State Budget a huge let-down

As the Congress government in the state presented its second Budget on Saturday, economists dubbed it unsatisfactory, stressing that it failed to address the issues pestering the masses.
Tribune staffer Gagan K Teja talks to some economists, seeking their opinion on it.

Focus needed on science & technology

Punjab has high hopes from the FM but he failed to meet people’s expectations. The state needs a massive investment push to become an industrial economy. There is a need to make the state a knowledge economy, for which investment should be made in science and technology. But the government has kept nothing for the sector. The FM mentioned only central schemes. If the government is unable to spend at least one per cent on science and technology, Punjab cannot move forward. The Congress is wasting the mandate given to it by people. — Prof Lakhwinder Singh Gill

Relief should reach farmers

The plight of farmers and crisis faced by the agriculture sector are the most important issues for the state. Last year, the government had kept Rs 1,500 crore for debt waiver but it distributed only Rs 371 crore among farmers. This year, it has kept Rs 4,250 crore, which is just a provision. To make a difference, the government needs to distribute the amount among farmers. In the education sector, it has kept Rs 30 crore for starting 30 colleges. This amount is not sufficient to build proper infrastructure, forget about running the colleges.  — Prof Kesar Singh Bhangoo

Increase spending on education by 20%

The need of the hour is that the state government must increase the layout for the education sector by 20 per cent every year to build a knowledge economy. For instance, Punjabi University is facing a severe financial crisis but the government has hiked its grant to it by only 6 per cent, whereas it should have been increased by at least 15 per cent. Though the Rs 50-crore grant is a welcome move, it is not enough. Rather, the government should waive its Rs 90-crore debt if they actually want to bail out the university of the financial mess. — Prof Jaswinder Singh Brar