Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has agreed to have a joint meeting with Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to resolve the Rs 31,000-crore food account debt legacy issue of the state.
The assurance was given by Sitharaman to Capt Amarinder, who met her here today. Sitharaman told Capt Amarinder that the meeting could be arranged after the Budget Session as the Centre was also keen to settle the issue once and for all. Capt Amarinder informed Sitharaman that Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan had already accepted his proposal for a joint meeting on the matter. She responded positively.
Capt Amarinder urged the Finance Minister to announce another AIIMS for Punjab to strengthen the state’s healthcare and medical education system. He proposed setting up the second AIIMS in either Ludhiana or Jalandhar dedicating the institution to Guru Nanak to mark the first Sikh Guru’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations. Sitharaman asked Capt Amarinder for a formal proposal and assured him of considering it.
He earlier met Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri for initiation of Rs 321-crore infrastructure development projects at Sultanpur Lodhi, which has an association with Guru Nanak.
To Amarinder’s request for including three Municipal Corporation towns of Patiala, Bathinda and SAS Nagar in the Smart Cities Project, Puri assured consideration of the proposal. Hardeep Puri later said he would ensure maximum flights from Punjab to cater to the demand for global travel.
