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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Punjab Cabinet approves Rs 68 crore loan waiver for 4,727 SC families
The Punjab Cabinet Tuesday approved a proposal to waive loans amounting to Rs 67.84 crore taken by over 4,700 Dalit families from the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation (PSCFC). The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, decided that loans disbursed till March 31, 2020 will be waived. Talking to the reporters after the meeting, Mann said Finance Minister Harpal Sigh Cheema in his budget speech in March had promised to waive the debt. 'With the Cabinet approval, the promise will now be fulfilled,' he said. 'This marks the beginning of relief and dignity for thousands of families who have been burdened by debt for years. A total of 4,727 families will directly benefit as these loans were given to help them start their livelihoods by opening small businesses like dairy farming, grocery shops, tailoring, boutiques, wooden furniture work, building material or hardware shops, leather goods manufacturing, education loans, or restaurants,' said Mann. The CM said that these loans were given before 1995. 'These families could not repay their loans due to circumstances such as the main earning member passing away, prolonged illness consuming all their savings or having no other source of income left. As recovering these loans from such people was unjust, so the state government has decided to waive them off,' Mann said. Cheema, who was also present at the media briefing, said the debt had been pending for the past 20 years and added that neither the Congress nor the Akali Dal-BJP governments of the past cared for SC families when they were in power. 'The full amount of Rs 67.84 crore comprising Rs 30.02 crore in principal, Rs 22.95 crore in interest, and Rs 14.87 crore in penal interest will be reimbursed to the PSCFC by the state government. The cut-off date for calculating the final interest amount will be the date on which the government issues the notification to implement the scheme,' said Cheema. Later, an official spokesperson of the chief minister's office said that the loan waiver covers all loans disbursed by the PSCFC, offering significant relief to SC and Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) loanees. All 4,727 cases (including 4,685 defaulting loanees and 42 regular loanees) will be covered under this loan waiver scheme. No due certificates will be issued by the district managers of the PSCFC. Loanees who have previously availed benefits under earlier waiver schemes are also eligible for coverage under this initiative. No recovery proceedings will be initiated against loanees under PSCFC loan regulations post-waiver. Their accounts will be considered fully settled as of the cut-off date. However, loanees who filed court cases against the Corporation will not be eligible unless they unconditionally withdraw their cases and provide documented proof. As per the 2011 Census, Scheduled Castes constitute 31.94 percent of Punjab's total population. Many members of this community availed loans from PSCFC to establish self-employment ventures aimed at their economic upliftment. However, some borrowers have been unable to repay their loans due to circumstances beyond their control, leading to defaults, said the spokesperson. The PSCFC is a trusted institution established in 1971 that has been providing low-interest loans to the Scheduled Castes community. Replying to a question on the drug menace, Mann reiterated the commitment of his government to wipe out this curse from the state and said no one involved in this heinous crime is being spared and severest of severe action is being taken against them. The chief minister said the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against the drug menace and no one indulging in this crime against humanity is being spared. Even the black sheep amongst the law enforcing agencies are being identified and severest of severe action will be taken against them, he said. Referring to the anti-drug campaign '?'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh', he saids everal villages of the state have been made drug free. This fight will continue till an ounce of drug is present in the state and every effort is being made to make Punjab free from this scourge, he said. Replying to another query, Mann said it is ironic that the farmer unions are worried about having a debate with him whereas he is concerned about safeguarding the interests of farmers. He said paddy transplantation has already begun in the state and the Punjab government has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate farmers. To another question, Mann said during a recent meeting of the NITI Aayog in Delhi, he had asked the central government to set up colleges and industries in border areas. It is imperative to give a major push to the development of the border districts of the state that had lagged behind due to several reasons, he stated. Mann said he also flagged the issue of problems being faced by farmers of the state having their land between the International border and the fence. He reiterated that the state has no spare water to share with any other state adding that even a single drop of water will not be given to anyone. He said most of the blocks of the state are over exploited and the groundwater situation in the state is very grim. He demanded that water agreements should be reviewed after every 25 years. Mann again demanded reconstitution of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He said 3,000 posts of Punjab's quota have not been deliberately filled by the BBMB so as to 'weaken' the state's claim over the waters.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Punjab registers record 25.3% growth in GST collections for May
Punjab has registered a record 25.31% growth in net GST collection for the month of May. Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the net GST revenue rose to ₹2,006.31 crore in May 2025, up from ₹1,601.14 crore in May 2024, an increase of ₹405.17 crore. In May 2024, the state had seen a growth of ₹121 crore (8.17%) over ₹1,480 crore collected in May 2023. Cheema attributed the growth to strong tax administration, enhanced compliance, and a resilient economic environment under the AAP government, adding that this points to an accelerating growth trend in Punjab's fiscal health. He further stated that this surge not only represents the highest year-on-year monthly growth in recent years but also outpaces the national average GST growth. 'We have curbed tax evasion, improved field-level enforcement, and enabled a seamless taxation framework that supports businesses while safeguarding state revenues,' he added. The minister said key actions included the physical verification of 195 bogus firms, leading to the blocking of ₹75.79 crore in fraudulent input tax credit (ITC); detection of major tax evasion in the coal sector, involving off-book transactions exceeding ₹225 crore and ₹11.65 crore in evaded tax; and the uncovering of ₹900 crore in bogus gold bullion transactions in Ludhiana, with ₹21 crore of ineligible ITC blocked. Cheema said the milestone is particularly commendable given that it has come during a period when Punjab, as a border state, faced heightened tensions during the armed conflict between India and Pakistan.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
80,000 litres of ethanol seized in Bathinda
In a major crackdown on illicit liquor, the Punjab excise department seized 80,000 litres of ethanol being allegedly transported illegally in two trucks in Bathinda and arrested eight individuals. Those arrested included four from Bathinda, two from Uttar Pradesh, and two from Nepal, and they were being interrogated by officials of the excise department and the police, said excise minister Harpal Singh Cheema. The two trucks bearing Gujarat registration numbers, and two cars and one SUV were also seized. The minister said the accused have been charged under various sections of the Excise Act, and Section 316 (breach of trust) and 125 (endangering human lives) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He said the quantity of ethanol seized from the two trucks could have been used to produce approximately 3,75,000 bottles of country-made liquor, 2,50,000 bottles of English liquor, or 1,10,000 bottles of sanitiser. Cheema warned that those involved in manufacturing or sale of illegal liquor will not be spared. 'Strict action will be taken against everyone involved,' he said, urging manufacturing illegal liquor to shut down their operations immediately or face stringent legal consequences, including imprisonment. He also pointed out that some individuals smuggle ENA (Extra Neutral Alcohol) from Punjab to other states to produce liquor, while others manufacture and sell liquor within Punjab. 'Some misuse ethanol under the guise of producing sanitisers. Numerous such products are used as mediums for the misuse of ethanol,' he added. Cheema said in this particular case, ethanol was loaded at a factory located in Dinanagar, Gurdaspur. He said that excise officials are investigating the intended destination and purpose of the consignment.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Excise dept seizes record ethanol in crackdown on illegal liquor trade in Bathinda region
Chandigarh: In one of the biggest actions against illegal liquor trade in the state, a joint operation by the special operation group (excise) and the excise police led to the seizure of 80,000 litres of ethanol in the Bathinda region. With this, the total ethanol/ENA seizures in Punjab reached 1,70,000 litres, marking a significant milestone in the state's crackdown on the illicit liquor trade. Punjab finance, planning, excise and taxation minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday shared details about the intelligence-led operation, stating that it was launched following credible information about a gang involved in pilfering and illegally storing ethanol/spirit. After careful reconnaissance, specialised teams raided Navraj Dhaba in Bathinda, where the suspects were caught red-handed transferring ethanol in two Gujarat-registered tankers, each carrying 40,000 litres. According to Cheema, the ethanol was originally loaded at VRV Hospitality Pvt Ltd in Chak Alia, Dinanagar (Gurdaspur) and was officially bound for IOCL Bathinda. However, it is suspected that the consignment was intended for clandestine diversion to dry states, where alcohol production and sale are banned, for illegal use. "If this consignment went undetected, it could have been used to manufacture approximately 3.72 lakh bottles of 50-degree PML, 2.47 lakh bottles of 70-degree IMFL, or around 1.04 lakh litres of sanitisers," Cheema explained, underscoring the potential public health and revenue implications of such illegal activities. The minister further said that eight individuals were arrested during the raid. Two vehicles — a Toyota Etios (PB03AY5567) and an Innova (HR26CY2961) — believed to be used in the operation, were also seized. An FIR was registered at Sadar police station, Bathinda, under relevant provisions of the law, including those that permit life imprisonment upon conviction. Cheema confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is under way to uncover the entire network, including both suppliers and buyers, and assured that no individual involved will be spared, regardless of their status or connections. Reaffirming the state's zero-tolerance stance, he said, "The excise department is working relentlessly to dismantle these illegal supply chains and prevent the misuse of ethanol for unlawful purposes. We are determined to break the backbone of the illicit liquor trade in Punjab." MSID:: 121519002 413 |
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
CUET-PG 2025: HC sends notice to Centre, NTA, UGC as student challenges answer key
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to the central government, National Testing Agency (NTA), and University Grants Commission (UGC) on a petition challenging the final answer key and result of the CUET-PG 2025 Political Science examination. The court has directed that admissions to the course in question will remain subject to the outcome of the case. The petition has been filed by Gurshaan Singh Cheema, who appeared for the CUET-PG 2025 Political Science exam conducted on March 11. Cheema has sought the setting aside of the provisional answer key published on April 24, the final answer key released on May 6, and the result and score sheet issued the same day. The petitioner has specifically contested the correctness of Question ID 7311302427, which required arranging four constitutional amendments in chronological order. Cheema claimed the final answer key retained what he alleges is a factually incorrect answer. According to the petition, Cheema lost five marks due to the incorrect key — both due to lack of credit for the correct answer and negative marking for selecting an answer different from the one listed. This, he argues, has significantly impacted his rank and eligibility for admission. The plea seeks a revised answer key with the correct response and a fresh result based on it. The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, in its May 27 order, directed that all admissions to the course will remain subject to the outcome of the petition. The court also directed the respondents to inform both selected candidates and those appearing for counselling about the pendency of the case. The matter will next be heard on July 3. Respondents have been granted time to file their replies.
