Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today congratulated Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa for the fiscal turn around achieved by the State along with the new thrust given to development and social welfare. In a statement the Deputy Chief Minister also lauded the FM for adopting fiscal measures that has resulted in an 10.16 percent growth in gross state domestic product (GSDP) at for fiscal year 2014-15.The Deputy CM said the State had also achieved fiscal consolidation as fiscal deficit had came down from 3.45 percent of GSDP in 2006-07 to 2.77 percent of GSDP in 2013-14 and was estimated at 2.97% of GSDP in 2014-15. He said it was the Parkash Singh Badal led SAD-BJP government that he adopted innovative measures to achieve 16 percent growth in own revenue collection besides adopting diligent efforts to keep the debt within manageable limits. He said the outstanding debt to GSDP ratio was pegged at 32.27 percent for the year 2014- 15, well ahead of the target of 38.7 percent set by the Finance Commission. Highlighting the emphasis laid by Punjab government on development, Mr. Badal said that for 2013-14, the percentage of developmental expenditure to the total expenditure of the State was 52.24 percent which substantially improved to 55.39 percent in 2014-15. He said Punjab would witness further increase in pace of growth in coming year as this budget has set aside Rs. 600 crore for "Mukh Mantri Pendu Vikas Yojna" besides initiating "Punjab Urban Development Mission" to ensure 100 percent water supply, sewerage, road and street lights in urban areas.
Deputy CM said that this budget also purposed for an Entrepreneurship Development Programme to alleviate the financing difficulties being faced by the micro and small entrepreneurs. He further added that Rs. 500 crore has been allocated in the budget to setup 2174 Sewa Kendras in the state to provide citizen centric services to its citizen at their door steps.
Highlighting the importance given to sports in the budget, Mr. Badal said that following the ‘Catch them Young’ rule Government has established Punjab Institute of Sports (PIS). He said that around 6000 budding players will be identified from all over the state and will be trained in these Centres of Excellence created in different parts of the State. He said that budget also has provision of dedicated fund of Rs. 50 Crore annually for PIS besides setting up of stadiums at block levels.
Describing Industry as backbone of any economy, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion (PBIP) has received 153 proposals with proposed investment of about Rs 9600 crore. He said that allocation of Rs 100 Crore for ‘Entrepreneurship Development Programme’ would encourage small scale industry in the state.Talking about skill development, Mr. Badal said that the state has purposed to invest Rs. 200 Crore on "Empowered State Skill Development Mission".
He said that under this programme 2000 skill training centres for girls and 500 centres for boys would be setup in the villages in the existing infrastructure of Government schools and other buildings at village level.Declaring budget a gift for agricultural sector, Mr. Badal said that Rs 3512 crores has been allocated to strengthen the agriculture and allied sectors in the State besides keeping Rs. 1005 crore for developing irrigation facilities.Enlisting the features of budget concerning social welfare, Mr. Badal said that keeping Welfare of SCs, BCs and minorities on the top priority Rs 1173 crore have been allocated for welfare of SC, BC’s and minorities. He further added that the increasing the plan outlay under this head from Rs 819 crore in the annual plan 2014-15 to Rs 984 crore in 2015-16 reflected the SAD-BJP government’s commitment of development for all.Mr. Badal said that the way this budget gave importance to women empowerment by setting aside Rs 11 crore for `Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign’ besides focusing on basic sectors like education and health was appreciable.