First 5 tasks for Punjab govt
Sukhdeep Kaur lists the next governments most pressing jobs
Finance
Punjab is faltering on payment for development projects,its power corporation is footing the bills for free electricity to farmers,and its boards and corporations have all borrowed heavily against future earnings. Yet none of the parties has been talking finances. Punjabs economy came on centre stage a year ago after former finance minister Manpreet Badal walked out over fiscal mismanagement. In the run-up to the polls,Manpreet himself endorsed targeted subsidies,while the Congress in its manifesto promised to take the populist schemes of Akalis to another level. As for the Akalis,they will have to first clean up the mess before doling out all that they have promised.
Jobs
Its a problem all parties cited as the biggest in their manifestoes,with varied figures ranging up to 47 lakh. In the words of Captain Amarinder Singh,it the biggest socio-economic problem gripping Punjab,its social consequences being alcoholism and drug abuse. The Akalis and the BJP,whose government created about one lakh jobs in last five years,have promised 10 lakh more in the next five,plus a handsome unemployment allowance. Amarinder has promised a two-pronged approach: diversification in agriculture and increased industrialisation. And Manpreet has promised to deal with the problem within 100 days of coming to power.
Education
Where there are schools,there is no infrastructure or even teachers. The school dropout rate remains high. Even the Badal governments much-publicised Adarsh Schools failed to take off. In the name of higher education are flourishing private universities,hospitality colleges,management and engineering institutes catering to city-bound youth from farming families,adding little to their employabilty. The Congress says the education sector,along with health,is in its list of top five priorities after returning to power.
Farming
The minimum support price for crops is going up but so is the debt burden on Punjab farmers. Some 97 per cent of the states area is under assured irrigation,tubewells are running on free power,and groundwater levels are depleting fast over 100cm in the central districts. The Congress is talking of revving up its ambitious citrus diversification programme and ushering in reforms. The Akalis believe the best service they gave farmers is free power and subsidised atta-dal for poor families,and have promised to continue these.
Industry
After a brief recovery when it touched seven per cent last year,Punjabs growth rate has dipped once again in advance estimates for 2011-12 owing to a negative growth in agriculture,a stagnant services sector and a single-digit growth in industry. Other than the geographical disadvantage of being landlocked,Punjab has also seen a flight of industry to neighbouring states following tax sops. Those sops have,however,been withdrawn since by the Finance Ministry. The Congress is now promising a new industrial policy. The Akalis introduced one in 2009,but with no returns.
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