Hoshiarpur- Social activist Sanjeev Kumar has expressed serious concern over the deteriorating financial condition of Punjab. He said that the absurd free schemes made for votes have brought Punjab to the brink of bankruptcy.
He said that the scheme of free travel for women in government buses has badly damaged the public transport system. “Even women from rich families are travelling for free on taxpayers’ money, which is purely vote politics.”
Sanjeev Kumar also pointed out that the free electricity being given to the able-bodied families is being taken advantage of. He suggested that the government should reconsider such schemes and make them subsidy-based, so that only the needy get the benefits.
He warned that with the Punjab assembly elections about a year away, the government is planning to give Rs 1,000 per month to every woman. This will prove to be a disaster for Punjab as Punjab is already burdened with a debt of about Rs 4 lakh crore.
Sanjeev Kumar also expressed concern over the condition of government employees. He said that dearness allowance installments are not being paid on time, the arrears of the new pay scale are stuck and the next scale is also due next year. This will make the situation more serious.
“This is a warning situation. Punjab needs not free distribution, but strict economic reforms. "People should not encourage those who promise such free schemes," appealed Sanjeev Kumar.