On the occasion of the country’s 80th Independence Day, Punjab Finance, Planning, Transport, Excise and Taxes Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema hoisted the tricolor in Ludhiana and heartily congratulated the countrymen. Recalling the incomparable sacrifices of all the freedom fighters including Martyr-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Martyr Rajguru, Martyr Sukhdev, Martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha, Martyr Udham Singh, Martyr Lala Lajpat Rai, Martyr Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani, he said that the contribution of Punjabis in the freedom struggle has been foremost.
He said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will pay tribute to the martyrs and Baba Sahib Dr. B.R. It is working following the thinking of Ambedkar. Under this thinking, his photographs have been installed in government offices and the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh has been installed at Mohali Airport.
Finance Minister Cheema said that the Punjab government has increased the ex-gratia amount given to the heirs of martyred soldiers from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, in which Agniveer and martyred police personnel have also been included. Financial assistance to righteous soldiers has been increased to Rs 12,000 per month and pension of freedom fighters to Rs 11,000. Along with this, 1 percent reservation has been given for his heirs in government recruitment.
Under the protection of religious heritage, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the celebrations of the 650th Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji and a Bani Study Center is being constructed at a cost of Rs 37 crore in Dera Sachkhand Ballan. Apart from this, gardens are being developed in an area of 650 acres and processions and awareness vans are being organised. Religious plays like ‘Hamara Ram’ are being staged to celebrate the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. So far, more than 4 lakh devotees have visited religious places through ‘Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana’.
Referring to strengthening the financial position to provide better facilities to the people of the state, the Finance Minister said that Punjab has registered 20 percent growth in GST revenue in the first four months of the current financial year. SGST cash growth of 16.23 percent in July was the highest in the country. He further said, “The budget of ‘Rangla Punjab Development Scheme’ has been increased to Rs 1,170 crore for this financial year.”
Referring to the education revolution, he said, “AI and entrepreneurship curriculum has been implemented in the schools of Punjab. 118 schools of eminence are being created. Teachers are being trained from Singapore and Finland. Free bus service has been started for more than 15 thousand students. A cap of 5 percent has been set on the fee hike of private schools and ITI seats have been increased to 52,000. Students have increased their chances of appearing for JEE and NEET. “We have also achieved great achievements in.”
Emphasizing on creating more and more employment opportunities for the youth of the state, Finance Minister Cheema said, “More than 69,000 government jobs have been provided since April 2022 and a special bill has been passed for outsourced employees. The wages of laborers have been increased by 15 percent.”
Giving information about the efforts made in the health sector, the Finance Minister said, “Through the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh has been provided every year to 65 lakh families. 6 crore people have benefited from 1,090 Aam Aadmi clinics. 356 hi-tech ambulances are being operated and more than 11,000 classes are being conducted daily under ‘CM Di Yogashala’.”
Highlighting the efforts of the Punjab government with regard to public welfare and especially women empowerment, Finance Minister Cheema said, “Under the Mukhyamantri Mavan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per month is being given to women from the budget of Rs 9,300 crore. Initiatives like free bus travel for women, Ashirwad Yojana, ‘Meri Rasoi’ ration kits and Farishte Yojana have been implemented. 21 Toll Plazas 90 per cent of households have been ensured zero electricity bills through 300 units of free electricity.”
Referring to agriculture, the main business of the state, the Finance Minister said, “The highest price of sugarcane in the country has been given at Rs 416 per quintal. The area under canal irrigation has increased to 60.30 lakh acres. The incidents of stubble burning have reduced by 53 percent and free electricity is being provided for tube wells.”
He said that similarly investment proposals worth Rs 1.83 lakh crore have been received in the industrial sector. 13.53 lakh new micro, small and medium enterprises have been registered. New Industrial Policy-2026 has been brought and the period of OTS scheme has been extended till 30 September 2026.
Mentioning the concrete steps taken under law and order like arrest of more than 75,000 drug smugglers under ‘War on Drugs’ campaign and arrest of more than 59,000 accused under ‘War on Gangsters’ campaign, the Finance Minister also informed about the achievements of the Road Safety Force. He said that due to the efforts of the Road Safety Force, there has been a 53 percent reduction in deaths in road accidents. He further said, “Hundreds of corrupt people have been punished by our government through anti-corruption helpline.”
In his address, the Finance Minister mentioned the construction of 45,000 kilometers of roads and said that with this, 1,279 new buses have been included in the government bus fleet. Airport Volvo service and 56 digital transportation services have been launched. Under the administrative reforms, he also specifically mentioned providing 437 services at home through ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’, facility of easy registry, plot registry without NOC, supply of piped water to 100 percent rural houses and freeing 14,200 acres of land from illegal encroachments.
Describing the increase in the sports budget to Rs 1,744 crore as a historic step by the government, the Finance Minister said, “Our government has given cash prizes and jobs to the players. The bullock cart race of Kila Raipur has started again after 11 years and the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy is being organized in Punjab.”
Making special mention of Ludhiana district, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that to give further impetus to the development of industrial city Ludhiana, Halwara Airport Terminal Building is being constructed this year. With this, two daily flights have been started from Halwara to Delhi. He said, “Ludhiana’s School of Eminence, Kidwai Nagar and School of Eminence, Miller Ganj are ensuring quality education to every section of the students by providing better facilities and future-oriented learning environment to the students.
“The Robotics Lab at PAU School and School of Eminence, Indrapuri is developing problem solving, critical thinking and skills in students by introducing them to technologies like robotics, coding etc.”
The Finance Minister said that 80 new Aam Aadmi Clinics are being built in Ludhiana, out of which 37 have been inaugurated and the remaining 43 clinics will be made operational in the next one month. He said, “Civil Hospital Ludhiana has secured the first position in the Kayakalp assessment ranking due to various important initiatives. Apart from this, 100 more beds are being added by expanding the MCH. Construction of CCU is going on and 75 more beds will be added. DH Ludhiana will become a 500 bedded hospital by the end of this year. Cancer Care Unit has been started and chemotherapy is being given to cancer patients.”
Referring to Ludhiana’s stellar performance in state government schemes for public welfare and better society, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Under the Mukhyamantri Mawaan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, more than 5 lakh women have been registered in Ludhiana, which is the highest in Punjab. Apart from this, due to Project Umeed, Café Spice, accessories camps and de-addiction initiatives, Ludhiana is becoming a model where the benefits of development are being extended to every section of the society.” Is.”
He said that apart from providing state-of-the-art gym facilities in Ludhiana, the classical badminton hall has been renovated and weightlifting hall has been constructed. The renovation of the shooting range will be completed in the next one month, while the state-of-the-art volleyball indoor hall will be ready in the next four months.
On this occasion, people who made notable achievements in various fields were also honored.
On this occasion, MLA Madan Lal Bagga, Jeevan Singh Sangowal, Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina, Daljit Singh Grewal, Ashok Parashar Pappi and Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Mayor Inderjit Kaur, Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Parashar, Deputy Mayor Prince Johar, Chairman Navjot Singh Jarag, Chairman Tejpal Singh Gill, District and Sessions Judge Harpreet Kaur Randhawa, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ojaswi Alankar, District Head Jatinder Singh Khanguda and many other dignitaries were present.