Punjab seeks special package for border areas from Centre: CM Mann

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Chandigarh, June 11

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday pressed the Centre for Special Category Status for the state and a dedicated revival package for border regions, highlighting Punjab’s “unique and continuing burden” as a frontline border state at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting.

The Chief Minister further said Punjab, which shares a 553-km border with Pakistan faces persistent security challenges including cross border smuggling, drone based drug and arms trafficking and the social impact of drug addiction. He also pointed to repeated natural disasters including the 2025 floods that damaged over 2,300 villages and caused losses estimated at Rs 12,905 crore.

“Punjab has always acted as a buffer state for national security, but the support it receives is not adequate,” Mann said, urging 90:10 funding for Centrally Sponsored Schemes on the lines of hill and North Eastern states.

He also said border villages have lagged behind in development due to decades of uncertainty and security restrictions, arguing that investment has remained low in affected districts.

On development disparities, the Chief Minister said only a small number of villages have been included under recent central border development programmes, despite thousands living close to the international frontier.

Mann reiterated his demand for the Centre to reconsider Punjab’s long-standing requests, saying they had been raised repeatedly in earlier meetings as well.

“Punjab’s future is tied to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. But that future must include security, dignity and equal opportunity for our people,” he said.

Despite the demands, Mann stressed cooperation with the Centre, saying Punjab remained committed to national development goals.

“Only a secure and thriving Punjab can guarantee a Viksit Bharat,” he said.

Alongside the policy pitch, Mann outlined Punjab’s development agenda, including major reforms in health, education, skills and anti-drug programmes. Mann highlighted the state’s health insurance scheme offering coverage up to Rs 10 lakh per family, the expansion of Aam Aadmi Clinics and what he described as a large-scale transformation in primary healthcare access.

On education, he said Punjab had emerged as a top-performing state in national assessments and pointed to new skill-linked schools and entrepreneurship programmes aimed at preparing students for jobs and business creation.

He also detailed the state’s anti-drug campaign, youth sports infrastructure expansion, and training initiatives for armed forces recruitment.

Mann further proposed turning Mohali into a National Knowledge and Innovation Hub and an Integrated Semiconductor Mega-Cluster, citing existing institutions, skilled manpower and the presence of the Semi-Conductor Laboratory as key advantages.

The Chief Minister said Punjab was ready to partner with the Centre in shaping India’s economic future, but urged “fair recognition” of its challenges as a border state.