Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that his government will present its fifth Budget on March 8 in the state Legislative Assembly. The announcement was made during his visit to Gujarat alongside AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
Notably, March 8 not only marks International Women’s Day, but is also a Sunday this year. With the Vidhan Sabha meeting on such an unusual day of the week, the announcement has fuelled speculation that the upcoming Budget may include a major announcement for women, particularly regarding the ruling party‘s pending promise of Rs 1,000 per month to every woman in the state.
Addressing the media, Mann reiterated that the upcoming Budget would once again be a “pro-people” and citizen-centric document focused on the welfare of every section of society.
“The Punjab Government will present its fifth Budget in the month of March, and we will continue our tradition of presenting a pro-people budget aimed at the welfare of all. Our sole aim is to ensure the well-being of the common man, and we are making strenuous efforts to achieve this. The forthcoming Budget will again ensure immense benefit to the people of Punjab,” he stated.
SPOTLIGHT ON Rs-1,000 PROMISE
The assurance about a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to every woman above 18 years of age in the state was first made in November 2021, ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, during the ‘Mission Punjab’ rally in Moga.
Kejriwal had then declared that once the AAP government was formed, every woman would receive Rs 1,000 per month directly in her bank account.
Now, nearly four years after that promise was made, and as the AAP government prepares to present its final full Budget before the 2027 Assembly polls, the question remains over whether and how the promise will finally be implemented.
FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND MODALITIES
Punjab is currently burdened with an estimated debt of around Rs 5 lakh crore, raising concerns about the fiscal feasibility of the promised scheme – that too when the ruling AAP blames the BJP-led Centre for what it describes as withheld funds.
The Centre, too, has sought clarification regarding usage of previous fiscal allocations.
According to a government official speaking on the condition of anonymity, if the Rs-1,000 scheme is made optional, the estimated expenditure could be around Rs 6,000 crore annually. However, if all eligible women are included, the cost may rise to nearly Rs 10,000 crore.
The Finance Department is reportedly in favour of monthly disbursements of a smaller amount rather than a lump sum payment, in order to avoid additional interest burdens on the state exchequer.
POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE
With the Budget scheduled on International Women’s Day, the timing has heightened political expectations. Whether the government announces the rollout of the Rs-1,000 scheme or opts for a phased or modified version could significantly shape the political narrative ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in 2027.
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