SHOPKEEPERS WITH 12 YEARS’ LEGAL POSSESSION BEFORE APRIL 1, 2020, CAN APPLY AT COUNCIL AND CORPORATION OFFICES, APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED BY NOVEMBER 6 AT LOCAL BODY OFFICES. CONCESSIONAL PRICE BASED ON COLLECTOR RATE OF AREA AND INCOME-CATEGORY OF APPLICANT (FOR SHOPS UNDER 50 SQM
Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepore
In an early Diwali bonanza for lakhs of shopkeepers and small traders across Punjab, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government today launched the historic “Meri Dukan, Mere Naam” scheme, paving the way for shopkeepers running shops on rent or lease in Municipal Corporations, Councils and Nagar Panchayats for over 12 years to become rightful owners.
Announcing the scheme at a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan today, Punjab Local Government Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains said the scheme will allow eligible shopkeepers to get ownership rights of their shops. He further informed that any shopkeeper who can prove legal possession for 12 years prior to April 1, 2020, will be eligible to apply. The initiative would benefit traders operating under Municipal Corporations, Councils and Nagar Panchayats who have been running shops on rent or lease without proprietary rights.
Applications can be submitted at Municipal Council offices and Municipal Corporation offices till November 6, 2026, S. Bains said, adding that the entire process will be time-bound. An SDM-level committee will scrutinise the applications, while price fixation will be done by a DC-level committee and resolution will be passed by the local bodies concerned.
Detailing the price slabs, S. Harjot Singh Bains said EWS applicants with annual income below ₹3 lakh will have to pay only 12.5% of the collector rate, while Lower Income Group (LIG) applicants in the ₹3–8 lakh bracket will pay 25%, Medium Income Group (MIG) applicants in the ₹8–15 lakh bracket will pay 50% and those earning above ₹15 lakh will pay 100% of the collector rate. He added that the concessional rates will apply to shops measuring less than 50 square metres.
The Local Government Minister clarified that the scheme has two exclusions- sub-tenants will not be allowed and occupants on parks, streets or public utilities will not be regularised.
He said the documentation process has been kept simple and hassle-free, with applicants allowed to submit any valid proof including GST certificates, electricity bills, voter cards etc.
“Previous governments made promises but could never deliver. Our officers and legal team have toiled day and night for months to turn this dream into reality. Our trader brothers have endured immense hardships, especially during COVID-19. This festive season, we want to wipe their worries away and give them the gift of happiness, security and rightful ownership,” S. Bains said.
Terming it a historic step, S. Harjot Singh Bains said, “We are ensuring that our trader brothers get their rightful ownership. This scheme is a Diwali gift for the trading community. It reflects the heart and soul of the CM Mann-led Government, which is committed to upholding the dignity of the small shopkeeper.”
“We want every ‘chhota dukandar’ to hold his head high with confidence and legal security. This is not just a policy, it is an assurance that this government stands with you, cares for you, and will never leave your side,” he added.
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