The Punjab government would issue the notification regarding the farm debt waiver in September. Claiming this Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal in a n exclusive interview with Rozana Spokesman revealed that the Haque Panel would submit its report on August 17. This would be implemented next month. Manpreet spoke on various issues related to the state economy, its growth and development of Punjab.
Manpreet on farm debt waiver:
He mentioned that in the seven decades of Punjab politics, the Congress led government is the first to announce debt waiver for farmers. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced to waive Rs 2 lakh of small and marginal farmers. “We are very much concerned about the farmers and Haque panel report is being awaited on August 17 and it will be benefi tting 10 lakh farmers in the state. We are making a full blooded attempt for the debt waiver and I am sure that the next month the government will notify the scheme.” said Manpreet.
Manpreet 's appeal to farmers to not end their life:
The Finance Minister has urged the farmers to not end their lives. He said, “Don’t take the extreme step of committing suicide. Don’t do it please.” He further explained that the farm loan waiver is not the only step that can save the farmer but the government will have to generate job opportunities for the children of the farmers. The government will have to provide them the training to learn various skills to earn livelihood . The government would ensure the proper payment of their crop as per MSP.
Manpreet on New Agriculture Policy:
The Finance Minister revealed that the Punjabi is a leading state in Agriculture but unfortunately, no concrete agriculture policy has been framed in the last 70 years. The Congress led government has been framing the Agriculture polic y under the command of the Chairman of Farmers' Commission Ajay Vir Jakhar. The new policy will focus on the welfare of the farmer and ask them to produce keeping in view their fiscal means.
He said that the lure to grow more has led to the increased use of the fertilizers and pesticides. That led to increase in the cost of production thus making the farming un-viable for the farming community. The government has been adopting the measures that would reduce the use of the pesticides by 10 percent every year so that in the next five years, the use should be reduced to up to 50 percent. Even the sub soil water level has got down.
Punjab’s sub soil has water just for the next eight to ten years so the government has been trying hard to replace the Peddy crop that consumers water several times more than other crops.
Manpreet on Rs 31000 Cr related to food account dispute with the Centre:
Manpreet Badal said that the erstwhile government deliberately announced to bear the burden of Rs 31000 crore that is related to the settlement of food account. Criticising the previous SAD-BJP government’s move to convert an alleged misappropriation of Rs 31,000 crore into a loan, he said that the state would have to b ear the burden of this loan for next 20 years which won’t be beneficial for the state . It’s the responsibility of the GOI to consider the matter on priority. The Central Government and the FCI should also share the burden of the installment with Punjab government. The government suffers a loss of Rs 2000 crore every year in the procurement of food gains mainly wheat and paddy.
He mentioned that for buying the crops worth of Rs 40,000 crore, the state has to bear the burden of Rs 5000 crore every year which is not fair. The Finance Minister claimed that there is a scam in the procurement system in Punjab and that’s why the state has been suffering the loss. He said that the neighboring state Haryana has been doing well in the procurement and the state is also earning profit as compare d to Punjab.
Manpreet on Revenue Surplus:
“We have been targeting to make the state budget revenue surplus in the fourth year of our current term. I already told in the assembly that our state budget is a deficit but I am sure that the fourth budget would be surplus. Our state will be revenue surplus as the new universal tax GST will help us additional revenue as the Central G overnment has assured us to give 14 per cent increase every year, for the next five years and I am sure that Punjab should be looking at the 20 to 25 per cent tax revenue in the next five years.
Manpreet on cutting the expenditure:
According to Manpreet, the GST will be the major source of generating maximum revenue for the state. Besides, the Punjab government has directed all the departments to stop spending money on useless things. The authorities have directed all the departments to vacate their offices in the private rented buildings otherwise the HOD’s will have to pay the rent from their pockets after July 31. Manpreet claimed that the move will help the government to save Rs 480 crores. He explained that the government has got done the audit of the manpower of three departments and it is found that Rs 600 crore could be saved in these departments by taking appropriate steps and proper utilisation of the manpower. He said that by taking such steps the Punjab government will improve its fiscal condition soon because many a little makes a mickle.
Manpreet on diversion of funds by previous government:
The last ten years have halted the growth of Punjab. The previous government diverted the funds to do vote bank politics . In the last financial year, the SC students didn’t get the scholarships. The SAD-BJP regime has diverted Rs 13000 crores of funds for other purposes . The previous government spent Rs 1500 crore on constructing memorials and deny grant to institutions such as Punjab University, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and Sainik School Kapurthala .
"We have hot granted any fund for that school which has given excellent soldiers to the country", said Manpreet. He said that the Panjab University and Baba Farid University has been seeking grant of Rs 10 crore and Rs 40 crore respectively. However, the previous regime instead of spending money on the educational institutions spent on building memorials. Sainik School, Kapurthala students have been clearing the entrance exams of the country’s defense institutions but the school didn’t get even a single penny in a decade of SAD-BJP government.
He further said that the previous government did only vote bank politics and it’s a lesson for Congress that if the party will repeat the same, then it would only get 15 votes like SAD-BJP alliance got in 2017 Punjab assembly elections.
Manpreet on Corruption:
Our Government is determined to show the door to corrupt officers. There would be no compromise in this regard. We are also fighting a war against menace of drugs. All out efforts are being made to check the activities of gangs . The day is not far when all sort of anti-social elements would behind bars and the menace of the drugs would be done away.
Manpreet on Centre’s support for farm waiver:
The relations of Federal government with state are governed by the law. The Centre would have to pay whatever is our legally due. " But I want that Punjab should be self dependent and not look towards the Centre for fiscal assistance . Our effort is to revive the state's economy to generate more revenue. I am hopeful that we will be able to do so soon", he added.
Manpreet on Badal family:
“I am MLA for the past 24 years. My image is clean and I am not doing any vendetta politics and that’s why I am peoples ' leader.” said Manpreet. He said that people of the state have right to decide and t hey gave the mandate in his favor.