CLEARS TABLING OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR 2022-23 BEFORE THE HOUSE, GREEN SIGNAL TO AMEND PUNJAB FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT ACT, 2003

Chandigarh (Face2News)

The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave nod for tabling the White Paper on the Finances of the state in the house during the current session of the Vidhan Sabha.

Divulging the details, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that a decision to this effect was taken by the council of Ministers during its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat-I.

The spokesperson said that the ‘White Paper’ on state’s finances is an attempt to simplify the complex issues being faced by the Punjab government and clearly apprising the common man of the present situation inherited by the incumbent Government. This white paper primarily contains four chapters that bring out historic patterns and present status of financial indicators, debt position and financial health of the state PSUs. The White Paper will also comment upon the possible way forward for the resurgence of fiscal health of the state.

The Cabinet also cleared the tabling of the Budget estimates for the year 2022-23 in the ongoing budget session of the Vidhan Sabha. The budget estimates have been prepared meticulously after due consultation with all the stakeholders including common citizens and others who gave their suggestions through emails, letters and direct communication. The Budget proposals have incorporated all the relevant fiscal indicators such as Revenue Receipts, Capital Receipts, Revenue Expenditure, Capital Expenditure, Revenue Deficit, Fiscal Deficit and Outstanding debt.

The Cabinet also accorded green signal for amending Section 4 in sub section 2 for clause (a) of the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003. This will help in availing the benefit of Normal Net Borrowing ceiling of 3.5% of the projected Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), extra borrowing ceiling equivalent to contribution under National Pension Scheme (NPS), carrying forward its unutilized borrowing out of the borrowing ceiling allowed for the previous years and availing 50 year interest free loan under scheme for special assistance to states for Capital Investment for 2022-23 during the current fiscal.

The Cabinet also cleared tabling CAG Audit Reports for the year 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, Performance Audit of Efficacy of Implementation of the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act 1992 (April 2015- March 2020), Performance Audit of Direct Benefit Transfer (Cash Transfer) (April 2017 to July 2020), Annual Technical Inspection Report on Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies for period April 2016 to March 2019, Performance Audit of Outcomes of Higher Education in Punjab (April 2015 to March 2020) and Finance Accounts, Appropriation Accounts for year 2019-20 and 2020-21 of Punjab government before Punjab Vidhan Sabha in current session. 

NOD FOR AMENDING PUNJAB RIGHT TO BUSINESS RULES, 2020 TO FACILITATE EXPANSION BY EXISTING INDUSTRIAL UNITS : In order to give further fillip to industrial development in the state, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave nod for amending the Punjab Right to Business Rules, 2020 to include expansion by existing units under the purview of the Punjab Right to Business Act 2020.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the council of Ministers held here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat-I under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

Divulging the details, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that to promote Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the state, the Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020 was notified on February 6, 2020 and subsequently the Punjab Right to Business Rules, 2020 were also notified on July 29, 2020. These were applicable to the newly incorporated Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Punjab. But the new amendment in the Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020 will provide an enabling ecosystem for self declaration, exemptions; expedite approvals and inspections for existing MSMEs too, for expanding and operating in the state.

But with this significant move all the existing enterprises undertaking expansion will be eligible to get certificate of in-principle approval for seven services covered under the Act. As per the amendment, the existing MSMEs undertaking expansion will be able to fast track completion of their expansion after grant of certificate of in-principle approval within five working days to existing units in Focal points and within 20 working days to existing units outside the Focal points.

APPROVAL FOR CREATING 810 POSTS FOR SUBORDINATE COURTS

The Cabinet also accorded approval for creating 810 posts for subordinate courts of the state including posts of 25 Additional District and Sessions Judges and 80 Civil Judges (Junior Division) cum Judicial Magistrates including posts of the supporting staff. This move will significantly help in setting up of new courts in the state thereby facilitating people by expeditiously disposing off pending court cases in the subordinate courts. The creation of these new posts will also create new employment opportunities for the youth besides strengthening the judiciary system in the state, added the spokesperson.

The Cabinet also gave green signal to the framing of the Punjab Water Resources, Research, “Group A” Services Rules, 2022. It may be recalled that keeping in view administrative needs of Punjab Water Resources department nine posts of Research Officers and 26 posts of Assistant Research Officers were sanctioned but there was no clarity about direct/ promotion quota ratio in the existing rules. This move will now help in meeting the administrative requirements of the department to serve the people of state efficaciously.

The Cabinet also approved negotiating and signing of the Building Fiscal and Institutional Resilience for Growth (BFAIR) project with Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India and World Bank (International Bank for reconstruction and Development). This project will help the state government in bringing key reforms across the state and city level in coming five years (2022-2027) covering five administrative departments as implementing agencies.

APPROVES TO AMEND PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE MARKETS ACT

The Cabinet also accorded approval to amend the Section 12 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act-1961 for making provision to appoint administrators by superseding existing nominated Market Committees. As per the decision, the State Government will appoint administrators in place of dissolved Market Committees, who shall exercise powers and perform duties of Market Committees for a period of one year or till the nomination of new Market Committees, whichever is earlier. Pertinently, at present there are 156 Market Committees in the state with nominated Chairman, Vice Chairman and Members but to implement the policies and programs of government expeditiously and efficaciously, it has became desirable to appoint administrators in these market committees by superseding the present incumbents. 

NOD TO ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF DPI (COLLEGES), LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT AND TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS: The Punjab Cabinet also approved Annual Administrative Reports of the DPI (Colleges) for the year 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, Language Department, Punjab for the year 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 besides that of Department of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museums of Punjab for 2020-21.