Punjab FM presents first budget of AAP government for the financial year 2022-23
Highlight
- Cheema said that the government has proposed to start the Punjab Young Entrepreneur Program
- Under this program the state government will provide a seed amount of Rs 2,000 per student
- Cheema also announced that the government would set up 16 new medical colleges in five years.
Punjab: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented the AAP government’s first budget for FY23 in the state assembly on Monday. Presenting the budget, Cheema today announced that the first year will focus on restoring the deteriorating financial situation, fulfilling the promises of good governance and focusing on health, agriculture and education.
Cheema said that AAP government is providing 300 units of domestic electricity supply per month free of cost to all citizens from July 1, the first guarantee (promise) made to the people of Punjab.
Presenting the Bhagwant Mann government’s first budget after AAP came to power in March this year, Cheema said the government has decided to launch the Punjab Youth Entrepreneur Program to encourage class 11 students to propose their business ideas. has been offered.
Presenting the paperless budget, the Finance Minister said that the state government would provide a seed amount of Rs 2,000 per student under this programme.
Cheema also announced that the government would set up 16 new medical colleges in five years.
The government will also set up 117 “mohalla clinics”, for which Rs 77 crore has been earmarked.
The minister said that the first year will focus on restoring the deteriorating financial situation, fulfilling the promises of good governance by ensuring effective use of public funds and focusing on health and education.
“I propose a budget outlay of Rs 1,55,860 crore for 2022-23, which represents an increase of 14.20 per cent over 2021-22,” he said.
He said that the government has decided to approve fresh recruitment of 26,454 people and regularization of 36,000 contractual employees.
He said that the AAP government takes a pledge to stand with the farmers and will continue to provide free electricity to the agriculture sector.
Referring to the white paper on the state’s finances, which was tabled in the state assembly on Saturday, he said the document clearly clarifies that Punjab has faced financial negligence for decades.
The minister informed that the current effective outstanding debt of Punjab is Rs 2.63 lakh crore.
He said that the State Government will release Gender Responsive Budgeting Guidelines this year, in which the strategy to promote the goal of gender equality and bring social change and eliminate inequality in the mainstream will be decided.
The government has identified 100 existing schools which are proposed to be upgraded as “Schools of Excellence”. 200 crore has been kept for this.
Modern digital classrooms will be set up in 500 government schools.
On the issue of stubble burning, Cheema said that various possibilities and solutions will be explored and for this Rs 200 crore has been kept in the budget.
In the beginning of his speech, Cheema said that several measures are being taken to bring in fiscal prudence and efficiency in financial management.
He also said that the AAP government will make a model of good governance.
“Our government has zero tolerance for corruption. The birth of our party started with the anti-corruption movement,” he said. He said that the government is taking action against those indulging in corrupt practices.
The Finance Minister said that the Janta Budget (Jan Budget) prepared after receiving 20,384 suggestions on the government portal and through e-mail will focus on various sectors including health and education.
The GST compensation regime is set to end in June 2022, and based on the trends of previous years, the state government will leave a huge hole of Rs 14,000-15,000 crore in its finances in FY 2022-23. According to the budget document.
No new tax has been proposed in the budget.
The budget also includes provisions for introducing fiscal risk management.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was among those present at the visitors’ gallery of the Punjab Assembly.
(with inputs from PTI)