AAP govt in Punjab to present first full Budget on March 10
Chandigarh, February 21: The budget session of Punjab will begin on March 3 and AAP government to present first full budget on March 10.
The announcement of the budget session and some other major decisions was made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after a meeting of the Punjab cabinet in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
Also Read: Income Tax department conducts raid at Uflex Limited
Some other major decisions by Punjab government are as follows:
Regularisation of services
Punjab government approved the regularisation in services of around 14,417 contractual employees from different departments.
Divulging the details, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the services of 13,000 employees have already been regularised. Under the regime of the earlier Governments, various appointments to 'Group C' and 'Group D' level posts , have been made on contract/temporary basis on the basis of imminent requirement and exigencies of service. Some of such employees have now put in a period of 10 years and more with State and they have given their prime years of life in service of the State.
The employees who have worked on adhoc, contractual, daily wages, work charged or temporary basis for a continuous period of minimum ten years till the issuance of present policy will be regularized. The applicant must have the requisite qualification and experience for the post in terms of rules if any at the time of placement in the Special Cadre. The work and conduct of the applicant must have remained satisfactory as per the assessment of the department/employer during the period of 10 years service.
Budget session of Punjab
Secondly, CM Mann also announced that budget session will take place from March 3 to 26. The Budget will begin on March 3 and the full fledged budget to be presented on March 10.
State finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema will present the budget for the 2023-24 financial year.
Nod to foodgrain policy
Punjab government also gave nod to foodgrain policy and water tourism.
Nod to water tourism policy
The Cabinet also gave nod to the Punjab State Water Tourism Policy which seeks to give a big boost for attracting private investment near Water Bodies in the state. The Policy provides a transparent mechanism for approval of Water Tourism Projects. Keeping in view the scarcity of water resources and the huge economic potential these offer, Water Tourism Projects are proposed to be cleared only by an Empowered Committee chaired by the Chief Minister. The Policy focuses on long term economic gain and the choice of projects shall depend on the future growth potential and their ability to boost the image of the State as a popular and "smart" tourist destination.
Revised wage scale
CM Mann further announced that FCI increases daily wages of labourers by 20 per cent.
Green signal to tourism policy
The Cabinet also gave green signal to Punjab State Adventure Tourism Policy for attracting private investment in the stale. The Policy provides a transparent mechanism for approval of Adventure Tourism Projects which will be cleared only by an Empowered Committee chaired by the Chief Minister and the various parameters on which each project will be evaluated. A single-window system and ease of Inter- Departmental Coordination at various levels has been suitably incorporated in it.
As per the policy permissions to commence Adventure Sports in the State shall initially be given to recognized National Adventure Sport Federations as they are best equipped to handle the safety issues. As far as possible the sites shall be given free of cost for a period of two years in order to give an initial boost to the development of Adventure Tourism in the State. These sports are expected to generate a lot of local employment as well as overall economic upliftment of the area where these are organized.
- PTC NEWS
