Cheema Promises Full Transparency, Says Every Rupee Will Fund Verified Public Welfare Projects
Chandigarh, May 14
In a historic move, the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has launched the “Rangla Punjab Society,” a pioneering platform designed to channel public contributions towards the state’s development. Announcing this while addressing a press conference here today, the Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Rangla Punjab Society is a testament to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s commitment to empowering citizens and building a prosperous, transparent, and people-centric Punjab.
Finance Minister Cheema said that this initiative marked a significant departure from the previous regimes of Congress and SAD-BJP, which merely paid lip service to public participation. The Rangla Punjab Society institutionalizes the will of the people, ensuring that their contributions directly translate into tangible progress, he added.
Extending an open invitation to Punjabis worldwide, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), local citizens, corporates, and international well-wishers, to participate in the state’s growth, the Finance Minister said that through this society the AAP government reflected its commitment to transparently harnessing the power of the Punjabi diaspora, addressing the historical issue of NRI efforts being lost amidst red tapism and corruption. “Every rupee contributed to the Rangla Punjab Society will be directed towards verified, high-impact projects, eliminating middlemen and preventing political siphoning”, said Cheema while adding that this initiative is in response to the public’s demand for clean and citizen-first governance.
The Finance Minister said that the Rangla Punjab Society will focus on key sectors, including public welfare in healthcare, education, sanitation, power, water, roads, agriculture, and urban-rural development. He said that it will also provide critical support during natural disasters, emergencies, and border area development, areas previously neglected by preceding governments. Furthermore, the society will promote innovation, startups, and research and development to build a future-ready Punjab, said Cheema.
Shedding light on the features that ensure robust governance and accountability, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the society will be overseen by a Board of Governors, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and comprising key Cabinet Ministers. An Executive Committee, led by the Chief Secretary, will ensure efficient bureaucratic implementation, keeping political interference at bay. He said that all contributions and projects will be subject to public audits, guaranteeing transparency.
Highlighting the legal Framework adopted, the Finance Minister said that the Rangla Punjab Society will be registered under the Society Registration Act, 1860, and all foreign contributions will strictly adhere to FEMA/FC(R)A laws. He said that the government also aimed to mobilize Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, reflecting the industry’s confidence in this government.
Articulating that the Rangla Punjab Society is more than just an organization, the Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that it is a movement, and unlike the previous Congress and SAD-BJP regimes, the AAP government is placing the people of Punjab at the forefront of development. He said that this initiative embodies participatory democracy, representing a clean break from the past regimes characterized by scams, delays, and superficial gestures.
