Patiala: Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said the state govt has earmarked Rs 1,793 crore for sports to curb drug abuse and promote youth development.Speaking in Patiala, Cheema said the Bhagwant Mann-led govt is pursuing a twin strategy of cracking down on drugs while strengthening sports infrastructure to channel youth energy positively.He said the govt has provided 66,000 jobs over the past four years, which has helped check brain drain. “There has been a visible decline in passport applications, indicating growing confidence among youth to build their future within Punjab,” he said, adding that college admissions have also risen.Cheema said previous govts allocated less than Rs 150 crore for sports, leading to inadequate infrastructure and pushing youth towards drugs. “We have consistently increased the sports budget to develop playgrounds and modern stadiums, with encouraging results,” he said.The minister was addressing a gathering after attending the bhog ceremony of an Akhand Path at the new campus of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University, Siddhuwal.He said chief minister Bhagwant Mann recently inaugurated new academic and hostel blocks at the university, built at a cost of Rs 53 crore, and funds for the remaining development would be released soon.Highlighting the state’s finances, Cheema said Punjab had reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio by 3% and recorded significant growth in revenues. GST collections rose from Rs 60,000 crore to over Rs 1.3 lakh crore, stamp and registration revenue from Rs 12,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore, and excise revenue from Rs 6,551 crore to Rs 12,800 crore annually.Vice-chancellor Prof Pushpinder Singh Gill thanked the minister and reiterated the university’s commitment to promoting sports and supporting efforts to curb drug abuse.
