Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* ASKS WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE GUIDELINES FOR ISSUING BC CERTIFICATES TO CHRISTIANS
Chandigarh, June 23: Reiterating his firm commitment, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Local Government and Rural Development & Panchayats Departments to provide land for burial ground for the Christian and Muslim communities in all the towns and villages of the state on priority.
Presiding over a meeting of the Punjab State Minorities Commission here at Punjab Bhawan, Mr. Badal asked the state government to provide land for burial ground to both these communities either from the panchayat or municipal or in case of non-availability of such land; the requisite land would be even purchased for this social cause. The Chief Minister also asked the Chairman of the Punjab state Minorities Commission Mr. Munawar Masih, who put forth these demands on behalf of the Christian community in the meeting to immediately provide the list of such towns and villages to the state government where there were no cemeteries to enable the state government to take a prompt action in this regard. The Chief Minister asked Secretary Local Government to identify suitable land in Gurdaspur and Amritsar for cemeteries to enable the Christian brethren to bury their near and dears with full respect and dignity. Likewise, the Chief Minister also directed the Deputy Commissioner Amritsar to work out the modalities for the early completion of Masih Bhawan. He also asked the Secretary Welfare Department to issue detailed guidelines to the Deputy Commissioners and SDMs at the districts and block level for issuing the backward classes certificates to the members of Christian community in a hassle free manner. Mr. Badal also directed the Welfare Department to clear the backlog of Shagun Scheme to beneficiaries belonging to Christian community.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting including Cabinet Ministers Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka and Mr. SS Rakhra, Additional Chief Secretary Home Mr. Jagpal Singh Sandhu, Principal Secretary to CM Mr. SK Sandhu, DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh Saini, Secretary Local Government Mr. Ashok Gupta, Secretary Welfare Mrs. Seema Jain and Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Ajoy Sharma.
