airport Authority of India.  Land measuring 305 acres has been acquired at a total cost of Rs. 461 crore. The work of converting Sahnewal air strip into a full-fledged airport has been started by the Airport Authority of India at a cost of Rs. 43 crore. The State Government has acquired 7.5 acres of land for this purpose and domestic scheduled flights have already been started.

TOURISM AND ART & CULTURE

62.                   The work of construction of memorials for Chotta and Wadda Ghallughara was started in the current year with an expenditure of Rs. 15 crore.  A sum of Rs. 34 crore was spent on Khalsa Heritage Complex in 2010-11.  For the next year 2011-12, a sum of Rs. 94 crore has been earmarked for these important projects.  A grant of Rs. 100 crore has been allocated for the next 4 years for preservation and maintenance of heritage buildings in the State by the 13th Finance Commission. Three academies namely Punjab Lalit Kala Academy, Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy, Punjab Sahitya Academy were set up in the State in the year 1981 but since long, no sufficient funds were provided for their upkeep.  Our Government shall be providing Rs. 1.50 crore for promoting cultural, artistic and literary activities of these three academies during 2011-12. Similarly, Punjabi Sahitya Academy, Ludhiana, established in 1954, shall also be provided a grant of Rs. 2 crore to add Sai Miya Mir Bhawan to Punjabi Bhawan Ludhiana for housing its library and other allied activities. Similarly, I also propose to provide a capital grant of Rs 2 crore to the The Anad Foundation, New Delhi for setting up an institute dedicated to study of devotional music at Sultanpur Lodhi. Rs 25 lakh are also being earmarked for the promotion of classical music tradition associated with Baba Harvallabh Sangeet Sammelen. The State Government shall also advance an amount of Rs 1 crore to the North Zone Cultural Centre to fulfil its objectives. Rs 40 lakh would be earmarked for other not-for-profit societies and institutions engaged in the promotion of Punjabi Language, literature and cultural activities in the State. Out of this, Rs 5 lakh each would to allocated to Punjab Jagriti Manch, Jalandhar; Punjabi Bhasha Academy, Jalandhar; Punjabi Kendri Lekhak Sabha (Regd.); Punjabi Lekhak Sabha (Sekhon); Chandigarh School of Drama, Chandigarh; Manch Rang Manch, Amritsar; Punjab Gatka Association (Regd.), and Sarang Lok, Mohali.

63.                   Asian Development Bank has approved Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for tourism with a total cost of Rs. 398 crore over 10 years.  ADB will finance 70% of this cost and the State will have to bear the rest 30%. This year’s allocation for this project is Rs. 18 crore.  The project includes an outlay of Rs 7.11 crore and Rs 11.48 crore in two phases for Sultanpur Lodhi. The State Government shall provide funds for 35 acres of land required for this purpose. Rs. 2 crore has also been provided for the construction of a hostel in the institute of Hotel Management Bathinda. The civil work at Food Craft Institute, Hoshiarpur has already been completed and diploma courses would be started from July, 2011.

RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

64.                   The State Government has set a target to cover all the villages in the State with water supply by the end of 2011-12. Out of a total of 14111 habitations, 13162 will have been covered with water supply by the end of March, 2011.  The remaining 949 not covered and 674 partially covered habitations shall be provided this facility by the end of 2011-12 at a cost of Rs. 329 crore. 

65.                   We are also conscious of the fact that ground water quality is not satisfactory in some of the villages especially in the Malwa belt.  To tackle this problem the State Government has decided to set up reverse osmosis plants in these villages.  375 RO plants have already been installed and another 238 plants shall be installed by the end of March, 2011.   Additionally, in 2011-12, 100 villages will be covered with RO plants at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.

66.                   Also 18307 drinking water and 18967 toilet facilities have been provided in the Government schools of the State under ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ programme.  Mini RO plants are also envisaged in Government schools situated in “problem” villages.  To be initially a pilot project, it shall subsequently be extended to the other districts of the State.  I am happy to announce that for the first time, as many as 152 villages in 2010-11 have qualified for Nirmal Gram Puraskar on account of having been provided with complete sanitation facilities. 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

67.                   A comprehensive programme for cleaning of three rivers of Sutlej, Beas & Ghaggar has been approved at a cost of Rs. 1842 crore under the National River Conservation Programme.  All the 35 towns whose sewerage water flows into these three rivers will be provided with water supply, sewerage facilities & sewage treatment plants.  Work has already been started in 35 towns and an amount of Rs. 276 crore has been spent for this purpose in 2010-11.  Funds for this ambitious project shall be provided by the State Government, municipal committees, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and other local area development authorities, apart from our rightful devolution from the Centre. Accordingly, an outlay of Rs. 600 crore (including GoI and ULB share) has been provided for Annual Plan 2011-12.  To check pollution by industries, 3 effluent treatment plants are being set up at Ludhiana for the dyeing electroplating industry and two such plants for leather industry have been set up at Jalandhar.  A sum of Rs. 6 crore has also been earmarked for cleaning up of Holy Bein in Kapurthala district.   A sum of Rs. 5 crore has been provided in 2011-12 for cleaning of Budha Nallah in addition to Rs. 50 crore released in the current financial year.

68.                   From the year 2007-08 onwards, the Government of India has approved 30 projects at a cost of Rs. 1196 crore under JNNURM. The expenditure incurred so far under this programme is Rs. 544 crore and an outlay of Rs. 480 crore (including GoI share) has been provided for 2011-12. The State has already initiated the process to provide high quality urban bus service in Amritsar and Ludhiana under JNNURM.  Accordingly, orders for the purchase of 200 buses for Ludhiana has already been placed and order for the purchase of 150 buses for Amritsar shall be placed shortly.  Similarly, Rs.60 crore (including GoI share) has been provided for a new centrally sponsored scheme ‘Rajiv Awaas Yojana’ to make the State slum free.

69.                     The Department of Local Government through Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) is in the process of raising a loan of Rs. 1200 crore for various infrastructure development projects in urban local bodies. 

70.                   New Town Planning norms conforming to international standards have been made. Master plans of 16 cities of Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Mullanpur, Dera Bassi, Zirakpur, Kharar, Banur, Abohar, Shri Hargobindpur, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Patiala, Gobindgarh, Amritsar, Goindwal Sahib & Khanna and the local planning areas for 68 towns have been notified. For promoting construction of houses for the poor, the purchase of land has been exempted from stamp duty, registration fee, CLU, EDC and license fee. In all Master plans 10% of the residential zone would be earmarked for housing for the poor.

HEALTH

71.                   The State Government has given top priority to augmentation of health infrastructure in terms of construction of new buildings, purchase of equipment and recruitment of the required manpower. A sum of Rs. 720 crore is proposed to be spent by the health department in 2011-12.  A special project for creation and upgradation of health infrastructure as per norms has been prepared at a cost of Rs.346 crore. Work has already begun on construction of one District Hospital at SBS Nagar, 4 Sub-divisional hospitals (at Bhulath, Tapa, Moonak, Ghudha) and 32 Community Health Centres (CHCs). Besides, all the Sub-divisional hospitals and Maternity wards are also being upgraded. Government of India in its 4th Common Review Mission Report has rated health infrastructure as excellent and placed the State at number one position.  

72.                   The BPL families are being provided healthcare free of cost in all secondary level Government hospitals. With a view to enhance the coverage in this regard, I propose to extend this benefit to the Backward Classes/ Castes (BCs) and economically weaker families whose family income is below Rs. 30000/- per annum.  An amount of Rs 25 crore shall be provided for this purpose by the State exchequer. This initiative is expected to benefit an additional 14 lac families.

73.                   I am also happy to announce the in-principle approval of the cashless medical insurance scheme for all members of the Police Department, providing free indoor treatment up to Rs 2 lac per annum to them and their dependent family members. To be implemented in conjunction with insurance companies, this scheme shall allow our jawans and their families access to some of the best private hospitals in the country, in addition to the Government hospitals to which they are already entitled.  A budgetary provision of Rs.  25 crore is being made for this purpose, and it is hoped that this would be entirely met out of the provision for the medical reimbursement that would be no longer necessary.

74.                   The Emergency Medical Response Service would be made functional by 31st March, 2011. A total of 240 ambulances would be deployed in phases (90 ambulances by March 2011, 64 by May 2011 and remaining 86 by July 2011) across the State. These ambulances would be available within 20 minutes of an emergency call from anywhere in the State by dialling a toll free number 108. The total cost of the project is Rs. 70 crore.

75.                   The State has recorded an impressive performance on reduction of infant mortality rate from 41 to 38 in the year 2009. The child sex ratio has also increased from 796 in 2001 to 841 in 2008. A sum of Rs. 250 crore has been earmarked at the rate of Rs 62.50 crore for each of the next 4 years for the purpose of improvement of sex ratio in the State of Punjab. The number of institutional deliveries in Government hospitals has increased by 3 times during the last 3 years.  To further encourage institutional deliveries, I am happy to announce a new Plan scheme, to be called “Mata Kaushalaya Kalyan Scheme”, with an outlay of Rs. 12 crore to provide Rs 1000/- cash incentive to all mothers who undergo institutional deliveries in Government hospitals. The other measures taken by the State Government to provide poor people better access to health care include free hospital deliveries, transport allowance for hospital deliveries, free treatment for all school children, free treatment in PGI and other big hospitals for Congenital Heart Disease, Cancer and Thallasemia to all school children, Jan Aushadhi Stores for supply of medicines at lower rates in all the district hospitals etc. In deference to the announcement of the Hon’ble Chief Minister in the august House in the current session, I shall be earmarking Rs 20 crore for the seed Corpus of a Cancer Relief Fund, dedicated to the welfare of cancer patients.

76.                   The State Government has constructed one State-level Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at Amritsar and one drug de-addiction centre at Civil Hospital Talwandi Sabo. Drug De-addiction Centres have already been set-up in 7 district hospitals at a cost of Rs. 5 crore and the remaining district hospitals would be covered during the year 2011-12. The State Government for the first time has notified rules governing Drug Dependence Treatment Centres, and licensing of privately run  drug de-addiction centres has been made compulsory w.e.f. 19/1/2011 for new centres and 19/4/2011 for the existing one.          

MEDICAL EDUCATION

77.                   An outlay of Rs. 129 crore has been earmarked in the year 2011-12 for Department of Medical Education.   The important projects include: -

Rs. 79 crore for upgradation of Medical/Dental Colleges

Rs. 35 crore for Baba Farid University of Health Sciences

Rs. 10 crore for Guru Ravi Dass Ayurvedic University of Hoshiarpur

Rs. 145 crore to be received from PIMS, against the erstwhile Sugarcane Farm development scheme at Jalandhar.

78.                   The Government has undertaken comprehensive upgradation of 3 Government Medical Colleges and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences at an estimated cost of Rs. 284 crore.  The works are likely to be completed by 2011-12.  This shall include the installation of the state-of-the-art medical and diagnostic equipment.

EDUCATION

79.                   Mr. Speaker Sir, Education is the single most important input in promoting human resource development.  Adequate investments in human resources will result in economic development of the State. Our Government has given greater attention to the education sector during the last 4 years. Due to our efforts, the Educational Development Index (EDI) of the State has moved from 14th position in the year 2006-07 upto 3rd position among all the states, as per the latest available figures.   The outlay for the sector has been increased by 52%.   A sum of Rs. 1441 crore has been earmarked for various schemes for 2011-12.  The important schemes are: -

Rs. 742 crore for Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme, an increase of 109% over the previous year's allocation.

Rs. 200 crore for the Mid-Day Meal scheme. 

Rs. 157 crore for the ICT Project to impart computer education from class 6th to class 12th. It includes a State share of Rs. 66 crore.

Rs. 120 crore for Rashtriya Madhyamik Sikhsha Abhiyan (RMSA) for Secondary Schools including State share of Rs. 30 crore.

Rs. 93 crore earmarked for the recruitment of teachers.

Rs. 60 crore for providing furniture in Government primary schools.

Rs. 20 crore for Saakshar Bharat Mission.

Rs. 19 crore for the operation of 21 Model Schools and 21 girls hostels in educationally backward blocks.

Rs. 10 crore for construction of Shiksha Bhawan at S.A.S. Nagar(Mohali)

80.                   To provide quality education to the poor and meritorious students, State has taken an initiative to set up 123 Adarsh schools, at least one in each Assembly Constituency.  15 Adarsh schools have already been made functional, 52 sites have been allotted to various corporate houses, another 41 MoUs have been signed and construction work has begun on 15 sites. 

81.                   Under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme, construction of 319 new schools and 18384 additional class rooms has been completed. During the last four years, 224 new Primary schools have been set up, and 834 such schools have been upgraded to the Elementary level. Thanks to the efforts of the Government, Punjab today ranks third in the Educational Development Index, after Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The “Parrho Punjab” campaign has also been eminently successful. Punjab has also taken lead in establishing Model Schools in 21 backward blocks of the State. No doubt, quality of education and infrastructure has improved with the implementation of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme.  However, there is no provision for providing furniture under this programme.  Our Government has decided to allocate Rs.60 crore for providing furniture in all Government primary schools in the State in 2011-12 in one go, so as to provide a basic amenity that was missing in our schools since Independence.  Similarly, the State Government shall provide free utensils in all schools that have been covered under the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme.  A provision amounting to Rs. 9 crore in this regard is being allocated in a new Plan scheme.

82.                   The girl students are presently not being charged any tuition fee in Government schools up to Class 10th. However, they are still required to make a contribution towards some local funds being administered by the schools. To make the education of the girls genuinely free up to class 12, I propose to provide Rs 26 crore so that their education till class 12 becomes “free” in the actual sense of the term.

83.                   Although elementary schools in the State are quite approachable, yet the High Schools and Senior Secondary schools in the villages can be at quite some distance. This acts as a strong disincentive to the continued education of the girls in the State. I accordingly propose a new Plan scheme, to be called “Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme” with an outlay of Rs 75 crore, to provide free bicycles to all girl students studying in classes 11th and12th in all Government schools.  This scheme shall be implemented on a continued basis. Resources permitting, we shall strive to extend this scheme to all girl students studying in 9th and 10th classes.

84.                   The State Government is already supplying free text books to all students and free uniforms to all SC and BPL students upto class 8 in Government schools.  To make the elementary education truly free in the spirit of the Right to Education Act, I propose to also extend this facility of free uniforms to the children of Backward Classes/ Castes (BCs) and economically weaker families, with annual income up to Rs 30,000.  To commemorate the sacrifice of Bhai Jaita ji (Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh ji), this scheme with an outlay of Rs 16 crore shall be named after him.

85.                   21 new Model Schools have been made functional in the State in the educationally backward blocks spread over seven districts.  21 Girls Hostels are also nearing completion in these blocks. 70 middle schools have been upgraded to secondary schools and another 79 such schools are being upgraded under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.  As many as 351 rural schools have been upgraded through a NABARD assisted project of Rs. 142 crore. For effective implementation of Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the required notifications have been issued. 

86.                   The State Government, subject to legal advice, also intends to restore the pension to the teachers of the State-Aided schools, who were deprived of the same by the previous Government, by incorporating a provision in the statutory rules.  The amount spent thereon shall be debited to the pension’s head, rather than the budget allocation of the School Education Department.

HIGHER EDUCATION

87.                   I am happy to announce that our Government has provided Rs. 229 crore for Higher Education and Languages in the Annual Plan 2011-12 which is a 264% increase over the year 2010-11.  The important schemes are:-

Rs. 135 crore for the 17 new post graduate degree colleges to be set up in rural areas by Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University and Punjab University.

Rs. 70 crore for strengthening infrastructure of Government colleges in the State.

Rs. 10 crore for the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law.

Rs. 5 crore for Government Colleges Jalalabad, Amargarh and Talwara.

88.                  State Government has notified Punjab Private Universities Policy, 2010 for the setting up of self financed private universities. In 2010-11, 3 private universities have been approved.  Languages Department is consigned with the twin responsibilities of nurturing the growth of various languages, especially Punjabi as well as enforcing the provisions of the Official Languages Act. With a view to strengthen this department, its Plan and non-Plan allocation for the year 2011-12 is being doubled from the current levels to Rs. 2.88 crore and Rs. 12.09 crore respectively. I also propose to allocate Rs 30 lakh to the Languages Department of the State for setting up its own printing unit.

89.                   17 new post graduate degree colleges are being set up in the educationally backward districts where Gross Enrolment Ratio is low and shall be made functional from July, 2011. While the capital contribution for the construction of these colleges has already been provided, Rs. 1.5 crore per college per annum shall be provided to each university to run these colleges at affordable fees. This is in addition to the 50% increase in the grant-in-aid to Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University and Guru Angad Dev University of Veterinary Sciences, which is being provided on the non-Plan side of this Budget. In addition, the existing Government degree colleges shall be provided funds on a lasting basis to re-furbish and upgrade their infrastructure. An amount of Rs. 70 crore is being provided in the year 2011-12 for this purpose, under the appropriate Plan scheme.  Indian School of Business (ISB), which is being set up at Knowledge City Mohali on 70 acres of land will become functional in April, 2012.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION 

90.                   A sum of Rs. 124 crore has been allocated for technical education in 2011-12 for: -

Rs. 48 crore for up-gradation of 35 Industrial Training Institutes into Centres of Excellence which includes State share of Rs. 12 crore.

Rs. 35 crore for the NABARD Project for up-gradation of 6 technical institutions into multidisciplinary academies.

Rs. 18.50 crore for up-gradation of Government Polytechnics and ITIs.

Rs. 14 crore for implementation of Technical Education and Quality Improvement Programme which includes State share of Rs. 3.39 crore.

7 new Polytechnics at a cost of Rs. 12 crore each.

SPORTS & YOUTH SERVICES

91.                   Mr Speaker Sir, with a view to promote sporting excellence and also to wean away our youth from the potential hazards to drugs and intoxication, our Government has notified New Sports Policy, 2010. It will enable us to achieve dominance in sports both at national and international level. The priority of the State Government is to create sports infrastructure facilities of international standards.  Medal winners of Asian and Commonwealth Games have been honoured recently by the State Government with disbursement of cash awards worth Rs 7.54 crore. I propose to effect a steep increase in the allocation for Sports and Youth Services in 2011-12. Our Government shall be earmarking Rs 142 crore, out of which Rs 22 crore shall be out of budgetary sources, for the construction/ upgradation of 6 hockey stadiums, 7 multipurpose stadiums and the Centre of Excellence in Sports at Jalandhar. To be dedicated to the pious memory of Sahibzada Ajit Singh, our Government intends to institute scholarships worth Rs 10,000 per annum for top 1100 sportspersons covering all the eleven recognized sports disciplines. Similarly, 1100 scholarships worth Rs 5000 per annum shall be instituted in the memory of Sahibzada Fateh Singh for the junior sportspersons below the age of 16 years. These two schemes shall be earmarked Rs 16.5 crore.  A dynamic and objective criteria shall be formulated for this rating exercise, which shall be carried out on annual basis. To further promote the culture of physical fitness, we shall be distributing gymnasium equipment throughout the State, at an outlay of Rs 15 crore. This scheme shall be named after Sahibzada Jujhar Singh. Another Rs 10 crore shall be earmarked for distribution of sports equipment, material and kits etc., in the memory of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh.

The important schemes to be implemented are: -

Rs. 13.03 crore for Panchayati Yuva Krida Khel Abhiyan which includes State share of Rs. 3.26 crore,

Rs. 5 crore for Rural Youth/Sports Clubs, and

Rs. 5 crore for establishment of Yuva Bhawan at Chandigarh.

Rs. 3 crore for World Kabbadi Cup.

Rs 2 crore as grant-in-aid to the Punjab Sports Council for the conduct of the 6-nation Champion’s Trophy tournament in the State.

Rs 3 crore as discretionary fund to be placed at the disposal of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and the Finance Minister to promote various sports and games, as additional grant-in-aid to the Punjab Sports Council.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

92.                   The State is committed to ensure the conservation of our natural resources and their sustainable use not only for the present but also for future generations.  An outlay of Rs. 11.42 crore has been provided for Ecology & Environment Sector for the purpose of protection of the environment, supporting climate resilient agriculture, promoting biodiversity conservation and combating water and air pollution.

93.                   Three national level institutes - National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Bio processing Unit and Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST) have been set up with the assistance of Government of India in Knowledge City, Mohali.  The cost of these projects is Rs. 522 crore.  These institutes have already started working from the transit campus at Mohali.  Rs. 5 crore has been earmarked in 2011-12 for various scientific research schemes including Bio-Technology Incubator, promoting green technologies and students’ visits to Science City at Kapurthala.

94.                   The Government has initiated a series of programmes for generation of power from renewable sources of energy.  Major projects planned are: (a) 30 Mini-Hydel Projects of 36.90 MW capacity have been commissioned, 33 more such projects have been allotted to various agencies.  (b) 32 bio mass cogeneration power projects of 335.50 MW have been commissioned and 25 more projects of 290.50 MW capacity are under implementation.  (c) 6 Solar Wind Hybrid systems of 30 MW capacity have also been commissioned.  (d) 6 Solar Power Projects of 13.5 MW capacity have already been allotted and a plan to generate additional 100 MW of Solar Power is being drawn up.  The State Government has already initiated a programme for replacement of incandescent lamps with energy efficient CFLs.  A sum of Rs. 12 crore has been allocated for Non-Conventional Sources of Energy.

BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

95.                   Under Border Area Development Programme, an amount of Rs. 22.25 crore is being provided by Government of India for the 19 border blocks for upgrading infrastructure related to agriculture and allied sector, education, health, infrastructure and social sectors. On account of good performance in utilization of funds, the State Government was rewarded with an additional grant of Rs. 7.90 crore for high level bridge at Ghaniya ke Bet, district Gurdaspur.  Apart from this, 13th Finance Commission has recommended a grant of Rs. 250 crore (2011-15) for up-gradation of power, road connectivity, health infrastructure and water supply & sanitation.  Out of this, Rs. 62.50 crore has been proposed for 2011-12. 

SOCIAL SECURITY

96.                   The outlay for Social Security has been increased by 24% to Rs. 924 crore.   A sum of Rs. 591 crore has been earmarked for old age and other pensions to 19.70 lac beneficiaries. Besides, 1.84 lac BPL beneficiaries would receive an additional pension under National Social Assistance Programme. The payment of old-age pensions has been made up-to-date and all old arrears have been cleared. The State Government is actively pursuing a programme to disburse these pensions at the homes of the beneficiaries, through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Scheme, in collaboration with banks. As a gender measure, I propose to lower the qualifying age limit for old-age pension in case of women to 58 years from the 60 years at present. Adequate provision shall accordingly be made to accommodate the increased scope of this scheme.

97.                   A new centrally sponsored scheme namely ‘Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)’ has been included in the Annual Plan 2011-12 with an outlay of Rs. 7.27 crore for the protection of rights of children.  To uplift the social status of girls belonging to BPL families and to reduce their school drop-out rate, I intend to introduce a new scheme to be called “Bebe Nanaki Ladli Beti Kalyan Scheme” for providing benefit of Rs 15,000 at the birth of a girl child. This amount shall be invested in the name of the child with the Life Insurance Corporation of India and enhanced payments shall be made available to the girl at various stages of her life. A budgetary allocation of Rs.16.50 crore is accordingly being made. This benefit shall, however, be restricted only upto two girls per family. The scheme can also be customised to provide for progressive release of funds, linked with the girl’s education.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

98.                   Our Government has given top priority to the Women Empowerment. Various schemes are being implemented for the welfare of women aiming at enhancing women’s access to resources and to the benefits of the development of the nation. For further economic empowerment of women, the Government has reduced the stamp duty for properties transferred in favour of women from 4% to 3%.   An allocation of Rs. 1648 crore has been made as women component under various programmes in the Annual Plan  2011-12, which include for Shagun scheme – Rs. 130 crore,  for Widow Pension scheme – Rs.80 crore, for Free bicycle to girl students, as referred to before – Rs. 75 crore, for improving sex ratio– Rs. 63 crore, for attendance scholarship to SC primary girl students – Rs. 22 crore, for Rajiv Gandhi ‘Sabla’ scheme- Rs. 16 crore, for ‘Bebe Nanaki Ladli Beti Kalyan’ Scheme – Rs. 16.50 crore, for totally free education for girls—Rs 26 crore, attendance scholarship for Backward Class/Caste girls and  those belonging to Economically Weaker sections - Rs 5 crore (token), lowering  the qualifying age for women in Old-age Pension Scheme from 60 years to 58 years; for the overarching Nanhi Chhan Umbrella Programme for women and girl welfare – Rs.10 crore.

99.                   A sum of Rs. 135 crore has been earmarked for Integrated Child Development Services (SNP) during 2011-12 to provide supplementary nutrition to over 15 lac children and pregnant mothers. At present, we have 26656 Anganwadi Centres functioning in the State. Besides, Rs. 18 crore have been kept to provide nutrition to the adolescent girls and promote awareness about health hygiene, family and child care etc. In addition, Rs. 10 crore is provided for the construction of buildings of Anganwadi Centres in the State.

PENSION TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS

100.                We can never adequately discharge our debt to the Freedom Fighters. The pension of freedom fighters and the families was increased by our Government from Rs. 3000/- per month to Rs. 4250/- per month in 2010-11.  I propose to further increase it to Rs. 5000/- per month.

WELFARE OF SCHEDULED CASTES/BACKWARD CLASSES

101.                Mr. Speaker Sir, Our Government has special concern for the well-being of the socially disadvantaged sections of the society, who are beset with socio-economic and educational backwardness, for which an outlay of Rs. 275 crore has been earmarked during 2011-12.  In addition to providing shagun of Rs. 15000/-  to SCs and Christian girls, our Government has decided to effect a quantum increase in the coverage of this scheme by extending it to girls belonging to the Backward Classes/ Castes (BC),  and other economically weaker families, with a new overall income limit of Rs 30,000/- per annum. The new income limit shall also become prospectively applicable to the SC and Christian girls/families. A substantially increased sum of Rs. 130 crore is, therefore, being earmarked for shagun scheme in the Annual Plan 2011-12. A special campaign shall be launched to clear all the pending arrears of this scheme, within the first quarter of the next financial year 2011-12. If need be, the proposed allocation shall be enhanced suitably but paucity of funds shall not be allowed to be a constraint in the smooth functioning of this flagship welfare scheme.

To meet the long standing demand of different communities, Ravidas Bhawan, Valmiki Bhawan and Masih Bhawan, dedicated to our great saints and prophets, shall be constructed during 2011-12.  Rs. 2 crore shall also be earmarked for the integrated development of the holy Ram Tirath in Amritsar district, which houses the Maharishi Valmiki sthall. A memorial in the honour of Guru Ravi Das ji at village Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district shall also be constructed, apart from the integrated development of the village, at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Rs. 90 crore have been earmarked for Attendance Scholarships to Primary girl students and students belonging to SCs, grant-in-aid for purchase of school bags, uniforms, shoes, construction of Ambedkar Bhawans, SC Dharamshalas and houses for houseless SCs including conversion of kachha houses into pacca houses.  A sum of Rs. 3318 crore has been earmarked for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan out of the total Plan size of Rs. 11500 crore, which is in proportion to SC population in the State. Attendance scholarship at the Primary School level shall now be extended to all girl students, students of Backward Classes and Castes (BCs) and economically weaker students with a family income less than Rs 30,000 per annum

DECENTRALIZED PLANNING

102.                The State Government has constituted District Planning Committees for all the districts of the State. From the year 2010-11, the Administrative Departments are implementing the District Level Plan Schemes through District Planning Committees (DPCs).  An outlay of Rs.474.12 crore has been provided for 2011-12 under the various district level Plan schemes.

DEFENCE SERVICES WELFARE

103.                The Government is conscious of its duty towards the welfare of martyrs/soldiers and their families and to that extent I propose Rs. 2 crore for providing grant of Rs. 5 lac each for purchase of plot or house for the widows of martyrs or disabled soldiers and Rs. 6 crore for construction of Sainik Rest Houses and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum, Ludhiana.  We have also decided to raise the allowances of all our war decorated soldiers by 40%.  Our Government is granting old age pension to World War II non- pensioners at the rate of Rs. 1000/- per month.  An ex-gratia grant of  Rs. 2.00 lac each to parents and the widow of martyrs is being  given.   War Jagir at the rate of Rs. 5000/- per annum is also being given.  An outlay of Rs. 13 crore has been allocated for defence services welfare in the Annual Plan 2011-12.

EMPLOYMENT GENERATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT

104.                Mr. Speaker Sir, the Government is seriously concerned about the problem of unemployment in the State.  We are making all out efforts to enhance the employability of our youth by imparting job specific vocational skills as well as soft skills.  The State has already setup a driving and automotive skills centre in collaboration with TATA Motors at Mahuana in district Muktsar. Besides, a centre for skill development in construction industry in collaboration with L&T is operational in village Abulkhurana in District Muktsar since October, 2009.  The retail centre setup in Amritsar in collaboration with Bharti-Wall Mart has trained about 1530 candidates and provided employment. Similarly, security services related training courses are being run successfully at Police Training Centre in Jahan Khelan, Hoshiarpur and Ladda Kothi, Sangrur.  I am happy to report that since the inception of these centres, 4440 candidates have been successfully employed.

105.                An outlay Rs. 28 crore has been allocated in the Annual Plan 2011-12, out of which Rs. 7 crore has been earmarked for C-PYTE centres.  At present the number of centres in the State is 16, which will be increased to 20 in the year 2011-12.  Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute is also being established at Mohali to prepare students for NDA exam. A sum of Rs. 15 crore has been provided as corpus for this purpose in 2011-12.

GOVERNANCE REFORMS

106.                Punjab Governance Reforms Commission (PGRC) was set up to improve the welfare of the disadvantaged, marginalised and deprived sections in Punjab and achieve good Governance based on high ethical standards. The Commission in its 3 reports suggested a number of changes in the process, procedure, rules and regulation and design of public services. The Punjab Government, in a path breaking decision decided to do away with filing of affidavits except in cases where it is mandatory by law.

107.                Also to ensure right to dignity, a wide network of Community Policing Centres have been set up. Around 400 such centres will provide immediate relief to people especially women and poor, counselling services to resolve disputes and other services like copies of FIRs, various no objection certificates, verification of passports, armed licenses etc. In the revenue department to check delays and harassment, copies of jamabandis will be provided on-line and number of appeals have been restricted to one in case of contested mutations.

108.                The Government has accepted the recommendations of the commission to legislate an act to ensure delivery of services as right to the citizens. The citizens would be entitled to around 48 services in a stipulated time from various departments like Revenue, Local Government, Electricity, Police, Food and Civil Supplies, Health and Transport.  The Act will be enacted soon.

109.                We also propose to provide Rs. 6.50 crore as support to MGSIPA for infrastructure, capacity building Programmes and R&D studies in Public Administration and Governance.  This Institute has also set up a Performance Management Division to implement Results Framework Documents in various spheres of governance.  Punjab is the first State in India to introduce this system.

110.                It gives me great satisfaction to announce that the Punjab Government will be the first State in the country to introduce comprehensive excellence awards with effect from the next year to recognize and motivate exemplary initiatives, innovations and performances by the public servants, government bodies and others in various spheres of public policy and administration.  A sum of Rs. 30 lac has been allocated for this purpose.

111.                The recruitment at various levels in the Government had been frozen during most of the tenure of the previous Government.   As a result the working of some of the departments was adversely affected, particularly in the important departments like Health and Education.  The recruitment had not taken place after 1999-2000 and working of some of the institutions had been miserably affected.  The present Government has given special emphasis to filling up the vacant posts of teachers, doctors and paramedics in the departments of Education and Health and other critical posts in all the departments.  Merit and Transparency has been the hallmark of all the recruitments made by our Government. 

112.                The detail of major recruitments drives are as under:-

124 Medical Specialists, 572 Medical Officers, 1445 staff nurses, 1700 ANMs, 309 Ayurvedic and Homeopathy doctors and 400 other paramedics  have been recruited after a gap of 10 years,

528 staff nurses, 13 radiographers, 37 ancillary and 240 Class-IV on contract basis and the recruitment of 219 more staff nurses and 38 ancillary staff would be done soon.

47115 teachers and 2761 non-teaching staff have been recruited in the last 4 years and the recruitment of other 3079 teachers is in process. 

209 excise and taxation officers and inspectors and 76 clerks have been recruited.

4948 constables have been recruited and the recruitment of other 6250 constables is under process, which will be completed by April, 2011.

946 auditors including junior auditor and inspectors in the department of Food & Supply have been recruited and the recruitment for 587 posts is under process.

OTHER INITIATIVES

113.                Other important initiatives planned are :-

To strengthen infrastructure for administration of justice, we have earmarked a minimum Rs. 50 crore for construction of judicial complexes in the State in 2011-12. This can be suitably enhanced during the course of the year, if required.

A sum of Rs. 50 crore has been earmarked for police training for 2011-12 and Rs 2 crore to set up a cell, headed by an IG rank officer, at the Police Headquarters to deal exclusively with NRI complaints.

 

A sum of Rs. 62.50 crore has been earmarked for development of Kandi areas.

Recruitment of 8027 employees on regular basis covering various Government departments. This is apart from the recruitment in the Police Department.

Regularisation of the services of various categories of daily wage, contractual and work-charge workers, benefitting an estimated 8000 employees.

A sum of Rs. 10 crore has been allocated for the construction of Vit-Yojana Bhawan at Chandigarh.

 

BUDGET ESTIMATES 2011-12

114.                Mr. Speaker, Sir, I now present before this august House the Budget Estimates for the financial year 2011-12 which are as under:

            Consolidated Fund                                     (Rs. in crore)

1.                          Revenue Account-                           

Receipts                                                         32026.76            

Expenditure                                                  35405.75     

Net                                                                  (-) 3378.99               

2.               Capital Expenditure-                                  5418.34

 

3.               Public Debt-                                                

  Debt incurred                                                13122.94                  

  Payments                                                        7686.41         

  Net                                                                  (+) 5436.53        

4.               Loans and Advances-

  Advances                                                       84.35

  Recoveries                                                     80.35                  

  Net                                                                  (-) 4.00                        

5.                  Total Consolidated Fund       

  (Net) (No. 1 to 4 above)                              (-) 3364.80   

6.                  Public Account (Net)-                                        

(GPF, GIS, Calamity Relief Fund/ Disaster Management Fund,          

Civil Deposits etc.)                          (+) 3408.81

7.                  Total Transaction (5+6)-              (+) 44.01

8.                  Opening Balance-                                       (-) 260.73

9.                  Closing Balance-                                         (-) 216.72

 

CONCLUSION

Mr. Speaker Sir,

115.                This is a tax-free Budget in the sense that no new taxes are being proposed. The increased resources shall become available on account of the buoyancy in the economy of the State, enabled at least in part by the enlightened policies of the Government and better tax administration, through public cooperation. I have tried to be as realistic as possible in my estimates and I am sure that with the active involvement of the one and all, the qualitative and quantitative targets set out in this Budget shall be achieved. I must reiterate my firm belief that the Shiromani Akali Dal – Bharatiya Janata Party Government shall continue to serve the people of Punjab with added vigour and make Punjab the most prosperous State in the country.

116.                Sir, I also wish to record my sincere gratitude to our beloved Chief Minister, Sardar Parkash Singh Badal ji and our dynamic Deputy Chief Minister, Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal ji for their enlightened guidance throughout. I also thank you Mr Speaker, sir, all my esteemed Cabinet colleagues, and all the members of this August House for their invaluable suggestions. In particular, I record my appreciation in respect of Sh. Raj Khurana, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Finance for his constant support. I must also express my appreciation for the hard work and labour put in by the officers and staff of the Department of Finance as well as Planning Department, who have worked diligently to complete this expansive Budgetary exercise.

In the end, may I make a fervent appeal to all the honourable members of this august House  and the brave and hard-working people of this great State, with a deep sense of love and humility, to rededicate ourselves, work together and make our State the truly number one  and the most prosperous State in the Union of India.

 

117.                Sir, with these words, I commend the Budget proposals for the year 2011-12 to this august House for approval.

Jai Hind!

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BADAL PLEADS FOR A GENUINE FEDERAL STRUCTURE IN COUNTRY TO ENSURE FINANCIAL AUTONOMY TO STATES

PUNJAB IS POISED FOR ECONOMIC RESURGENCE

CHANDIGARH MARCH 11:

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called for setting up of a genuinely federal structure in the country and demanded that the constitution be amended to grant fiscal autonomy to the states. 

Winding up the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister also demanded that the word “federal” be added to the preamble of the Constitution to ensure this, adding ”Centre is eating up all resources and the states have been reduced the level of dignified municipalities”.  Mr. Badal said that state governments were in the best position to understand and address the problems of the people at the grass root level. “We are for a federal India. Strong states mean a strong India and therefore, it is in the interest of the country to grant autonomy to the states. He said that the top-down approach to development has failed miserably and it is time to turn to the grass root approach.

Demanding the transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas, left out of the state to Punjab, Mr. Badal also raised the issue of river waters and asked the Centre to settle this long pending dispute as per the national and internationally accepted Riparian Principle without any further delay.

Lashing at the Centre for its apathetic and discriminatory attitude towards Punjab, Mr. Badal said that it had always betrayed Punjab on every front, be it agriculture, industry and even on the infrastructure development. He said that Central policies were inimical for the interests of Punjab and they deliberately devised stringent parameters for the eligibility of the centrally sponsored schemes and grants. He however, said that the Centre merely showed lip sympathy towards our hard working Punjabi farmers for their contribution in the national food pool but never bothered to make a substantial hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) in view of ever increasing costs of agricultural inputs including diesel, fertilizers and pesticides. 

Mr. Badal also declared that Punjab economy has turned a decisive corner and the “state is poised firmly for an unprecedented economic resurgence.”  The Chief Minister said; "The development seen in the state over the past four years has no parallel in the history of the state and its economic position is looking far healthier than what we inherited it. Things which were not even dreamt of by anyone four years ago have been made possible. The debt-GSDP ratio has been decisively brought down from 46% during the Congress regime to just 30.5% now. The state has moved many, many steps up the national ladder in key areas like power, infrastructure development, agriculture, education, health, employment generation, transport and environment“.  The bold initiatives taken by the government has resulted in considerably improving the financial health of the state in the four years. Prudent economic polices and management has resulted in whopping increase in VAT collection, almost 100% from Rs. 5136 crore to Rs. 11000 crore during the current fiscal which is likely to cross the mark of Rs. 13000 crore by March 2012. Likewise, there has been an impressive hike in the Excise revenue from Rs. 1363 crore during the previous Congress government to Rs. 2500 crore in 2010-11 which is likely to touch the target of Rs.3200 crore during the year 2011-12.

“The revenue generation has seen revolutionary improvement. We had inherited a Punjab that stood on the brink of a fiscal emergency and we have not only pulled it out of that hole but brought it to a level where it looks forward to its future with renewed confidence and optimism,” said the Chief Minister. He said that while the Opposition kept talking about financial constraints of the state, we not only stepped up the pace of development many, many times but did so while unfailingly implementing unprecedented social welfare schemes.

Showing satisfaction over the tremendous increase in the states' own Tax Revenue, Gross Domestic Product and Capital expenditure, Mr. Badal mentioned that tax revenue has increased from Rs.9017 crore during the Congress government in 2006-07 to Rs.16,308 crore in the SAD-BJP government during the current fiscal.  The states' own tax revenue was likely to increase to approximately Rs.21000 crore during the year 2011-12.  Likewise, the GSDP at current price has increased from Rs.1,26,791 crore in the Congress regime to Rs.2,54,931 crore, almost doubled in the five years.  Yearly average Capital expenditure during the Congress rule was Rs.1189 crore which has been more than the double i.e. Rs.2569 crore in the SAD-BJP government. 

           For the first time ever, the issue of central debt and loan waiver was also placed on the record of the House. “There never was and there still is not any offer of a waiver– Rs. 35000 crore or any figure from the Government of India to Punjab. I fail to understand what all this tall talk is about. If anyone has any shred of any evidence on the central offer in this regard, I invite him or her to place it before the House so that it could be discussed on the basis of something more than thin air“, declared the Chief Minister.

            Quoting from the government of India documents, Mr. Badal ridiculed the impression that the debt was the result of the policies of the Punjab government. “How illiterate can you get, I had left Punjab as a surplus state in 1980. When I came back in 1997, I found the state reeling under a central debt. All this loan  had been accumulated when I was not even in government. For nearly two decades when the debt mounted, the state was ruled either by the Congress or directly by the Center. Not a single penny of this loan had been taken by us for pushing our own development or social welfare schemes. Records will show that this debt mounted during central regime here and the subsequent Congress governments did nothing to get it waived. The only debt waiver that Punjab has seen so far is that of Special term Loan of Rs. 8300 crore waived by the then Prime Minister Mr. I K Gujral during my previous tenure as Chief Minister.

Dwelling on the major initiatives taken in the power sector to make Punjab as a power surplus state in the near future, Mr. Badal said that to fulfill this commitment, work had already commenced at Thermal Plants at Talwandi Sabo (2640 MW), Goindwal Sahib (540 MW) and Rajpura Thermal Project (2100 MW).  Under the Power Generation Policy 2010 of the Punjab Government, MoUs for 5850 MW capacity addition have been signed with various developers. This includes 700 MW expansion at Rajpura, 660 MW expansion at Talwandi Sabo, 1350 MW Thermal Power Plant at Village Gobindpura under District Mansa, 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant at Kot Shamir in District Bathinda, 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant at Goindwal Sahib & 500 MW Gas based Power Plant near Rajpura.  In addition to these projects, the execution of 2640 MW Gidderbaha Thermal Power Plant would be carried out by NTPC. Total investment in generation sector in the State by private developers and NTPC would be to the tune of Rs.75,000 crore. Execution of 206 MW Shahpur Kandi and 18 MW Mukerian Phase-II Hydel Projects was also in full swing.

The Chief Minister said that another ambitious programme of Rs.2111 crore for the cleaning of river Satluj (Rs.1376 crore), river Beas (Rs.222 crore) and river Ghaggar (Rs. 513 crore) to provide water supply, sewerage and sewage treatment plants in 45 towns was under execution and would be completed by November 2011.  

Mr. Badal said that an amount of Rs. 800 crore had been released for integrated development of rural infrastructure in the villages across the state during the last four years.  He pointed out that a sum of Rs.224 crore was being spent to provide latrines to the people in the state. 

The Chief Minister said that strenuous efforts have been made to revamp the education infrastructure at all levels be it school, college and university.  Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Ropar, Indian School of Business (ISB) at Mohali, Central University at Bathinda besides had already been established and classes were on.  He said that World Class University at Amritsar was being also set up besides two private universities one DAV University at Jalandhar and another Chitkara University at Banur had been established.   Besides, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University at Sir Fatehgarh Sahib would be made functional soon.   As many as 17 degree colleges, 7 hi- tech govt. polytechnic colleges, 21 model schools, 21 girl hostels and 118 Adarsh Schools were being set up in the state to provide quality education to the students. Record recruitment of 51376 school teachers in all cadres have been undertaken in a transparent and fair manner.  Even the technical, medical education & research have been restructured and modernized according to the felt needs of the society.  The Chief Minister also mentioned that a sum of Rs.400 crore was being spent on the upgradation of infrastructure in the medical colleges of Amritsar, Patiala, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Faridkot and its constituent Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital. A plan of Rs 346 crore for upgradation of infrastructure and equipment in the hospitals to provide the best medical and health care facilities to the people was under implementation.   Apart from this Sri Guru Ravi Dass Ayurveda University was being set up at Hoshiarpur. 

To ensure comprehensive development of all the cities and towns, Mr. Badal said that the SAD-BJP government has spent Rs. 4326.43 crore to provide basic civic amenities in four years where as the previous Congress government (2002-07) merely spent Rs. 1207 crore in five years.   He said that funds to the tune of Rs.442 crore have been tied up to provide these civic amenities in these 83 towns out of 141 towns in the first phase and the remaining 58 towns would be taken up in the subsequent phase. 

Reiterating his commitment to maintain peace and law and order in the State at every cost, Mr. Badal equivocally declared that "Punjab Government was fully alive to its responsibility to maintain peace and amity in the state and no one would be allowed to disturb peace in the state”.

On the major initiative of employment generation, Mr. Badal said that the state government had so far recruited 68000 persons in various departments and the process for the recruitment to fill up 17,380 vacant posts was under way and 85,485 posts would be soon filled through a special recruitment drive.  It may be recalled that the previous Congress government recruited only 23,366 persons during its tenure of five years. 

Referring to the initiatives taken in the filed of skill development, Mr. Badal said that it was another priority sector of the government to generate employment potential for our unemployed youth.  We have tied up with Bharti Wal Mart to impart training in retailing, logistics and supply chain management, L&T for construction skills and Tata Motors for driving and automotive skill.   Maharaja Ranjit Singh Preparatory Institute for Military Training at Mohali at cost of Rs.10 crore, besides two NCC academies at Ropar & Malout were being set up to secure the placement of our youth in the deference services.  A Naval academy is also being set up at Ropar to impart training in merchant navy.

To perpetuate the rich legacy of our cultural heritage amongst our younger generations, the state government has already made and endeavour to construct three historic memorials at a cost of Rs. 95 crore at Chappar Chiri in SAS Nagar, Chak Abdalwari in Gurdaspur and Kup Rohira in Sangrur district to commemorate the victory of Sirhind by the legendary Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and in the memory of Wadda and Chhota Ghallughara martyrs respectively. Work on these memorials was in full swing.  Mr. Badal also mentioned that Rs.180 crore had already been spent on the upgradation & development of various projects in Sri Anandpur Sahib & Talwandi Sabo as a part of the tercentenary celebrations of Gurta Gaddi Diwas. A sum of Rs. 18 crore has been spent on the holy Ram Tirath Temple of Bhagwan Valmiki ji in Amritsar for its beautification and connectivity. The government has decided to construct a world-class memorial at a cost of Rs. 10 crore at village Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district to pay tributes to Sri Guru Ravi Dass ji.  Besides, the Government has also undertaken a comprehensive plan to develop village Ghuman in Gurdaspur district associated with Bhagat Naamdev ji. Likewise, Bhagwan Parshuram Taposthali is also being developed at village Khatti in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar to pay respect to Bhagwan Parshuram ji.   A Rs. 90 crore project of Golden Temple Entrance Plaza is in the advanced stage of implementation and rapid transport system was also being introduced in Amritsar shortly to enable the devotees to pay obeisance at Golden Temple in a hassle free manner.  Naina Devi temple is being connected with Sri Anandpur Sahib through ropeway to facilitate the pilgrims to visit the holy temple. 

In the concluding remarks, Mr. Badal said that the SAD-BJP government during the past four years have turned a new leaf in revenue generation, infrastructure development, employment & skill development, power generation, governance reforms international air connectivity, education, health care, rural and urban development.  "We have declared 2011 – as the year of Transformation for Punjab in which the state would enter the decisive phase of the era of new age-development.  The path breaking initiatives undertaken by the state government would be taken to their logical climax in this year. However, the last four years proved to be the most satisfied period of my political career in terms of service to the state.  We have been successfully able to create excellent environment for good governance, responsive administration and efficient service delivery system", said Mr. Badal.
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DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION FROM APRIL 4, 2011 

Chandigarh, March 11:

Central Committee of Examination, Punjab is organizing the next departmental examination of certain categories of Officers/Officials from April 4 to April 8, 2011 at local Lajpat Rai Bhawan in two shifts i.e. from 9.00 A.M. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that these categories includes Assistant Commissioners/ Extra Assistant Commissioners, I.P.S officers, Civil Judges (Junior Division), Tehsildars/ Revenue Officials, Officers of Forest Department I.F.S., Officers of the Agriculture/ Soil Conservation Services/Horticulture Services, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries department, Wardens/Inspectors of Wild Life Preservation department, Officers/Officials of the department of Jails, Excise and Taxation department, Cooperation, Dairy Development, Block Development and Panchayat Officers, Lady Circle Supervisors of Rural Development and Panchayat Department and Officers of Labour & Employment Departments.

The spokesman further said that those IAS/IPS/PCS (Executive Branch), PCS (Judicial) and other officers who intend to appear in the said examination should send their applications to the Additional Secretary to Government Punjab, Department of Personal and Secretary, Central Committee of Examination (PCS Branch), Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, through their Departments in the prescribed Performa by 20th March, 2011. No direct application will be entertained under any circumstances. Incomplete applications will be rejected and no Roll No. will be issued. The candidate, who does not get his Roll No. by 28th March, 2011 should contact the Central Committee of Examinations, the spokesman added.

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        Demands of Nurses Association agreed in principle by Chief Minister, Punjab

Chandigarh, 11th March:

S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab here today agreed in principle to implement the demands regarding Pay Scale and Allowances of the Staff Nurses in Punjab, while expressing these as genuine. This was disclosed here today by Dr J.P. Singh, Director Health & Family Welfare, Punjab. He told that representatives of Staff Nurses including Satya Jain, Raj Bedi, Paramjit Kaur Hundal and others met the Chief Minister, today evening in his chamber situated in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, where Chief Minister has assured them that necessary action with regard to their demands would be taken in the next 12 to 14 days. In this regard Chief Minister has asked Sh S.C. Aggarwal, Chief Secretary and Sh Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary Health to study the additional financial burden to meet these demands and put up proposal so that a formal appropriate announcement can be made in this regard. Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Health & Family Welfare Minister was also present during the meeting, who also termed the demands of these Nurses as genuine and asserted the Chief Minister to agree them.

Sh Gagandip Singh Brar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr J.P. Singh Director, Health Services, Punjab and Sh V.K. Bhalla, Additional Secretary Health were amongst the others present during the occasion.

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SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL ANNOUNCES ORGANISATIONAL SET UP OF BC WING, 83 MEMBER WORKING COMMITTEE AND DISTRICT PRESIDENTS

Chandigarh, March 10 : Shiromani Akali Dal President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has announced the organisational set up of the Backward Classes wing of the party after deliberations with the President of wing and Cabinet Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabria. Senior party leader Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Bibi Jagir Kaur and Dr. Ratan Singh Ajanal have been nominated Patrons of the wing.

            Disclosing this in a statement issued from the party headoffice here today party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that all the sections of the society have got due representation in the set up. He said that leaders serving the party since long have been given important posts.  He said that senior leaders who have been nominated as Senior Vice President include Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Nand Lal,  Advocate Partap Singh, Senior leader of the Delhi unit Avtar Singh Hit,  Thekedar Ranjit Singh Patiala, S. Baldev Singh Mamujoian, Bawa Singh Arthi, Nirmal Singh SS, Harjit Singh Adaltiwala,  Jarnail Singh Dogranwala,  Ravinder Singh Nagi,  Swarn Singh Josh,  Jathedar Tara Singh Salan Tanda,  Shingara Singh Lohian Member SGPC and Balwant Singh Ramgarh Member SGPC.

            Senior Leader of Delhi unit Manjit Singh GK,  Narinder Singh Sekhwan,  Baljit Singh Neelamahal,  Manmohan Singh Bhagowalia,  Jagjit Singh Lote, Manjit Singh khalsa, Prof. Gurcharan Singh Bhawanigarh,  Sardul Singh Sham Amritsar, Jagdev Singh  Gohalwaria, Jai Singh Behru,  and Ajit Singh Sian Advocate Rahon have been nominated as General Secretaries of the wing.

            Similarly Jaswant Singh Bhullar Mohali,  Gurdeep Singh Bhagoraian,  Kashmir Singh Gandiwind,  Chaudhary Darshan lal Mangpur Chairman Zila Parishad Nawanshehr,  Mahant Gurdial Singh Batala, Jagdev Singh Kainth Samana, Dilbagh Hussain,  Virsa Singh Bhikiwind, Gurbachan Singh Dhiman Nakodar, Sewa Singh Pathankot, Jagbir Singh Sokhi Ludhiana, Kashmir Singh Rahon road Ludhiana,  Om Prakash Kanojia,  Ram Partap Mehra Saneta,  Jai Ram Rurki, Harinder Singh Tarntarni, Ravinder Singh Diwana Panjabi Bagh, Swaran Singh Maholi and Ram Singh Malout have been nominated Vice Presidents of the wing.

            Those who have been nominated Junior Vice Presidents include Kuldeep Singh Green Moga, Gurdial Singh Sultanpur Lodhi, Hardev Singh Debi Bikaner Nangal, Manjit Singh Basowal,  Om Parkash Chairman Market Committee Anandpur Sahib,  Naib Singh Badalgarh and  Amarjit Singh Bittu Kishanpura Jallandhar.

            Baldev Singh Khepar Garshankar,  Bawa Singh MC Ropar,  Palwinder Singh Rinku Patiala,  Sucha Singh Suchetgarh,  Mukhtiar Singh Cheema Ludhiana, Sohan Singh Goga Ludhiana,  Ravinder Verma Ludhiana,  Dr Jasbir Singh Ludhiana and Gurcharn Singh Bhaat Patiala have been made organisation Secretaries.

            Gurdev Singh DPRO (retd.) and  Sukhwinderpal Singh Garcha Ludhiana have been nominated as Press Secretaries.

            Joint Secretaries include  Mohinderpal Bhumbla, Ajmer Singh Pasiana,  Manmohan Singh Kular,  Balbir Singh Manku,  Amarjit Singh Bermi Jallandhar, Manmohan Singh Kular and Kuljit Singh Shimlapuri.

            Advisors of the wing include the name of  Onkar Singh Sandhu Amritsar, Balwant Singh Jandu Advocate Patiala,  Karmjit Singh Thind Advocate Kapurthala, Gurmeet Singh Virdi Advocate Kapurthala, Gajjan Singh Thind Ludhiana, Tarsem Singh  and Principal Bakhshish Singh Garhdiwala.

            Apart from thabove office bearers 83 member working committee of state level has also been formed by Mr. Badal.

            Dr. Cheema said that party President has also announced District Presidents for the BC wing which include  Swaran Singh Munim Amritsar rural,  Ajit Singh Pakhon Kalan Barnala, Kartar Singh Rukna Muglan Ferozepur, Bhinder Singh GK Steel India Mandi Gobindgarh Fatehgarh Sahib,  Harbans Singh Jeo Jalai Gurdaspur,  Daleep Singh Malhotra Hoshiarpur,  Capt. Kabal Singh Maksoodan Jallandhar urban,  Harbhajan Singh Kalsi Nakodar Jallandhar rural,  Jaswant Singh Kaura Kapurthala rural,  Baljinder Singh Panesar Ludhiana urban,  Rajinder Singh Jeet Khanna MC Ludhiana rural,  Kanwaljit Singh Nanak Nagri Moga,  Dr. Dev Raj Shahpur Patti Nawanshehr,  Jiwan Kumar Patiala urban,  Gurmukh Singh Sohan MC Mohali urban,  Gurjant Singh Mukandpur Mohali rural,  Giani Amar Singh Chahal Sangrur, Lakhwinder Singh Pardhan Committee Jaito for Faridkot and Thekedar Gurnam Singh as President of Ropar unit of the win      

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ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON    ANNOUNCED 

Chandigarh, March 10:

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Rabi Season through Canal water from 11-3-2011 to 18-03-2011. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab, Sidhwan Branch, Patiala feeder  and Abohar Branch respectively.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' being in the channels of first preference will run to their indent and  balance water supplies available will be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and its off taking channels i.e Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B'  respectively.

The spokesman further said that all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in group 'A'  being in the First preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available would be utilised in Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/Minors in  Group 'B'.

The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Main Branch Lower with its distributaries being in the channels of first Preference would run to their indent and balance water would be supplies water available in Lahore Branch, Sabraon Branch,  Kasur Branch Lower with their distributaries respectively.

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A DAY LONG INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MECHANIZATION IN BRICK INDUSTRY CONCLUDES

Chandigarh March 10: 

Mr. Viswajeet Khanna , Secretary Science and Technology & Environment Punjab emphasized on the need to focus  on introducing modern techniques in mechanization in brick industry which contributes 15% of GDP of the country. These were the inaugural remarks of Mr. Khanna after inaugurating a one-day International

Conference on Mechanization in Brick Industry here today. He has called upon the brick fraternity of the sate to achieve better quality of bricks and introduction of value added products.

         The Conference was organized by the Punjab State Council for science and Technology in collaboration with the Energy Resources Institute New Delhi. In all twenty delegates from various countries like China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, European Ceramic Technology Suppliers (ECTS) shared their experiences and gave presentations on the immediate need

of mechanization in brick industry and to opt for resource efficient bricks in place of conventional bricks.

       Dr. (Mrs.) Neelima Jerath, Executive Director Punjab State Council for Science and Technology in her welcome address drew the attention of Brick alliances towards energy saving and need to reduce carbon footprints through technological advancements in the trade.

       Mr. Alessandro Colucci, representative of European Ceramic Technology Suppliers (ECTS) shared details of various technologies developed by member countries of ECTS namely Germany, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece and Italy. He highlighted the specific features of the technologies which could be adopted by the local brick industry.

       Salient features of various technologies were displayed in the exhibition organized concurrently with the Conference. More than 400 brick klin owners from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Karnatka and Rajasthan attended the conference and expressed their keen interest in

the technologies displayed in the exhibition. The representatives of brick manufacturing units of participating countries of foreign origin made impressive presentations of their products and range of services and also addressed various issues as raised by brick entrepreneurs. Er. M.S.Jaggi, Director PSCST extended the vote of thanks to the delegates.

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CABINET OKAYS POLICY FOR REGULARIZATION OF SERVICES OF WORK-CHARGED/DAILY WAGE WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES WORKING ON 89 DAYS/ADHOC/TEMPORARY BASIS

 ALSO GIVES APPROVAL TO FILL UP 8027 VACANT POSTS

 CHANDIGARH MARCH 9:

The Punjab Cabinet today gave in principle approval to the policy for regularizing the services of work charged/daily wage workers and employees working on 89 days/ad-hoc/temporary basis in the light of the judgment of Supreme Court of India in the case o.f Secretary, State of Karnataka Vs. Umadevi. 

A decision to this effect was taken here at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal this morning. 

          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that the new guidelines/instructions in the policy would supersede all the previous instructions regarding the regularization of services of these employees/workers.  While considering the cases for regularization of the services of such irregularly appointed workers/employees as one time measure the guidelines would be followed in letter and spirit as enumerated: the employee should have worked for not less than 10 years as on 10.4.2006 without the intervention of the orders of the courts or tribunals against duly sanctioned posts;  the employee fulfils the minimum basic qualifications for the post against which he was appointed; it shall be certified by the competent authority that no supernumerary posts were created to retain the employees in service, when the persons were appointed on regular basis and it shall be the duty of the administrative department that while considering the case of each employee, the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India passed in the aforesaid case are implemented in latter and spirit and it shall be ensured that there should no further by passing of constitutional requirements and regularizing for making permanent those, who were not appointed as per the said constitutional scheme.  

In another decision, the Cabinet also approved to fill up the 8027 vacant posts in various departments, which would entail an additional burden of nearly Rs.153 crore on the state exchequer.

The Cabinet also gave approval to release the funds amounting to Rs. 1.80 crore from the Plan Scheme AC1-Grant for the up gradation and special repairs of the Shiv Kumar Batalvi Cultural Centre Building at Batala as an aid to the institutions of the Cultural Affairs department for the promotion of art and culture in the State.

The Cabinet also approved the proposed draft of Punjab Civil Services (Regularization of Certain Conditions of Services) Bill 2011 for its enactment by the Punjab Legislative Assembly.   

The Cabinet also gave approval for the conversation of the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Fund Ordinance, 2010 along with the Punjab Value Added Tax (amendment) Ordinance 2011 (Punjab Ordinance No.4 of 2011) for presenting these bills in the ongoing session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha for its enactment. 

The Cabinet also approved the draft of the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill 2011 by placing it before the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for its enactment. 

The Cabinet also gave approval regarding quarterly review of receipts and expenditure of state government for the first, second and third quarters (1.4.2010 to 3.12.2010) of current financial year 2010-11. 

The Cabinet also gave approval for the amendment of section 9(1) and section 9(A), 17 and 18 of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953 and amendment of section 7 (1), 15 and 20 of the Pepsu Tenancy and Agriculture Lands Act, 1955.

The Cabinet also gave nod to allow guarantees on behalf of the Punjab Backward Classes Land Development and Finance Corporation (BACKFINCO) against the Term Loan to be raised from National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), New Delhi. 

The Cabinet also approved to grant the extension of time limit for reconstitution of superseded market committees upto 31.12.2011 and validation of works done by the administrators and to place the Bill during the current Vidhan Sabha session for making amendments in the provisions of Punjab Agriculture Produce Markets Act 1961. 

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POLICE PERSONNEL WARDS TO GET CONCESSIONAL QUALITY TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Chandigarh, March 9: A major stride has been taken in the directions of providing quality technical education to the wards of Police personnel that too on concessional rates as the state Police has made an arrangement with a renowned Polytechnic College in Malwa region.

          Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Punjab Police said that the Management of Universal Polytechnic College, Borewal (Mansa) has offered to provide concessional quality Technical Education to the wards of Police personnel in Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil and Electronics & Communication Engineering. The spokesman informed that the deserving candidates recommended by the District Police Chief would be provided education in this institute and the fee from them would be charged keeping in view the financial status of the concerned Police employee.  Besides this, a special fee concession has also been offered to the wards of Police Personnel killed at the hands of militants as well as the wards of BC/SC category of the employees.

          The spokesman further said that in this regard a communiqué from the Director General of Police, Punjab   has already been sent to the Zonal IGs, Range DIGs and District Police Chiefs to publicize this initiative so that maximum employees could avail this unique offer for the wards of Police Personnel
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MECHANIZATION IN BRICK INDUSTRY STARTS TODAY

Chandigarh March 9:  
The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology in collaboration with the Energy Resources Institute New Delhi is organizing an International Conference on Mechanization in Brick Industry MBI-2011on 10th of March at Chandigarh. The Chief Secretary Punjab Mr. S.C. Agrawal will inaugurate the conference and Mr. Srinivasan Iyer Assistant Country Director, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) India would be the guest of honour. The machinery manufacturers and technical experts from European Ceramic Technology Suppliers and Asian countries will participate in the conference with exhibition of the models of their technologies.

       According to a spokesman of the Punjab Government, a project, "Energy efficiency Improvement in Indian Brick Industry" has been sponsored by United Nations Development Programme- Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF). One of the main objects is to propagate the manufacture and usage of Resource Efficient Brick helping in substantially reducing the Carbon footprints. UNDP experts/authorities handling similar projects based in Thailand, China, Vietnam and Bangladesh will participate and share their experiences and success stories. He further said that this conference is expected to launch the brick sector in India into the next generation of technology development, quality of product, business models, organizational structure and compliance of highest environmental standards including the energy conservation and building code.
       It may be recalled that The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology has been spearheading various initiatives for  modernizing the brick industry, generating awareness and infrastructure for training of man power for the last 14 years. The brick sector is presently facing an acute shortage of skilled labor and entrepreneur is desperately looking for mechanization in brick making, said the spokesman.