Punjab News Daily

New Delhi, June 11

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday strongly raised Punjab’s long-pending concerns before the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog Governing Council, seeking a special package for the revitalisation of border areas and demanding that Punjab be accorded Special Category Status (SCS) with 90:10 funding under all Centrally Sponsored Schemes on the lines of hill states, North Eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir. Addressing the meeting, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted the extraordinary security; economic and social challenges faced by Punjab as a frontline border state and asserted that the state’s aspirations are fully aligned with the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. 

Speaking on the unique challenges confronting Punjab, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab is a frontline state sharing a 553-kilometre border with Pakistan. The state faces a deep and multidimensional crisis that includes persistent cross-border terrorism, drone-based smuggling of heroin and weapons. This has resulted in a drug addiction epidemic among youth, organised crime and daily hardship for farmers cultivating land between the security fence and the international border under BSF escort.”

Highlighting the impact of natural disasters and security-related disruptions, the Chief Minister said, “Punjab also suffered the devastating impact of natural disasters such as the 2025 floods, which damaged more than 2,300 villages and caused losses estimated at ₹12,905 crore. The onslaught that residents of Punjab had to face in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor was visible for the entire country to see.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has repeatedly urged the Union Government to take urgent measures to strengthen the international border and address the multiple challenges confronting the state. “To secure our international border with Pakistan, make it future-ready and address the multifaceted crisis facing Punjab, we have placed a series of urgent demands before the Central Government on multiple occasions. However, there has been little and unenthusiastic response from the Centre, which is unfortunate and undesirable,” he said.

Urging the Prime Minister to extend greater support to Punjab, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab and its people stand resolute in their commitment to protect the country and its borders from a hostile neighbour even at the cost of their own disadvantage.” Expressing hope that Punjab’s concerns would receive a positive response, he added, “I hope that the genuine and legitimate demands of the state are favourably considered and Punjab is given its due recognition and share in the economic development of the country.”

Presenting Punjab’s development roadmap, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “As the Chief Minister of Punjab, a land of resilience, promise and potential, I am proud to present our collective vision for a Rangla Punjab that is determined to play a pivotal role in shaping a Viksit Bharat by 2047.” He said that as Punjab’s aspirations align with national priorities, discussions centred on human capital development are both timely and crucial.