Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on Sunday announced several promises aimed at supporting youth and families in Punjab. Speaking at the “Punjab Bachao” rally, he said that his party would provide financial help of ₹10 lakh to economically weaker youth who want to start their own businesses if the party returns to power in the state.
The rally was held at Bhadaur in Barnala, where a large number of supporters gathered to hear the SAD leader speak about his party’s plans for the future of Punjab.
Badal said that many young people in Punjab want to start businesses but cannot do so because they lack financial support. According to him, the proposed loan scheme would help such youth become entrepreneurs and create their own employment.
He explained that the loan would be up to ₹10 lakh and would have a repayment period of ten years. This, he said, would give young entrepreneurs enough time to establish their businesses and repay the money without too much financial pressure.
Badal added that encouraging entrepreneurship is important for Punjab because it can create jobs and strengthen the state’s economy.
During his speech, Badal said that his party would focus on creating opportunities for the youth of Punjab. He claimed that many young people in the state are struggling to find jobs or start businesses.
According to him, providing financial assistance would help talented youth turn their ideas into real businesses. These businesses could include small shops, service companies, manufacturing units, or other types of enterprises.
Badal said the ten-year repayment period is designed to make the loan scheme practical and manageable. Young entrepreneurs would get enough time to grow their ventures before they start repaying the amount.
He also promised that if the Shiromani Akali Dal forms the government in Punjab, the party will bring new industries to the state. He said attracting industries is important because it can create thousands of jobs for local people.
Badal further announced that his party would ensure that 75 percent of jobs in industries operating in Punjab are reserved for people from the state. According to him, this policy would help local youth find employment opportunities closer to home.
While making these announcements, Badal criticised the current government led by the Aam Aadmi Party. He alleged that many jobs in Punjab are currently being given to people from other states.
He specifically mentioned states such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, claiming that workers from these states are being preferred over local youth.
Badal said his party would ensure that Punjabis get priority in employment if SAD returns to power.
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Apart from the loan scheme for youth, Badal also announced a plan to increase financial assistance for girls’ marriages. He said that the “shagun” assistance provided by the government would be increased to ₹1 lakh.
The shagun scheme provides financial support to families during the marriage of their daughters. Badal said the scheme was originally introduced during the government led by his father, former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
At that time, the assistance provided under the scheme was ₹5,100. According to Sukhbir Badal, increasing the amount to ₹1 lakh would help families manage wedding expenses more easily.
He said the scheme is especially helpful for economically weaker families who often struggle to arrange funds for their daughters’ marriages.
Badal also spoke about improving the education system in Punjab. He promised that if his party forms the government, skill-based colleges will be established in every district of the state.
According to him, these colleges will focus on practical training that prepares students for jobs and entrepreneurship. He said skill development is necessary to ensure that young people can compete in modern industries.
In addition to skill-based colleges, Badal said medical colleges would also be opened in every district. This, he said, would help improve healthcare facilities in the state and also provide more opportunities for students who want to study medicine.
Another promise made by the SAD leader was the establishment of meritorious schools in every constituency of Punjab. These schools would provide high-quality education to talented students.
Badal said meritorious schools would help students from different backgrounds receive good education and prepare them for competitive exams and higher studies.
During the rally, he urged people to support the Shiromani Akali Dal and give the party another chance to govern Punjab.
He said his party’s focus would be on economic growth, employment opportunities, better education, and social welfare programmes.
Badal also claimed that Punjab needs strong leadership and long-term planning to overcome economic challenges and provide better opportunities for its people.
The announcements made at the rally appear to be part of the party’s efforts to connect with voters ahead of future political contests in the state.
By focusing on youth employment, financial support, and education reforms, the Shiromani Akali Dal is trying to highlight its vision for the development of Punjab.
Whether these promises will influence voters remains to be seen, but the announcements have already drawn attention across the state as political discussions continue about Punjab’s future leadership and policies.
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