Challenges, if taken seriously, are often productive as they determine the path of progress. The turn of the year is the time not only to look back but also to set new challenges and targets ahead.

Punjab, once the sword and sports arm of the country, is at a crossroads. Its economy is tottering at the brink. Problems of drug addiction, suicides, unemployment, continuous exodus of youth,  gangsterism, pollution, diversification of agriculture and poor delivery of civic services  are aggravating day by day. Though AAP, the new ruling party in the State, has been in the saddle for more than nine months,  long standing problems continue to elude solutions. The State needs a perestroika to be back on its footing as a dynamic and prosperous leader.

The Bhagwant Mann Government in the State has been patting its back for a number of revolutionary decisions it has taken in the first nine months of its governance. These  include “zeero electricity bills”,  start of 100 Mohalla clinics besides starting bus service to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi from various district headquarters, it has taken in the first nine months. It is also claiming credit for introducing “single pension for MLAs”, regulate supply of sand and gravel at affordable rates, control corruption in public offices and improving school education. The less said the better.

Intriguingly The State government was concerned more for wowing voters in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in its party fold than redress the chronic problems facing the State. Inserting full page advertisements in newspapers not read in the State and on TV channels that have larger viewership outside the geographical terrains of the State have evoked severe criticisms, both from the political opponents as well as eminent social scientists. These extra ventures  in far off “greener” pastures even failed to get the ruling party mileage it was expecting to get. The only gain, as it claims, has been in its status of becoming a national party with its nominees sitting in four Assemblies. The progress on the national political horizon may be commendable for a party that made its debut less than a decade ago. Still, it falls far short of expectations of the people  who have been posing their electoral trust in hoping it to be a harbinger of change in a country that has primarily been ruled by two parties – Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party – with brief spells of rule by alliances.

AAP may be working for a larger agenda as  it has set its eyes to be a major political opponent to Narendra Modi’s BJP. It has been preparing itself for its bigger political challenge, the 2024 general elections. To succeed, it has to keep its already acquired flock together. Punjab and Delhi will be its biggest testing grounds. It has additional challenges and issues confronting the State. Farmers are still up in arms. Industry is facing a plethora of problems. Health care and basic civic infrastructure, including provision of safe potable water and disposal of solid garbage have been engaging the attention of the State but without much reprieve.

One of the major challenges facing the State is shortage of funds. It keeps looking towards the Centre for special packages rather than cutting down its wasteful expenditure, including  its publicity budget besides rationalizing its security expenditure. Growing budget of subsidies and diminishing channels generating revenue coupled with rapidly increasing expenditure on maintenance of establishment, including the security of Chief Minister and other VIPs, are all contributing factors  for the deteriorating fiscal health of the State.

Strong statesmanship and all-out effort to redress some of the chronic problems of the State are the minimum the people of the State expect from the incumbent government in the New Year. Looking for help from outside, including investments, is  laudable but the State cannot be dependent upon others and the doles from the Centre. Punjab needs a hard and strong push as it will have to fight its own battle. Think more of Punjab than  Delhi or Gujarat should be the motto of Bhagwant Mann government.

(Prabhjot Singh is a senior journalist. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com

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