Seven years after former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government introduced a monthly pension of Rs 8,000 for acid attack victims, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has proposed to enhance the pension to Rs 10,000 per month.
The proposal will be tabled at the Cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Thursday. The Cabinet will be meeting after over four months, consequently about 150 agendas are waiting for its consideration. “The plan to hike the monthly pension was taken considering the inflation shooting through the roof. The pension hike will cost the state exchequer Rs 24,000 a year,” said an official privy to the development.
Razia Sultana was the Social Security, Women and Child Welfare minister when the Congress government had in 2018 decided that the acid attack victims, who could not find jobs, should be given a pension every month considering their health conditions after the acid attack.
“We are now taking it forward. We will give them more,” the official said.
To avail of the pension, an acid attack victim should be a resident of Punjab, and needs to apply for it. In case she has been rendered handicapped due to the acid attack, her guardian or relatives can apply before the Social Security Officer concerned, attaching a medical certificate mentioning “the victim has been rendered handicapped due to acid attack”. The applicant also needs to attach a copy of the FIR or complaint lodged in connection with the acid attack.
Besides, applicants need to attach attested copies of either voter list/voter card/Aadhaar card/ passport or driving licence and the residence certificate, along with details of their bank accounts.
Another significant proposal the Cabinet is expected to take up is directing colonisers to spend 50 per cent of External Development Charges (EDCs) imposed on them on development work by the government.
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“Earlier, we asked the colonisers to spend EDC on green belts around their residential projects. Now, we will ask them to spend 50 per cent in the vicinity of residential projects, and the rest 50 per cent on several other projects. For instance, we will ask them to spend on repairing roads and carrying out other work. This will help get work done despite a fund crunch,” said the official.
The cash-crunched Punjab government has decided to impose a 2.5 per cent stamp duty on the transfer of property among blood relatives.
The Department of Revenue and Rehabilitation will table the agenda before the Cabinet. If the Cabinet approves, it will be notified.
While the direct transfer from parents to children (sons and daughters) and grandparents to grandchildren will require a stamp duty of one per cent, all other transfers, including between brothers, sisters, and husband and wife, would require a stamp duty of 2.5 per cent.
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Official sources said the levying of stamp duty would help the government make a few crores. “The transfer of property among blood relations has many takers as it did not have any duty. We observed that parents transferred property to their children’s names and the same property was transferred back. This transfer was shown as a sale deed to mortgage it in a bank for a loan. At least 25 per cent of sale deeds were found to be among blood relatives. The revenue staff was busy dealing with these transfers. With the government now levying stamp duty, only serious transfers will be made,” said another government official.
The imposition of stamp duty drew flak from farmers’ organisations, with Balbir Singh Rajewal of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha announcing Wednesday to oppose it tooth and nail and threatening with a protest.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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