Chandigarh: The Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday asserted that the Punjab government will work hard to restore pristine glory of state and emerge Punjab as a front ranking state in the country. “This will be a revolutionary model of inclusive governance in partnership with citizens, he added”.
In his address during the first session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Governor said that the the state government firmly believed that in a democratic set up people are the real king (Janta Raj Mein Janta Hi Raja) and the entire focus of government will be on ensuring well being of people.
He said that the government will adopt a Zero Tolerance policy towards corruption adding that a transparent and corruption-free administration governance would be ensured to people. Mr Purohit said that The government is committed to end all sorts of illegal syndicates in transport, liquor, sand mining in the State.
The Governor said that These anti social elements have looted Punjab during the previous regimes and deprived the state exchequer of the funds to the tune of thousands of crores which could have been used for the welfare of the common people.
He said that Health and education are bedrock of human and social development and empowerment therefore the state government stands committed to all round improvements in these two vital sectors. Accordingly, Mr Purohit said that policies will be evolved and implemented to strengthen and expand educational and health infrastructure.
Governor said that every citizen of the state will be issued a health card with completely digital information regarding healthcare. Further, he said that 16000 pind (villages) and ward clinics will be established all over the State on the lines of ‘Mohalla Clinics’ in Delhi.
Mr Purohit further said that state government will also launch a scheme on the pattern of ‘Farishtey’ scheme in Delhi under which anyone can take a road accident victim to any hospital where they will be given free treatment. Expressing the government’s firm commitment for the empowerment of women in the state, the Governor said that the government will formulate a exclusive scheme for women, under which, Rs.1000 per month will be provided to every woman above 18 years age while older women will get Rs. 1000 in addition to senior citizen pension.
He further said that the government will work towards a complete transformation of the education sector adding that it will be ensured that the education imparted at government schools is even better than private schools. Mr Purohit further said that government will also ensure that the fees of schools are regulated to ease the burden on the common people.
“My government is committed to give 300 units free electricity to each household in Punjab with which about 80% households will get zero power bill. Domestic electricity connections which were disconnected due to non-payment of the power bill/arrears will be restored”, said Mr. Purohit.
The Governor further said that the state government is committed to address the issues of the farmers on top priority. He said that the farmers who had suffered losses due to fury of nature in this year would be duly compensated by enhancing the compensation amount in proportion to the production cost.
Mr Purohit said that Crop loss compensation will be credited to the account of each affected farmer and labourer by April 30, 2022. The Governor said that the government is committed to provide relief/honorarium of Rs. 1 Crore to the families of the martyred jawans of Punjab.
“A safe environment for business will be created by completely eliminating Inspector Raj, Raid Raj and Illegitimate tax. All previous fake FIRS against the traders will be scrapped,” said Mr. Governor. The state government is committed to the upliftment of the Scheduled Caste community in the State.
The government will provide free education to the students, free foreign (education for college students, free medical service and free coaching for competitive exams to the persons of the Scheduled Caste community of the state. Mr. Purohit further said that the government will make the country’s biggest Sports University at Jalandhar to promote the sports in the state.
In order to promote industrial revival, un-utilised lands in under developed Industrial Estates and focal points shall be made available to the industry at competitive rates. Mr. Purohit said that all cases of the bomb blast, sacrileges including Bargari sacrilege, operations of gangsters in the State and others will be investigated thoroughly so that all the perpetrators of these crimes including their masterminds are brought to book.
He further said that the borders of the State will be protected meticulously so that no terrorist may enter in the State and there is no smuggling of drugs from across the border. The entire State will, be covered with CCTV network which will help to tackle the crime rate in the state.
The Governor said that the financial situation of the State has been under stress for the past few years, mainly on account of mis-match between receipts and expenditure. The persistence of large fiscal deficit over the years has led to accumulation of staggering debt which is reaching Rs.3.5 lac crores now.
The State is classified as debt-stressed State as per Government of India norms. As per the Reserve Bank of India’s State Finances Report 2021-22, Punjab’s debt-Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio is 42.5% – the highest after Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. This clearly puts Punjab as the most indebted big State in India.
The mounting debt burden is a cause of great worry and the government will make all out efforts to remedy the situation. The government will take suggestions from the common people, traders, businessmen, farmers, women, youth and employees to find out the best solutions for the problems being faced by them and the State budget will be prepared after taking into account their suggestions.
Opinions of the neglected and deprived sections of the State will be reflected in the budget and the Government schemes.
