Punjab: After presenting his fifth budget on International Women’s Day, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said he considers his biggest success to be the transformation of the state’s finances, while also ensuring that every vulnerable section of society is taken care of. In an interview with The Tribune, he described the financial assistance provided to women as a significant moment for the state.
Excerpts:
How many women will benefit from the Chief Minister’s Monthly Meditation Felicitation Scheme?
Around 97% of women will benefit from this scheme. Although the exact number of beneficiaries will be known only after registration for the scheme opens on Baisakhi, a small number of people who are financially independent have been excluded.
How is the Punjab government’s scheme different from schemes in other states?
There is a difference between the governance models of AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership is marked by the “sanctity of guarantee”, which is evident from the assured monthly income budget for women in Punjab. PM (Narendra) Modi’s guarantee,” such as the promise of ₹2,500 monthly assistance to women in Delhi. In Delhi, the BJP government has failed to implement this scheme, and in Haryana, most women have been left out after the “jumla party” imposed strict eligibility criteria.
No new taxes have been imposed in the budget. Where will the money come from to fund various schemes, especially when you haven’t met revenue targets for 2025-26?
AAP doesn’t believe in taxing one segment of the population and giving it to another. We will address tax collection gaps, expand our tax net, and boost our revenue through foreign direct investment (FDI) and new industrial investment. As for the government’s failure to meet targets, rest assured that all targets will be met by the end of March.
Your government is accused of adding more than ₹1 lakh crore to Punjab’s debt in just four years. You are addressing the growing debt. How will we justify the debt-to-GSDP ratio?
We are within the limits set under the FRBM Act. The state is on a growth path, achieving 7.9 percent growth this year. The revenue deficit is only 2.69 percent of GSDP, and the fiscal deficit is 4.18 percent of GSDP. Additionally, we are investing in a sinking fund to help the state in fiscal emergencies.
