Milpitas (California)—The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has extended its support to the government employees and pensioners protesting over their long-pending financial demands and urged the Punjab Government to address their grievances with seriousness, sensitivity, and urgency. In a statement issued today, Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of NAPA, said the employees and pensioners are not demanding charity from the government. They are demanding their legitimate dues and benefits after years of service to the state.
“Employees who have devoted the best years of their lives to serving Punjab should not be forced to come onto the strgovernment employees and pensioners protesting their long-pending financial demands and urged the Punjab Government to address their grievances with seriousness, sensitivity,eets repeatedly to demand what is legitimately due to them. The government must listen to them and resolve their genuine concerns through meaningful dialogue rather than merely offering assurances,” Chahal said.
Chahal questioned the government’s financial priorities, particularly at a time when Punjab is facing a severe fiscal challenge. “The government continues to borrow money, but the fundamental question is: where is that borrowed money being spent? Borrowing can be justified if the money is invested in productive assets and activities that generate revenue, employment and long-term economic growth. But borrowing simply to finance non-productive expenditure is not a sustainable economic strategy,” he said.
“Punjab cannot continue borrowing from one pocket while leaving another pocket empty. If the state has the capacity to raise thousands of crores through loans, it must also demonstrate a clear plan for using those resources productively. Money borrowed in the name of Punjab’s future should not become a burden on Punjab’s future generations,” Chahal added.
According to Chahal, the government must distinguish between productive investment and politically attractive expenditure. Investment in industry, agriculture, irrigation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, technology and employment-generating projects can strengthen the state’s economy and ultimately improve its ability to meet salaries, pensions and other obligations.“Instead of asking employees to wait for their legitimate dues, the government should explain why borrowed funds cannot be prioritised towards productive sectors that generate economic activity and additional revenue. A government cannot solve a fiscal crisis simply by taking another loan,” he said.
Chahal also criticised the tendency to make announcements without establishing clear timelines for implementation. “Employees and pensioners cannot pay their household expenses with assurances. They need their salaries, allowances and pensions not another meeting date,” he remarked.NAPA said that Punjab’s employees and pensioners should not be portrayed as a burden on the state. They are an essential part of the state’s administrative and public-service structure, and their financial security directly affects thousands of families across Punjab.
Chahal urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the concerned ministers to hold an immediate and meaningful dialogue with employee and pensioner organisations and prepare a time-bound roadmap for clearing legitimate outstanding liabilities.“Punjab is already carrying a massive debt burden. Every rupee borrowed today has to be repaid tomorrow, with interest. Therefore, borrowing should create economic value, not merely postpone today’s problems to tomorrow. If the government borrows, it must borrow with a purpose, invest wisely and disclose the expected economic return,” Chahal said.
He further called for greater transparency in Punjab’s finances, including a public account of major borrowings and the purposes for which borrowed funds are being utilised.“The people of Punjab have a right to know where their borrowed money is going. If the government can borrow in the name of the people, it must also be accountable to the people for every rupee spent,” Chahal said.
NAPA appealed to the Punjab Government to resolve the ongoing employees’ agitation peacefully and immediately, while urging employee organisations to continue their democratic struggle in a peaceful and lawful manner.“Employees are not the problem. Mismanagement of public finances is the problem. Borrowing is not the problem either—borrowing without productive investment is. Punjab needs financial discipline, economic vision and responsible governance. The government must stop treating legitimate employee demands as an inconvenience and start treating them as an obligation,” Chahal concluded.