Punjab residents can now earn up to Rs100,000 in cash rewards through a government incentive scheme designed to encourage environmentally friendly behaviour, as authorities step up efforts to tackle the worsening pollution and climate challenges.
The provincial government’s Green Credit Programme ties financial rewards directly to everyday environmental actions, marking one of Punjab’s most ambitious attempts yet to make sustainability financially attractive for ordinary citizens rather than relying solely on regulation and penalties.
The scheme’s most lucrative incentive targets electric vehicle adoption.
Citizens who purchase an electric bike or scooter receive Rs50,000 immediately, with a further Rs50,000 paid once the vehicle has logged 6,000 kilometres of use, bringing the total reward to Rs100,000. The structure is designed to reward sustained use rather than a one-time purchase, pushing riders to actually replace fuel-powered commutes.
A separate cash-for-recycling component allows residents to submit used plastic bottles in exchange for money, earning Rs2,500 per kilogram collected, up to a household cap of four kilograms, or Rs10,000 in total.
Officials say the programme extends well beyond these two headline incentives, encompassing 38 environment-linked activities in total. These include reporting vehicles emitting visible smoke, flagging brick kilns running without zig-zag emission-control technology, harvesting rainwater, and planting at least ten trees.
By combining pollution reporting, clean transport, water conservation, and afforestation under a single rewards framework, the government is positioning the initiative as a low-barrier entry point for public participation in climate action, one that pays citizens directly for choices that also reduce Punjab’s environmental footprint.
