The SAD-BJP government, which has already made development its main poll agenda like that of Bihar, is now also set to woo the electorate with similar sops like free bicycles for girl students besides covering a larger number of economically weaker sections of the population under various welfare schemes.
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After taking into account the farming community with continuation of the free power facility, though in a modified form, the government is keen to consolidate its base amongst the “scheduled castes” and “backward classes”. community. The budget announced on Tuesday included a number of sops for these communities, with emphasis on welfare of the girl child. The government proposes, through the Mai Bhago Vidya scheme, to provide free bicycles to all girl students studying in classes 11 and 12 in government schools at a cost of Rs 75 crore. If resources permit, the scheme may be even extended to all girl students studying in classes 9 and 10.
Education of girl students is now to be made free in the real sense of the word. Though they are not charged any fees till class 10, local contributions are taken from them at the school level. This will be stopped and a new scheme - Bebe Nanaki Ladli Beti Kalyan - has been instituted for the girl child whereby the government will invest Rs 15,000 in the child’s name with the Life Corp of India (LIC). Payments will be made to the child at various stages of her life under the scheme.
Besides instituting new schemes, the budget also proposes to extend the scope of the old welfare schemes to ensure a larger number of needy beneficiaries are covered under them, taking particular care to included the “backward castes”. The facility of free uniforms, which was available to “scheduled castes” and below poverty line elementary students, has been extended to “backward classes” as well as economically weaker families. The scheme now has a name - Bhai Jaita - to commemorate the sacrifice of a ‘dalit’ hero. Similarly an attendance scholarship at the primary level will be extended to all “backward” students as well as students from economically weaker sections.
In another major decision with an eye to the polls, the government, which has been unable to manage the ‘Shagun’ scheme involving grant of Rs 15,000 to ‘dalit’ and Christian girls upon marriage, is now set to extend this scheme to all girls from economically weaker sections.
The number of old age pensioners is also likely to increase with the qualifying age for grant of old age pension being reduced from 60 years to 58 years. Similarly, a state filled with ‘bhawans’ catering to nearly all sections of society will get some more of them with the budget proposing to construct a ‘Ravidas bhawan, 'Balmiki Bhawan’ and ‘Masih Bhawan’.
Women On Her Mind
* Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme: Free cycles to all girls studying in Classes 11, 12 of government schools. Rs 26 crore earmarked to ensure no fee would be charged for girl students up till Class 12* Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Kalyan Scheme: Benefit of Rs 15,000 on the birth of a girl child
* Mata Kaushalaya Kalyan: Cash incentive of Rs 1,000 to mothers who delivered at government hospitals
* No fee for girl students up till Class 12
Backward & EWS Families
* Rs 130 crore set aside to extend Shagun scheme of Rs 15,000, free healthcare extended to 14 lakh familiesEligibility: Annual income below Rs 30,000
* Qualifying age for women pensioners lowered to 58 years
The government, which has been unable to manage the ‘Shagun’ scheme involving grant of `15,000 to ‘dalit’ and Christian girls upon marriage, is now set to extend this scheme to all girls from economically weaker sections.
Infrastructure
* Rs 986 crore including Rs 626 crore as State Plan Budget is proposed to be spent on road infrastructure and Transport.* Rs 3,300 crore for the Power Sector which is about 30% of the total plan outlay for 2011-12.
* 59.68% increase for Irrigation and Flood Control at Rs 1,030 crore
Agriculture
* 37% increase to agriculture and allied sectors at Rs 453 crore
* Rs 25 crore to Punjab Agriculture University.
Rural Development
* Rs. 220 crore for construction of rural toilets.
* Rs. 200 crore for cleaning of village ponds.
* Rs 200 crore for construction/brick paving drains in villages
Education
* Outlay increased 52% at Rs 1,441
* Rs.60 crore for providing furniture in all Government primary schools.
* Rs. 9 crore for providing free utensils in schools under the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme.
* Rs 26 crore for girl education till class 12th
* “Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme” with an outlay of Rs 75 crore, to provide free bicycles to all girl students studying in classes 11th and12th in all Government schools.
* Free uniforms to the children of Backward Classes/Castes (BCs) and economically weaker families, with annual income up to Rs 30,000. Scheme to be named after Bhai Jaita ji (Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh ji)
Higher Education
* 264% increase at Rs 229 crore for Higher Education and Languages .
* Rs 30 lakh to the Languages Department of the State for setting up its own printing unit.
* 17 new post graduate degree colleges are being set up in the educationally backward districts
* Rs. 70 crore to government degree colleges
Sports & Youth Services
* Rs 142 crore, shall be earmarked for Sports and Youth Services
* 7 multipurpose stadiums and the Centre of Excellence in Sports at Jalandhar.
* Distribution of gymnasium equipment throughout the State at Rs 15 crore.
Tourism and Art & Culture
* Rs. 1.50 crore for promoting cultural, artistic and literary activities of Punjab Lalit Kala Academy, Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy and Punjab Sahitya Academy.
* Capital grant of Rs. 2 crore to The Anad Foundation, New Delhi for setting up an institute dedicated to study of devotional music at Sultanpur Lodhi.
* Rs 1 crore to the North Zone Cultural Centre to fulfil its objectives.
Health
* Rs 720 crore is proposed to be spent by the Health Department.
* In-principle approval of the cashless medical insurance scheme for all members of the Police Department, providing free indoor treatment up to Rs 2 lac per annum
* Emergency Medical Response Service would be made functional by 31st March, 2011.
* To encourage institutional deliveries, the government has announced a new Plan scheme, to be called “Mata Kaushalaya Kalyan Scheme”, at Rs. 12 crore to provide Rs 1,000 cash incentive to all mothers who undergo institutional deliveries in Government hospitals.
Industries
* Rs. 10 crore will be spent during 2011-12 for this purpose.
* Rs 16 crore is being provided during 2011-12 for NIIFT Mohali .
Social Security
* Outlay for Social Security has been increased by 24% to Rs.924 crore.
* Rs. 591 crore has been earmarked for old age and other pensions to 19.70 lac beneficiaries.
* Lower the qualifying age limit for old-age pension in case of women to 58 years from 60 years at present.
* A new scheme to be called “Bebe Nanki Ladli Beti Kalyan Scheme” for providing benefit of Rs 15,000 at the birth of a girl child. This amount shall be invested in the name of the child with the Life Insurance
Corporation of India
* Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes
* Rs. 275 crore has been earmarked for welfare of Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes.
* Rs. 130 crore earmarked for shagun scheme in the Annual Plan 2011-12.
* Ravidas Bhawan, Valmiki Bhawan and Masih Bhawan, dedicated to our great saints and prophets, shall be constructed during 2011-12.
* Rs. 2 crore shall be also earmarked for the integrated development of the holy Ram Tirath in Amritsar district,
* A memorial in the honour of Guru Ravi Das ji at village Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district
Pension to Freedom Fighters
* The pension of freedom fighters and the families will be increased to Rs 5,000 a month.
Defence Services Welfare
* Rs. 2.00 crore for providing grant of Rs. 5 lakh each for purchase of plot or house for the widows of martyrs or disabled soldiers.
* Rs. 6 crore for construction of Sainik Rest House and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum, Ludhiana.
* Allowances of all our war decorated soldiers up 40%.
Employment Generation and Skill Development
* Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute is being established at Mohali to prepare students for NDA exam.
* Rs. 15 crore has been provided as corpus for this purpose in 2011-12.
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