The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, April 22
Reflecting the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government’s commitment to uplifting underprivileged sections of society; Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Tuesday that the state government has increased the interest-free Wheat Loan for Class-IV (Group-D) employees to Rs 9700 for the financial year 2025-26.
In a press communiqué issued from here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab Government has consistently augmented this crucial financial assistance, achieving a cumulative increase of 21.25 percent over the past three years. He said that this progressive approach of the current government stands in stark contrast to the previous Congress regime’s neglect of this underprivileged class.
Criticising the preceding Congress-led state government for its indifference towards the weaker sections of society, Finance Minister Cheema said that during the challenging COVID-19 years of fiscal year 2019-20 and 2020-21, the Congress government maintained the interest-free Wheat Loan at a paltry Rs 7500. He further added that in the election year of 2021-22, the Congress government only made a nominal increase of Rs 500, bringing the loan amount to Rs 8000.
Striking a comparison, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the AAP-led state government has demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the well-being of Class-IV employees. He said that this interest free loan amount was incrementally raised to Rs 8500 for fiscal year 2023-24, then to Rs 9100 for fiscal year 2024-25, and now, to Rs 9700 for fiscal year 2025-26.
Finance Minister said that each eligible employee would be granted an interest-free loan of Rs 9700, enabling them to purchase wheat at the prevailing government rate of Rs 2425 per quintal, based on an allocation of four quintals per family. He said that this loan will be recovered in easy eight equal monthly installments, commencing with the salary of June 2025 (payable in July 2025), ensuring complete recovery within the same financial year. He said that the sanctioned amount will be disbursed from the state government treasury by May 29, 2025.
The Finance Minister said that the interest-free wheat loan is a vital initiative that provides essential support to Class-IV employees, who are the backbone of Punjab’s administration. He said that the state government is duty-bound to alleviate the economic burden on these employees, enabling them to better manage their household expenses and improve their overall well-being.
