Saturday, March 29, 2025
CHANDIGARH, November 28, 2025:
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Friday announced a series of major reforms following a state cabinet meeting, with a strong emphasis on transparency, administrative efficiency, and healthcare expansion.
To tighten regulation and eliminate illegal mining, the Cabinet approved:
Creation of a new authority to monitor the Mining & Geology Department.
Mandatory GPS installation for real-time tracking of all mining activities, ensuring transparency and curbing unlawful extraction.
Several key decisions were taken to simplify and modernize government processes:
Amendment to the Societies Registration Act, 1860 to make registration procedures smoother across the state.
Procurement rule revision: The financial approval limit doubled from โน2.5 lakh to โน5 lakh, allowing faster operations.
Reforms in the Cooperative Department to enhance transparency and accountability.
In a major step to address specialist shortages in government hospitals:
300 private specialist doctors have been empanelled and will serve on-call in public facilities.
An incentive-based model has been introduced. Consultation fee: โน100 per OPD visit.
In-service government doctors performing additional duties will also be compensated.
Cheema highlighted that this effectively fills 300 specialist vacancies, ensuring improved patient care.
The Cabinet also discussed measures to improve staff availability in border regions.
A proposal is underway to provide special incentives for doctors and teachers working near the border.
A detailed policy in this regard will be finalized soon.
