After Haryana’s welfare scheme announcement for women, Punjab’s AAP govt feels the heat over its own promise

The land pooling policy was expected to be a “money-minting machine” for the Punjab Government, as it had hoped to fund its pre-poll promise to pay women Rs 1,000 every month. However, the land pooling policy could not see the light of day due to protests by landowners, farmers, and the Opposition alike.

The government is now considering reviving the Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) scheme to sell its vacant properties and generate funds. The government, already burdened with a debt of Rs 4 lakh crore, finding it difficult to stay afloat, has been exploring ways to generate revenue to fund the scheme.

Eyes on polls

Saini’s announcement has come at a time when Punjab is reeling under floods, and at least 16 districts out of 23 have been affected. A few days ago, he announced jobs to 121 victims, displaced during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Saini has been visiting Punjab lately, and his trip to Sunam on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh on July 31 created enough ripples in the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been honing up its prospects in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

This has left AAP concerned as it saw its vote share dip to 26.2 per cent in last year’s Lok Sabha elections from the 42 per cent it secured in the 2022 Assembly polls. In contrast, the BJP’s vote share grew from 6.6 per cent in 2022 to 18 per cent in the Lok Sabha polls.

Punjab has not been able to pay Rs 1,000 per month to women. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had even promised an enhancement of Rs 100 in the already promised amount ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Unfulfilled promise, burden on the exchequer

The AAP has already been feeling the heat from the electorate, with people questioning AAP leaders about the non-fulfilment of its promise. The government has estimated that it would cost the state at least Rs 12,000 crore annually if Rs 1,000 is given to women. With Saini announcing Rs 2,100, it will be difficult for fund-crunched Punjab to emulate him.

“We will eventually pay this amount. We are looking at generating resources. It will be announced next year,” said an AAP leader.

A source in the government said that AAP leaders have discussed paying the women at least one instalment before the next elections. However, with Haryana rolling out the dole from September, it will pose a challenge to the government in the state.

The AAP government, which rolled out its free 300 units of power for the domestic sector soon after coming to power in the state, is now facing a massive power subsidy bill of over Rs 20,000 crore.

The government is also seeking to generate revenue from GST by detecting tax evasion. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema had sought a compensation of Rs 50,000 crore from the GST council for having lost money due to the subsuming of taxes.