Punjab seeks ₹1k cr package to boost police infra in border dists

PUNJAB FINANCE MINISTER ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO RELEASE PENDING FUNDS UNDER THE NHM, AMOUNTING TO ₹1,119 CRORE

- HT Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Punjab, during a pre-budget meeting with Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Jaisalmer, raised a demand for central assistance to strengthen its police infrastructure and security efforts in border districts, with a grant of ₹1,000 crore.

Besides this, the state also sought industrial incentives similar to those provided to Jammu & Kashmir and neighbouring hill states to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Revealing this in a press release issued here on Sunday, state finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the state has strongly raised the demand to restore NABARD's Short-Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (ST-SAO) limit to ₹3,041 crore, from the reduced limit of ₹1,100 crore for FY 2024-25.

"This is vital to prevent farmers from turning to moneylenders, aligning with the 'Sahakar se Samriddhi' principle," Cheema said adding that several states raised this issue and it was discussed at length.