CHANDIGARH: Harpal Singh Cheema finance minister announced that the Bhagwant ann government has proposed an outlay of ₹19, 279 crore, representing a seven per cent increase over the previous year. Highlighting reforms in the sector, he said, “Punjab’s top ranking in the national PARAKH assessment reflects the impact of reforms introduced in recent years.” The Finance Minister announced the launch of the “Sikhiya Kranti 2.0” initiative, a ₹3, 500 crore project in collaboration with the World Bank aimed at transforming the education ecosystem.
Detailing the proposals, Harpal Singh Cheema said the Budget includes extensive infrastructure upgrades in schools, including boundary walls, toilets, security personnel and a large-scale whitewashing drive. ₹395 crore has been allocated for digital transformation in schools through the provision of computers and interactive panels. The successful Schools of Eminence model will be strengthened further, and a statewide career counselling framework will be implemented for more than 7.35 lakh students.
Turning to higher education, the Punjab Finance Minister added that ₹1, 760 crore has been allocated as grant-in-aid to state universities, while ₹569 crore has been earmarked for Technical Education, including the establishment of ITIs in 11 jails to provide vocational training to inmates. The AAP government has granted in-principle approval for establishing a world-class university at Sri Anandpur Sahib in the name of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Turning to healthcare, Harpal Singh Cheema said the government has proposed an allocation of ₹6, 879 crore for the sector. He said, “The Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana has been provided a ₹2, 000 crore provision to offer cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh per year for 65 lakh families in the state. The Aam Aadmi Clinics network, currently consisting of 881 clinics, will be expanded with the addition of 143 new clinics and the upgrading of 308 Subsidiary Health Centres, increasing the total to 1, 432 clinics.”
The Budget also includes ₹300 crore for advanced medical equipment in government hospitals and provisions for establishing a modern Trauma Centre and Mother and Child Care Hospital at Sri Anandpur Sahib, along with an on-call incentive for specialist doctors.
The Finance Minister added that ₹1, 220 crore has been earmarked for Medical Education and Research. He pointed to developments such as successful liver transplants at the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Mohali, the establishment of seven new medical colleges and the purchase of land for a new medical college in Malerkotla.