Punjab launches the Meri Dukan, Mere Naam scheme, offering eligible shopkeepers ownership rights. Apply by November 6, 2026, with income-based payment rates.
The Punjab government has launched the ‘Meri Dukan, Mere Naam’ scheme to help eligible shopkeepers and small traders obtain ownership rights over shops they have occupied on rent or lease. Announcing the initiative ahead of Diwali, Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the scheme aims to provide legal security and long-awaited ownership to traders across the state.
Under the Meri Dukan, Mere Naam scheme, eligible applicants must establish legal possession of their shops for at least 12 years before April 1, 2020. Applications can be submitted at the relevant Municipal Corporation or Municipal Council offices until November 6, 2026.
Who Can Apply for the Meri Dukan, Mere Naam Scheme?
The scheme covers eligible shopkeepers operating from rented or leased shops under Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. Applicants must provide valid documents to establish their possession of the premises.
According to Harjot Singh Bains, documents such as GST certificates, electricity bills and voter cards can be submitted as proof. The government has kept the documentation process relatively simple to make it easier for eligible traders to apply.
However, sub-tenants will not qualify for ownership under the scheme. Shops or structures located on parks, streets or public utility land will also remain outside its scope.
Application Deadline Is November 6, 2026
Shopkeepers seeking benefits under the Meri Dukan, Mere Naam scheme must submit their applications by November 6, 2026, at the concerned local body office.
The government has outlined a process for examining applications and determining the amount payable by applicants. An SDM-level committee will scrutinise the applications, while a committee headed at the Deputy Commissioner level will decide the price. The concerned local bodies will then pass the necessary resolution.
The process is intended to provide a defined route for applicants seeking ownership rights, subject to eligibility and approval by the relevant authorities.
How Much Will Shopkeepers Have to Pay?
The amount payable under the scheme will depend on the applicant’s annual income. For eligible shops measuring less than 50 square metres, the government has specified different payment rates based on income categories.
Income category Annual income Payable share of collector rate
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Below ₹3 lakh 12.5%
Lower Income Group (LIG) ₹3 lakh to ₹8 lakh 25%
Middle Income Group (MIG) ₹8 lakh to ₹15 lakh 50%
Other applicants Above ₹15 lakh 100%
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These concessional rates apply to shops measuring less than 50 square metres. Applicants should confirm the applicable rate and eligibility requirements with their respective municipal authorities before submitting an application.
Harjot Singh Bains Calls It a Diwali Gift for Traders
Announcing the initiative at a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Harjot Singh Bains described it as a Diwali gift for the state’s trading community. He said the government had worked for several months to develop the scheme and address the long-standing demand of small shopkeepers for ownership rights.
Bains also said previous governments had made promises to traders, but the initiative had not been implemented. The current government, he added, intends to provide eligible shopkeepers with legal security, dignity and a stronger sense of ownership.
The minister said the initiative reflects the Bhagwant Mann-led government’s stated commitment to supporting small traders and shopkeepers.
Why Is the Scheme Important for Small Traders?
For eligible shopkeepers, ownership rights could provide greater legal certainty regarding the premises in which they operate their businesses. The scheme also establishes income-based payment rates for qualifying small shops, allowing applicants in lower-income categories to pay a smaller proportion of the collector rate.
The Meri Dukan, Mere Naam scheme is limited to eligible occupants who meet the specified possession and documentation requirements. It does not automatically grant ownership to every tenant, and applications remain subject to scrutiny and approval.
Shopkeepers interested in applying should contact their concerned Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayat to confirm the required documents, eligibility conditions and application procedure before the November 6, 2026 deadline.
With the launch of the Meri Dukan, Mere Naam scheme, the Punjab government has introduced a formal process through which qualifying shopkeepers can seek ownership of their rented or leased premises under the announced conditions.
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