Punjab Government Cracked Down on Corruption

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party government was formed in Punjab on March 16 last year. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP Govt has completed its one year tenure today (Thursday, March 16). 

During this period, the government faced various financial challenges as well as violent and criminal incidents constantly tried to lower the strength of the govt. With this, AAP also got into the grip of continued challenges from religious fundamentalists. Despite this, the Punjab government has cracked down on corruption in one year. The level of education increased and the government fulfilled its election guarantees by providing Aam Aadmi clinics, free electricity and employment to the people.

Let us take a look at the 1 Year Report Card of AAP......

EDUCATION SECTOR....

- Government Schools Principals were sent to Singapore for training for the first time during the Aam Aadmi Party government. A budget of Rs 20 crores was proposed for this. 

- 117 Schools of Eminence started in the state. 

- Roof top solar panel systems were established in schools and 1 lakh children got admission in government schools in 1 day.

- Despite all this, many promises are still pending- Vacancies of BEO, Principal in Punjab. 145 government schools closed in 5 years could not be reopened. The number of children in government colleges has decreased due to Brain Drain.

EMPLOYMENT SECTOR.....

- 26,797 government jobs were given to youth in 1 year in Punjab. 22,594 posts were advertised. A budget of Rs 231 crore was kept for employment. 

- 36,000 contractual employees were regularised. Direct recruitment took place on the basis of experience.

- Despite, Remaining 4161 teachers of the master cadre have not received the joining letter yet. 1337 driver-cleaners were not fixed in PUNBUS. Apart from this, the promiseof Rs 5000 allowance to the unemployed has not been fulfilled yet. 

DRUG ADDICTION.....

- Aiming to make Punjab a drug-free state, the Punjab Police has launched a decisive war against drugs, as a result of which 13,094 FIRs have been registered and 17,568 drug traffickers have been arrested since 16 March 2022. The police has recovered a record 863.9 kg of heroin in just one year. The police have also recovered drug money worth Rs. 10.36 crore from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in the last one year.

- Despite this, the trend of death due to drugs in Punjab is still continuous. In one year, about 250 deaths were recorded due to drugs. 

LAW & ORDER SITUATION IN PUNJAB....

- Official data from 16 March 2022 to 15 March 2023 shows that the Punjab Police seized 31 rifles, 201 revolvers/pistols, 9 Tiffin Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 8.72 kg of RDX and other explosive materials. 11 hand Grenades, two sleeves of disposed rocket launchers, 30 drones and one loaded rocket propelled grenade have also been recovered by cops.

- 168 terrorists/extremists have been arrested and 26 terrorist modules have been busted. Gangster culture was curbed in Punjab through the Anti-Gangster Task Force. 

- Despite this, the crime has not decreased. Famous Punjabi Singer and Rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was murdered on May 29, 2022. More than 200 murder, rape and robbery cases have been recorded in a year.

HEALTH SECTOR....

- This year, AAP recruited 1353 medical staff. 504 Aam Aadmi clinics were opened in the state and 142 more clinics will be established soon. 

- So far 10.50 lakh patients have been treated in OPD. 80 types of medicines, 1 lakh tests including 41 diagnostic were conducted free of cost. 

- Apart from this, the stock of medicines in government hospitals has decreased. Many posts of doctors are lying vacant in PHCs and CHCs of the state. Health facilities in rural areas have not improved.

LOAN.....

- When AAP voted to Power in Punjab, the debt at that time was Rs 2.83 lakh crore, which has now increased to nearly Rs 3 lakh crore. 

- To meet the budget announcements, the government can take another loan of around Rs 35,000 crore rupees. 

- It is being claimed that no farmer's loan has been waived yet. People are not getting loans at low interest rates to start businesses. The matter of increasing the means of income of the state also remained incomplete.

ELECTRICITY.....

- 300 units of free electricity was provided to every household, 85% electricity bills were zero. A total budget of Rs 7,780 crore was kept for power management. Bill arrears of customers up to 2 KW have been waived. 

PROMISE OF RS 1000 TO EACH WOMEN.....

All eyes are on the Major announcement of deposit of Rs 1000 per month in the bank account of every woman above 18 years of age. This Poll promise has not been fulfilled yet. 

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT.....

The Punjab government has issued a helpline number to curb corruption. Ministers were sacked from office in a major action against corruption. 1 MLA was sent to jail in the case. Many former Congress ministers and MLAs are being investigated by the Vigilance.