Union Minister Bittu Advocates for Special Incentives for Punjab in Meeting with FM Sitharaman

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss crucial incentives for Punjab, focusing on border districts. Bittu highlighted the need for investment boosts, reduction in GST for bicycles, and operationalization of a refrigeration unit at Amritsar Airport, urging priority for Punjab in upcoming budgets.

Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, Ravneet Singh Bittu, held an extensive meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss vital issues pertaining to Punjab. Bittu emphasized the importance of special incentives for the border districts of Punjab, proposing a model similar to that of Jammu and Kashmir, to benefit industry and farmers.

In a detailed brief to the media, Bittu specified his demand for special benefits for Punjab's border districts—Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran. He argued that incentives would spur investment and create job opportunities in the state. Additionally, Bittu called for the reintroduction of the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) with a higher threshold, given the limited support for MSMEs to achieve technological progress.

Bittu also highlighted the urgent need to amend freight subsidy criteria to include MSMEs in Punjab due to high transportation costs compared to coastal states. He pointed out that other states, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Uttarakhand and West Bengal, benefit from substantial transport subsidies. Further, Bittu advocated for a GST reduction on bicycles to 5% and pushed for functionalization of a refrigeration unit at Amritsar Airport to promote food exports from Punjab. Additional demands included initiatives to support agro-based MSMEs and waivers for small farmers.

Bittu conveyed that Sitharaman listened intently and assured that Punjab would receive significant representation in the upcoming budget.