Chandigarh, March 5, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Rural Development & Panchayats and Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar today said that the budget for the financial year 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister S. Harpal Singh Cheema, will significantly benefit the rural areas.
He said that Rs.3154 crore have been allocated in the budget, aiming to fulfill Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Maan’s commitment of providing an all-round development for the rural population through the provisioning of basic amenities and creation of rural employment and rural livelihood.
The Cabinet Minister expressed gratitude to Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann for allocating the budget for various rural development schemes.
He said that the budget proposals of Rs.655 crore for providing employment under MGNREGS, Rs.20 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Rs.120 crore for the National Rural Livelihood Mission and Rs.20 crore for the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, will ensure economic progress for rural communities.
Laljit Singh Bhullar also thanked the Chief Minister for the allocation of Rs.550 crore for the transport sector and Rs.450 crore for continuing the free travel facility for women.
He said that the ‘Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme will continue in next year and Rs.25 crore has been proposed for this scheme in FY 2024-25.
Similarly, an budgetary outlay of Rs.10 crore has been proposed to provide incentives under the Electric Vehicle Policy.
He said that the facility of vehicle scrapping has already been started in Ludhiana and Morinda and an exemption up to 25% in Motor Vehicle Tax is being provided to new non-transport vehicles.
He said that around 11 crore women of the State have availed free bus travel facility during the current year for which Rs.450 crore has been provided by the government and an allocation of Rs.450 crore has been provided in FY 2024-25 for continuing this service.
