Free electricity, Mohalla Clinics: Key takeaways from Punjab Budget

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented the Aam Aadmi Party government's first budget for 2022-23 in the state Assembly. Here are the key takeaways.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Monday presented the budget in the state Assembly. In his address, Cheema said that as many as 117 Mohalla Clinics will be established this year, of which 75 will be operationalised by August 15.

The government will also provide 300 units of free power, under a scheme that will be rolled out on July 1. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has also allotted Rs 11,560 crore for the agriculture sector.

The state has a debt of Rs 2.63 crore and revenue deficit will be over Rs 12,000 crore. The state will raise over Rs 30,000 crore as market loans and Rs 20,122 crore will be spent on paying the interest on loans, the finance minister said.

Here is a quick roundup of all the announcements.

1) Three focus areas in the budget are mopping up of resources and curtailing the debt, to check profligacy and proper utilisation of funds. The annual Budget size for Punjab is Rs 1,55,860 crore.

2) A total of 100 government schools to be upgraded as ‘Schools of Eminence’. These schools would be equipped with digital classrooms, labs, vocational training facilities and trained faculty. The government will also start a Young Entrepreneur Programme where class 11 students would be encouraged to propose original business ideas.

3) The AAP government has also proposed to allot Rs 200 crore to resolve the issue of stubble burning. The state will also provide financial assistance of Rs 450 crore to those farmers who go for direct seeding of rice.