Chandigarh: Presenting the first budget of the Congress ruling government in Punjab, the Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal termed the budget as one that would benefit the people of Punjab.

Chandigarh: Presenting the first budget of the Congress ruling government in Punjab, the Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal termed the budget as one that would benefit the people of Punjab.

Highlights of Budget 2017-18

A 66 per cent increase in agriculture sector spending increasing the outlay from Rs 6383.1 crore to Rs 10, 580 crore.

Allocating of an initial outlay of Rs.1500 crore for waiving the debts of dis-stressed farmers in Punjab.

Solarization of 2000 Agriculture pump sets in the State of Punjab with an 80% subsidy component and budgetary provision of Rs.100 crore in this regard for 2017-18.

A reward of Rs 20 crore to motivate and encourage the Gram Panchayats to stop burning of paddy straw.

3 lakh jobs under the Shahed Bhagat Singh Rozgar Sirjan Yojna-Apni Gadi Apna Rozgar scheme alone, following a tie-up with two private sectors majors Ola and Uber.

Increased social security pension from Rs.500 per month to Rs.750 per month to all categories of beneficiaries.

Allocation of Rs.100 crore for Universal Health Insurance for the under privileged people.

A sum of Rs 8000 monthly financial assistance to acid attack victims.

Modified Atta Dal Scheme using Smart Ration Cards to the beneficiaries. Apart from this, Tea leaves and sugar shall be provided to BPL families. An amount of Rs.500 crore has been provided for this in 2017-18

Reduction of transfer of ownership of plots/houses from 2.5% to 2%. Stamp duty on registration of property in urban areas has been cut by a massive 3% from the existing 9% to 6%.

A sum of Rs.2020 crore will be spent on various development works in the state in the construction sector alone.

New investments for boosting agriculture and allied sectors.

Two pig breeding farms at Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur, and upgrading of Government piggery farm at Nabha are among the proposal.

A 50 per cent hike in compensation an increase in cooperative lending to farmers.

The modern and the state of the art ‘Green Boards’ will be provided in all primary schools.

Computer education will be introduced in all primary schools in Punjab.

Establishment of five new degree colleges.

Increase in grant for Panjab University.

Establishment of Central Institute for Promotion and Development of Punjabi Language at Talwandi Sabo.

Establishment of e-library of national standards, infrastructure development of historic colleges of Punjab.

Establishment of Vocational Training institute for Girls, and Regional Directorate of Apprenticeship at village Saneta, District Mohali.

Ashirwaad scheme will get a 40 per cent hike with a sum of Rs.21,000 (up from Rs.15,000).

Increased the reservation for Scheduled Castes from 15% to 30% in all government schemes pertaining to the allotment of plots/houses in the state.

Institute whose students qualify for NDA and IMA, will get 1 lakh each for every student admitted.

A General Sham Singh Attariwala Armed Forces Preparatory Institute will be established at Amritsar.

Freedom fighters humbly will get 300 units free residential electricity.

A 20 per cent hike has been made in Health sector, with 50 crore earmarked for the establishment of Primary Rural Rehabilitation and Drug De-addiction centres in the State.

A new medical college will be opened at SAS Nagar (Mohali), while tertiary care centres will be set up at cost of Rs.50 crore at Fazilka and Hoshiarpur.

The enhance ease of doing business in the State, Government will setup MSME Punjab Kendras in each district with the power to grant regulatory clearance across the departments.

Government shall provide all facilitation and help to the Trade and Industry in ensuring a smooth transition to GST regime.

State government will establish 16 Specific Industrial Parks, New industrial hubs shall be set up in District Sangrur and Ludhiana, and an exhibition cum convention centre will be set up in Ludhiana under the PPP mode.

The Transport Department shall soon come out with a policy to incentivize the use of electric vehicles, to encourage more people to shift to these less polluting vehicles.

Punjab will provide free smart phones to youth at a cost of Rs.10 crore.

The outlay of the Department of Local Government will witness a quantum increase and it includes development of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala as smart cities. All Municipal Towns/areas will be open defecation free by March, 2019, and 117,645 individual household toilets would be built.

This Government is committed to built houses for houseless poor urban SC/BC families in the State, which will involve construction of 2000 houses for eligible families this year.

An NRI Property Safeguard Act will be formulated, and an NRI ombudsman established in the state.