Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of important decisions spanning administrative reforms, agriculture and healthcare, with an aim to reduce public inconvenience and fast-track the state’s development. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said a major reform has been cleared to decentralise the process of land allotment for public institutions. Under the new framework, powers to allocate land will rest at the district level, with a committee led by the Deputy Commissioner taking final decisions. The move is expected to curb procedural delays, reduce bureaucratic hurdles and ensure quicker redressal of public issues.
Giving a push to the agricultural sector, the Cabinet approved a comprehensive crop diversification initiative with financial and technical support from Japan. The long-term project aims to significantly expand horticulture in the state, increasing its share from the existing 6 per cent to 15 per cent over the next decade. Officials said the programme will focus on strengthening cold chain facilities, setting up processing units and introducing marketing intelligence systems at the grassroots level to improve farmers’ earnings.
In the health and wellness segment, the Cabinet decided to scale up the Yogashala initiative by recruiting 1,000 additional yoga trainers. According to Cheema, trainees will be paid Rs 8,000 per month during the training period, while selected trainers will receive a monthly remuneration of Rs 25,000, reflecting the government’s focus on preventive healthcare.
The Cabinet also approved bringing four key healthcare institutions—Badal, Khadoor Sahib, Jalalabad and the Fazilka Faisal Care Centre—under the administrative control of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. The decision is aimed at improving the quality of medical education, hospital management and patient care services.
In a bid to strengthen cultural connect among the youth, the Cabinet further cleared the proposal to stage the theatrical production ‘Hamare Ram’, based on the life of Lord Ram, in 40 major cities across Punjab.
