Punjab: Top leaders’ segments see dip in economic activity: Study

Ruchika M Khanna

Chandigarh, March 13

A new study has shown how some constituencies, in spite of being represented by political bigwigs, have failed to register good economic activity.

With the AAP talking of big reforms in governance, the study could serve as a ready reckoner for targeted policy intervention for economic uplift and promoting investment. At a time, when Punjab’s economy is in a shambles and the state’s outstanding public debt is over Rs 2.80 lakh crore, targeted economic intervention is the only way forward.

Constituencies that lagged behind

• The study between 2015 and 2020 has concluded that Lambi and Jalalabad, earlier represented by Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal, respectively, witnessed moderate decline in economic activity
• Constituencies represented by ex-ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa (Fatehgarh Churian), Gurmit Singh Sodhi (Guruharsahai) and Bikram Singh Majithia (Majitha) also saw a decline in economic activity

The study by India Data Portal, a part of Indian School of Business, which has profiled economic activity in each of the 117 constituencies between 2015- 2020, has concluded that Lambi and Jalalabad, earlier represented by Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal, respectively, have witnessed moderate decline in economic activity. Fatehgarh Churian represented by former minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Guruharsahai by former Minister Gurmit Singh Sodhi between 2002-2022; Majitha by Bikram Singh Majithia till 2022; Ludhiana Central by Surinder Dawar (till 2022) and Sri Hargobindpur represented by Balwinder Singh Laddi have seen small decline in economic activity.

The economic activity in all 117 constituencies has been measured through the study of nightlights, considered the more accurate way in this regard. Night-time radiance, traced from outside space through satellites, has emerged as a pertinent measure for changes in activities, irrespective of their sources.

In this study, the change in total radiance depicts that Mohali has shown the most increase of 3,000 pixels in these five years, followed by Kharar, with an almost 2,800-point increase, pointing towards a surge in economic and developmental activities. On this parameter, 88.88% of the constituencies have illustrated an increase in total radiance.

In terms of change in per cent lit pixels, 34% of the constituencies have shown no change, highlighting the developed nature of the state. In total, 35% constituencies have shown rise in per cent lit pixels between 2015 and 2019. The study also looked at the impact of the pandemic-induced slowdown. It showed 75% of the constituencies remained immune to the pandemic effect.

Method adopted

The study adopted the nightlight method. An increasing number of lit pixels suggests economic activity is expanding to new areas, as previously dark pixels begin to show radiance in satellite images