Chandigarh: In a relief for shopkeepers and small traders, Punjab govt on Thursday launched the ‘Meri Dukan, Mere Naam’ scheme, allowing those who have been running shops on rent or lease in municipal corporations, councils and nagar panchayats for over 12 years to seek ownership rights.Local govt minister Harjot Singh Bains said shopkeepers who can establish legal possession for 12 years before April 1, 2020, will be eligible to apply. Applications can be submitted at municipal corporation and council offices till Nov 6, 2026.An SDM-level committee will scrutinise applications, while a DC-level committee will fix the price. The concerned local bodies will then pass resolutions on the cases.Under the scheme, EWS applicants with annual income below Rs 3 lakh will pay 12.5% of the collector rate, while LIG applicants earning Rs 3-8 lakh will pay 25%. Those in the Rs 8-15 lakh MIG bracket will pay 50%, while applicants earning above Rs 15 lakh will pay the full collector rate. The concessional rates apply to shops measuring less than 50 sq metres.The scheme excludes sub-tenants and occupants of parks, streets and public utility spaces from regularisation.
