Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Move aimed at eliminating drug menace from state
New Delhi, In a significant decision aimed at wiping out the curse of drugs from the state, the Union government today agreed to extend fulsome support and cooperation to the state government for the construction of Drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers across the state.
A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal with the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Thaawar Chand Gehlot, when the former called on the latter at his office in Shastri Bhawan this afternoon. Union Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Vijay Sampla was also present in the meeting.
Flagging up the issue of drug menace in the state, the Chief Minister apprised Mr. Gehlot about the path breaking initiatives taken by the state government for the detoxification and rehabilitation of the drug addicts so that they could live a life with dignity and pride. Mr. Badal said that the state government was already in the process of setting up drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers across the state. Likewise, he said that this massive operation could not be accomplished without the support and cooperation of the union government.
Acting swiftly Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment assured Mr. Badal that their Ministry would allocate liberal funds for meting out the running costs of such centers. He asked the Chief Minister to submit the detailed proposal to the Ministry in this regard. On the occasion, Union state Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Vijay Sampla also informed that one such center would be inaugurated at Hoshiarpur in the near future.
In another significant decision, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment also apprised Mr. Badal that he had given his consent to include Punjab under the “Prime Minister Adarsh Gram Yojna” scheme, which was aimed at transforming the fortunes of SC population in the state. Expressing gratitude to Mr. Gehlot, the Chief Minister said that he had been pleading to get this demand implemented since long as Punjab was the most deserving state with highest SC population (32%) in the country as per census 2011 and out of the total number of 12168 inhabited villages, 2800 villages (23.01%) have 50% or more SC population. Mr. Badal said that this scheme would go a long way in providing the basic infra structural facilities like pavement of streets and phirnis, solar street lights, hand pumps, toilets, water supply and sewerage.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister had earlier raised this issue with Mr. Gehlot apprising him that states with far less SC population than Punjab were reaping the benefits of this scheme but the state has been denied benefits under this scheme which was grave injustice with millions of SC brethren. Conceding to the demand raised by Mr. Badal, the Union Minister gave his consent to include state under this scheme.
Taking up another issue the Chief Minister also impressed upon Mr. Gehlot to get the work of setting up Sports Institute for Disabled in Zirakpur expedited. He said that thestate government has already provided 10 acre land free of cost to the Government of India (GoI) for this Institute coming up at a cost of nearly Rs 150 crore.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu and Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema.
