Chandigarh, March 26:

To sow the seeds of prosperity in the agriculture sector, Punjab Government has allocated Rs 14,524 crore for the agriculture and allied sectors and introduced a slew of measures for crop diversification in its Budget for the FY 2025-26 to make the agriculture a sustainable and profitable venture, said S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab.   

The Agriculture Minister said that “Badalda Punjab” budget, presented today by Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema in the state assembly, a testament to Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment for the welfare of the agrarian community by introducing measures aimed at enhancing farmers’ income and secure their prosperity for generations to come.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that Rs 14,524 crore has been earmarked for the agriculture and allied sectors in next financial year which is 5% higher than last year. A new scheme covering three districts Bathinda, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur would be introduced for Kharif Maize crop and around 21,000 hectare area will be diversified from paddy to kharif maize to encourage the production of ethanol to achieve the target of 20% blending of ethanol by year 2025. The farmers will get a subsidy of Rs 17,500 per hectare for switching to Kharif maize cultivation and will provide benefit to approx. 30,000 farmers, he added.

The Agriculture Minister said that an amount of Rs 115 crore has been earmarked for various initiatives under crop diversification. An allocation of Rs 149 crore has also been made in FY 2025-26 under the Krishonnati Yojana to support critical activities including agriculture extension, enhancing food security, promoting horticulture, seed development, boosting edible oil production and digital agriculture.

In a decisive move towards sustainability and environmental responsibility, the Punjab Government has committed Rs 60 crore in capital subsidies to support industries transitioning to paddy stubble-based boilers. This initiative is expected to utilize 3 million tonnes of paddy stubble annually.

To promote sustainable crop residue management, Rs 500 crore has been earmarked to support farmers, cooperative societies and gram panchayats. Assistance will be provided for the purchase of CRM machines; establishment of Custom Hiring Centers and for the development of Paddy Straw Supply Chain Centers. By implementing eco-friendly alternatives, the state government is committed to curb this menace and ensure both environmental protection and the well-being of our farmers.

Continuing the free-power to farmers, S. Khudian said that an allocation of Rs. 9,992 crore has been made in Budget FY 2025-26 for providing power subsidy to the agriculture sector.

Chandigarh, March 26

Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat has expressed gratitude to Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Finance Minister S. Harpal Singh Cheema for allocating substantial funds to Jalandhar in the state budget presented in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today. The Horticulture Minister also welcomed the Rs 137 crore allocation to the Horticulture Department, stating that the funds would significantly boost crop diversification and horticulture development.

Mr. Bhagat informed that around 50 km of world-class roads will be constructed in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), with Rs 140 crore earmarked for the first year. The project aims to upgrade key road sections to international standards, integrating lane markings, pedestrian-friendly footpaths, landscaped medians, underground electric wiring, modern street lighting, water supply pipelines, well-equipped bus stands, and organized tree plantations. Notably, the contractors will be bound by a 10-year accountability clause to ensure infrastructure maintenance.

The Minister further informed that Rs 225 crore has been set aside under the Punjab Municipal Development Fund to enhance urban amenities. Additionally, 347 e-buses will be procured, with funds allocated for upgrading civil bus depots in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala in the 2025-26 financial year. Plans are also in place to establish technology expansion centers in major industrial hubs.

Highlighting the budget’s inclusive approach, Mr. Bhagat stated that significant provisions have been made for anti-drug measures, healthcare, education, sports, infrastructure, agriculture and rural-urban development. He added that special attention has been given to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Emphasizing that no new taxes have been imposed, he asserted that the budget would drive Punjab’s holistic development and benefit every section of society.

Chandigarh/New Delhi, March 26:

Putting forth his arguments in an emphatic manner based on logical and constructive criticism, the Aam Aadmi Party MP from Sangrur Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer today stoutly opposed ‘The Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025,’ in the Lok Sabha, which seeks to turn Institute of Management, Anand (Gujarat) into a University of National importance.

Calling the Cooperative sector as the backbone of the farming as well as the dairy communities of the rural areas, Meet Hayer divulged Maharashtra and more so Punjab has made remarkable strides in the Cooperative sphere. Hence, to centralize a world level institution at one place owing to the obvious political compulsions is at complete crossroads with the ideals of democracy and is it right to ignore the entire country at the altar of just one State. He argued that instead, the Regional Cooperative Universities should be opened in all the States so as to ensure training in technical and management aspects of Cooperative domain at pan India level.

Divulging that as Sports Minister of Punjab, when he demanded funds for the Khelo India games, an amount to the tune of Rs. 1800 Crore was earmarked out of which Rs. 1400 Crore went in the construction of just one stadium in Gujarat while the rest of the States had to fend for themselves with a paltry sum of Rs. 400 Crore.

Showcasing the rapid strides made by the Milkfed and Markfed in the strengthening of Cooperative sector, the MP made a strong case for collaborative approach between all the States to benefit from each other’s expertise such as drawing faculty for such a prestigious institution from all over the country and in this context pointed out the prowess of Punjab as the State has eminent experts of National & International repute.

Chandigarh, March 26:

Punjab Good Governance & Information Technology and Employment Generation Minister and the state president of Aam Aadmi Party Mr. Aman Arora hailed the “Badalda Punjab” Budget 2025-26 by calling it a blue print of “Rangla Punjab”. He said that the budget has taken care of all sections of the society and reflects the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to ensure transparent and corruption-free governance to people of Punjab.

He thanked the Punjab Government for decision to bear Rs. 70 from the current doorstep delivery charges of Rs. 120 under “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwaar”, which will directly benefit all the citizens of the state, as the citizens will now have to pay Rs. 50 only as doorstep charges. Notably, under this scheme citizens can avail 406 citizen centric services from the comfort of their homes by simply dialling helpline 1076.

The Punjab Government would soon upgrade and modernise infrastructure at all 541 Sewa Kendras that offer 438 services. On an average 30,000 people visit the Sewa Kendras daily across Punjab. All Sewa Kendras would receive a modern facelift with an air conditioner-cum-heating system for year-round comfort, spacious and comfortable seating, proper lighting, hygienic toilets, and user-friendly signage to ensure seamless navigation.

Mr. Aman Arora said that 51,655 government jobs have been provided to youth in past three years regime of the AAP led government. To significantly boost employability through skill training and career counselling, the state government has proposed a substantial allocation of Rs. 230 crore. In this year, 24,345 individuals facilitated with self-employment loans.

Lauding the state government for announcing a ‘Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme’ to ensure holistic development of the State based on people’s feedback, Mr Aman Arora said that the state has allocated Rs 585 crore (Rs 5 crore per constituency) for the ‘Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme’ in this budget.

The funds will be spent based on the recommendations of MLAs, community organisations, citizen groups and public-spirited citizens. This fund will be a huge enabler in ensuring all-round development of all our districts across all sectors such as construction and repair of roads and bridges, street-lights, clinics, hospitals, schools, water, sanitation etc, he added.

New Delhi, March 26:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday sought kind intervention of Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prahlad Joshi to expedite movement of food grains (rice and wheat) from the state to ensure smooth and hassle free procurement and storage of grains in coming times.

The Chief Minister who called upon Joshi here at his residence, apprised him that during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26 which is to begin on April 1, the state is expected to procure 124 LMT wheat. He said that around five LMT of wheat of previous crop season is also stocked in the state due to which the state has to make arrangements for the storage of about 129 LMT of wheat. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to acute storage space crunch, most of the covered space available with the agencies is being diverted for the storage of rice.

The Chief Minister said that as per the availability of storage space, the state would require at least 25 LMT of wheat direct delivery special trains to cope with the shortfall in storage space. He asked the Union Minister to intervene so that the wheat stock may be moved out on priority through direct delivery special trains. Additionally, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to shortage of space for rice, only 45 % of rice due has so far been accepted by FCI.

 He said that as of today, space available with FCI is 7.50 LMTs while a total of 71.50 LMTs rice is yet to be delivered. Therefore, Bhagwant Mann urged that maximum movement of rice from the state may be allowed by FCI to ensure timely completion of rice milling of KMS 2024-25.

Raising the issue of Reduction in Arthia Commission for Wheat procurement at Silos, the Chief Minister said that the matter regarding payment of Arthia Commission at par with other mandi was discussed in various meetings with DFPD, GOI and it was also conveyed that if commission to arthias for purchase at silos is paid at par with purchase at regular mandis, there would be a net saving on account of Mandi Labour and Transportation charges. So, he requested that Arthia Commission in silos should be allowed at par with normal purchases to facilitate the direct purchase at silos. Bhagwant Singh Mann apprised the Union Minister that the arthias are performing operations in Silos same as that of mandi operations.

Flagging the issue of Restriction Limit on Arthia Commission in provisional cost sheet, the Chief Minister said that the Arthia Commission was restricted to @ Rs. 46.00/qtl for wheat in PCS of RMS 2020-21 and @ Rs. 45.88/qtl for paddy in PCS of KMS 2019-20, since then same rate has been frozen and being allowed to the state for paddy and wheat procurement in every cost sheet by Government of India adding that as per Punjab Agriculture Produce Marketing Act,1961 and the rules framed there under provide for arhtia commission of 2.5% on MSP (i.e. Rs. 2425/- for RMS 2025-26), which comes out to be Rs 60.63/qtl in the upcoming Rabi season but the Arhtia commission is reimbursed by the Government of India but the rate has not been finalized so far. He said that restriction on Arthia Commission by Government of India led to the agitation by the Arthias in previous Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25 and they went on strike due to non fulfilling of their demand, which affected the procurement operations during the season. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that if this issue is not addressed then arhtias may go on strike again thus affecting procurement of wheat during the coming procurement season RMS 2025-26.

Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister said that the centre  government should immediately release the state’s pending share of RDF. He said that Punjab government has already completed the necessary formalities for it and now it is the high time that centre should release this money. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that states are not beggars and they should be given their legitimate share of funds by centre instead of harassing them.

Meanwhile, the Union Minister assured Bhagwant Singh Mann that the Union government will sympathetically look into the demands of the state government.

Chandigarh, March 25:

Today, the Punjab State Food Commission held an important meeting through video conference with all the ADC(D) cum DGRO of the districts. The focus of the meeting was to emphasize the effective implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) at the grassroots level.

Special attention was also given to food nutrition, with a particular focus on improving the infrastructure of Anganwadi centers and mid-day meals, especially through the support of NRIs, NGOs, and CSR initiatives.

The meeting was chaired by Shri Bal Mukand Sharma, Chairman of the Punjab State Food Commission. Commission members Vijay Dutt, Preeti Chawla, and Chetan Prakash Dhaliwal were also present during the meeting.

During the meeting, feedback gathered from field officers was shared, highlighting the need for improvements in Anganwadi infrastructure and the provision of nutritious meals. The officials were encouraged to engage with NRIs, NGOs, and CSR partners to bolster these efforts and ensure that the benefits of the National Food Security Act reach every citizen effectively.

The primary objective of this meeting was to ensure that there are no shortcomings in the implementation of the scheme and to guarantee that the needy receive their due rights. Expectations were also set for officials to develop solid action plans to bring about tangible changes on the ground.

Chairman Shri Bal Mukand Sharma emphasized that only through collective efforts, including the support of NRIs, NGOs, and corporate bodies, can the scheme be made effective, ensuring that the most marginalized sections of society benefit fully.

Additionally, other members Vijay Dutt, Preeti Chawla, and Chetan Prakash Dhaliwal also shared their views and highlighted the importance of effective ground-level implementation of NFSA, urging all officials to work together.

Director General of School Education, Mr. Vinay Biblani, made valuable suggestions during the meeting, contributing to the improvement of the infrastructure and services provided under the NFSA, especially in the education and nutrition sectors.

This meeting signals a commitment to take further concrete steps in ensuring food security in the future, ensuring that every citizen in Punjab receives food supplies according to their needs.

CHANDIGARH, March 25:

          Shifting its strategy from broad enforcement to precision strikes against big fish as part of the ongoing war against drugs ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday, directed all the Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to identify and catalogue the main drug suppliers/peddlers in their respective districts within seven days. The directive, issued through a stern letter, aims to systematically dismantle supply chains fuelling the state’s narcotics trade.

          Notably, the anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched by the Punjab Government on March 1, 2025, has resulted in arrest of 3957 drug smugglers after registration of 2248 first information reports (FIRs) across the state and led to recovery of large amount of contrabands, including 137.7 kg heroin from the possession of drug smugglers.

          “Feedback from the citizens and other inputs indicate that the street level availability of heroin and other drugs has considerably reduced. However, there is a need to carry on the drug law enforcement in a meticulous and professional manner by ensuring effective action against the drug peddlers— persons selling drugs in villages and urban mohallas, and suppliers— providing drugs to peddlers,” the DGP stated in his letter.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav has mandated all the CPs and SSPs to personally oversee the mapping exercise to prepare details of the suppliers funnelling drugs in their respective areas and catalogue them on the basis of interrogation reports, public tips, intelligence inputs, data from the Safe Punjab Helpline and backward and forward linkages unveiled in criminal investigations under the NDPS Act.

          “This cataloguing must be evidence-based and comprehensive,” the DGP ordered CPs/SSPs, while giving them warning that vague claims of ignorance about drug sources would be deemed unprofessional. “In the absence of effective mapping, it shall be presumed that you (CPs/SSPs) are not taking personal interest,” he stated.

          While directing CPs/SSPs to submit reports in timely manner, DGP Gaurav Yadav has made it clear that laxity will not be tolerated at any cost. Based on the reports, targeted operations will be launched to arrest main drug suppliers/peddlers to choke drug smuggling networks, he added.