Ravneet Singh Bittu Meets Nirmala Sitharaman to Discuss Punjab’s Needs

New Delhi, India – Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, Ravneet Singh Bittu, met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss important issues concerning Punjab. Bittu requested special incentives for Punjab’s border districts, similar to those given to Jammu and Kashmir, to boost investment and employment.

Bittu highlighted the need for reintroducing the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) with a higher threshold limit due to the lack of effective schemes for MSMEs. He also suggested increasing the limit under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) to help with rising capital costs.

Additionally, Bittu proposed changes to the freight subsidy criteria to support MSMEs in Punjab, noting that transportation costs are higher for land-locked states. He pointed out that other states like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh receive significant transport subsidies.

Bittu also called for a reduction in GST on bicycles to 5%, similar to e-bicycles, and the commencement of operations at the Refrigeration Unit near Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar to boost food exports.

He pushed for the “Farmer Entrepreneur Initiative” and special incentives for the agro-based MSME and food processing industries to help Punjab farmers set up businesses and generate employment. Bittu also requested lower interest rates, collateral-free loans, and CGST relaxation for these industries.

Other demands included waivers for farmers with land holdings up to 5 acres, soil testing labs for different regions of Punjab, and a special package for research and development at Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana.

Finance Minister Sitharaman listened patiently and assured Bittu that Punjab would receive good representation in the upcoming budget.