The Aam Aadmi Party government led by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in Punjab is completing one year on March 16, 2023. Expectations were high from the new AAP government after it won a massive 92 out of 117 seats in the 2022 assembly elections. Expectations from the Bhagwant Mann government were also high because it was the first non-Congress, non-Akali government in the state in five decades. On the completion of one year of the Bhagwant Mann government, a list of fulfilled promises has been issued.
After a year, one thing has emerged that the Bhagwant Mann government has created an image of running an “honest” administration with “welfare” at the core of its development model.
Clean administration and action against corruption was a major issue for the AAP not only in the run-up to the 2022 Punjab elections but also since the state entered the electoral scene in 2014. In the last year, the Bhagwant Mann government was seen taking many big steps on this front.
He sacked his health minister Vijay Singla on corruption charges and another minister Fauja Singh Sarari resigned on similar charges. Several opposition leaders, IAS and state civil service officers have also been booked.
However, the question still remains as to how far the government has been able to eliminate corruption at the lower level, which affects the life of the common man to a great extent. Significantly, no other action was taken against Fauja Singh Sarari except taking his resignation.
Government jobs, free electricity, support to farmers
CM Bhagwant Mann, while giving a speech on March 14, claimed that “today we are living up to every promise and so far 26,797 government jobs have been given in Punjab.”
In July 2022, the Bhagwant Mann government announced 300 units of free electricity, fulfilling an important promise made during the elections.
CM Bhagwant Mann has increased the size of the total budget expenditure for 2023-24 by 26 percent to Rs 1,96,462 crore as compared to the previous year. Has allocated Rs 13,888 crore for the agriculture sector in its 2023-24 budget, which is 20% more than last year. The government has taken some steps towards crop diversification.
CM Mann had promised to purchase moong under MSP. This is a good step towards crop diversification in Punjab. If implemented smoothly, it can take Punjab out of the wheat-paddy cycle that is hurting the state’s water table.
The government has allocated Rs 4,781 crore for health and family welfare in this year’s budget, which is 11% more than last year.
However, it should also be noted that the Punjab government has a huge debt of Rs 3.2 lakh crore. It was already around Rs 2.5 lakh crore when the Mann government took over. Despite this, it is challenging for the government to spend Rs 20,000 crore on electricity subsidy alone.
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