Chandigarh: Punjab Government on Thursday took a decisive leap towards grassroots transformation as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Cabinet approved the ambitious ‘Rangla Punjab Vikas Yojana’, earmarking Rs 585 crore for critical district-level development projects in the 2025-26 financial year. Under this, each of the state’s 117 MLAs will receive Rs five crore annually for grassroots development projects.
In a major step to catalyse constituency-level development, the Cabinet gave nod to the scheme, announced by the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in this year’s budget. The scheme, with a total allocation of Rs 585 crore for the current fiscal, aimed at addressing the day-to-day infrastructural and civic needs of the people, ensuring equitable and need-based progress across all Vidhan Sabha constituencies. The Cabinet gave its nod to the guidelines of the scheme, which were finalized during a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister at his official residence.
A spokesperson from the Chief Minister’s Office said that funds under the scheme will be administered by the Deputy Commissioners, who will act upon recommendations made by MLAs, community organizations, citizen groups, and public-spirited individuals. These proposals will be vetted and approved by a District Level Committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioner and including the Minister in-charge for the district, as appointed by the Chief Minister.
The Deputy Commissioner will also hold powers to grant both administrative and financial sanctions, ensuring seamless execution and timely completion of development works. Describing the scheme as a “landmark initiative”, Chief Minister said that it reflected the government’s commitment to “transform Punjab into a vibrant, inclusive, and developed state, from the grassroots up”.
