Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday strongly raised the state’s long-pending concerns before NITI Aayog Governing Council, seeking special category status and a financial package for the revitalisation of border areas.The Chief Minister demanded that Punjab should be accorded ‘special category status’ with 90:10 funding under all centrally sponsored schemes along the lines of hill states, north-eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.Addressing the meeting, CM Mann highlighted the extraordinary security, economic and social challenges faced by Punjab as a frontline border state and asserted that the state’s aspirations are fully aligned with the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.Emphasising the unique challenges faced by Punjab, Mann said, “Punjab is a frontline state sharing a 553-km border with Pakistan. The state faces a deep and multidimensional crisis that includes persistent cross-border terrorism and drone-based smuggling of heroin and weapons. This has resulted in a drug addiction epidemic among youth, organised crime and daily hardship for farmers cultivating land between the security fence and the international border under the BSF escort.”Highlighting the impact of natural disasters and security-related disruptions, the Chief Minister, according to a statement, said, “Punjab also suffered the devastating impact of natural disasters such as the 2025 floods, which damaged more than 2,300 villages and caused losses estimated at Rs 12,905 crore. The onslaught that residents of Punjab had to face in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor was visible for the entire country to see.”He said densely populated villages and towns located close to the international border have been deprived of the economic growth witnessed by other parts of the country. He also noted that decades of uncertainty and risk have resulted in negligible investment in border districts and, in many cases, led to a flight of capital and the closure or relocation of industries.“Although Punjab acts as a buffer for the country against repeated hostilities from our neighbour, support from the Government of India has been grossly inadequate for the state and its border areas,” Mann said, according to a state government release.Outlining the disparity in development initiatives, the Chief Minister said, “Only 107 villages have been covered under the recently launched Vibrant Village-II Programme, whereas more than 2,000 villages and towns are located in very close proximity to the border.”He said Punjab has repeatedly urged the Union Government to take urgent measures to strengthen the international border and address the multiple challenges confronting the state.“To secure our international border with Pakistan, make it future-ready and address the multifaceted crisis facing Punjab, we have placed a series of urgent demands before the Central Government on multiple occasions. However, there has been little and unenthusiastic response from the Centre, which is unfortunate and undesirable,” he added.The Chief Minister reiterated that the demands raised during the 10th meeting of the Governing Council in May 2025, as well as those presented during the current meeting, deserve serious consideration.“The genuine demands of the people of Punjab, raised by me during the 10th meeting of the Governing Council and reiterated today, may kindly be accepted,” he asserted.Urging the Prime Minister to extend greater support to Punjab, Mann said Punjab and its people stand resolute in their commitment to protect the country and its borders from a hostile neighbour, even at the cost of their own disadvantage.Expressing hope that Punjab’s concerns would receive a positive response, he added, “I hope that the genuine and legitimate demands of the state are favourably considered and Punjab is given its due recognition and share in the economic development of the country.”He assured the Prime Minister that Punjab would continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Union Government to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. “Punjab and its people will collaboratively work with the Government of India towards making India Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Only a secure, safe and thriving Punjab can guarantee a Viksit Bharat 2047,” he said.Presenting Punjab’s development roadmap, Mann said, “As the Chief Minister of Punjab, a land of resilience, promise and potential, I am proud to present our collective vision for a ‘Rangla Punjab’ that is determined to play a pivotal role in shaping a Viksit Bharat by 2047.”He said that as Punjab’s aspirations align with national priorities, discussions centred on human capital development are both timely and crucial.The Chief Minister envisioned a family-centric development model focused on ensuring the well-being of every child, empowering the working-age population to become productive and innovative and providing dignity and care to the elderly.Highlighting Punjab’s anti-drug campaign, Mann said that the Punjab Government has launched Yudh Nashean Virudh as a comprehensive and determined effort to combat drug abuse and trafficking across the state.The Chief Minister urged the Centre to recognise Mohali and the area within a 50-km radius as a ‘National Knowledge and Education Hub’.