Chandigarh, March 5:
Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Tuesday termed the Punjab Budget as game changer in terms of rational allocation to core sectors as well as ample funds to Health and Education.
In a press communique issued here today, the Cabinet Minister extended the words of gratitude towards Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Finance Minister for allocation of massive funds to key sectors such as Health and Education. He added that umpteen measures have been introduced to bolster healthcare infrastructure and enhance service delivery. He informed that an allocation of ₹5,264 crore in FY 2024-25 for the Health services has been provisioned in this budget.
Mr. Dhaliwal said that budgetary outlay of ₹16,987 crore provisioned for the Education sector which is around 11.5% of the Total Expenditure. He said that the state government has regularised the services of 12,316 teachers, 9,518 teachers recruited as well as focused on skill upgradation of Principals and Headmasters, improvement of security and safety measures in schools, installation of more than 12,000 internet connections. He said that the state government is committed to our “Annadatas” in every way and as a gesture of continued support for them, the state government have allocated ₹9,330 crore towards power subsidy for agriculture.
NRI’s Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal added that AAP Government has organized 4 NRI Milni’ programme in 2023-24 at Pathankot, SBS Nagar, Ferozepur and Sangrur and would continue doing such programmes in the upcoming year as well. He informed that our Government has started working towards enabling Punjabis living abroad to electronically countersign/verify documents required by foreign embassies through e-Sanad portal. Additionally, an online portal has been developed for NRIs, providing them with a platform to submit complaints and offer suggestions, if any.