Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Accuses Rahul Gandhi for laying foundation by giving fictitious statement over the issue
* Committee to settle registration of houses and plots falling in Lal Dora belts
* Each district to have welfare committee under Deputy Commissioner
* Rs. 2000 crore to be incurred on construction of toilets in areas having SC/BC population
Chandigarh, August 19: President Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal today launched a scathing attack on Congress Party for deliberately dubbing all Punjabis as drug addicts under a conspiracy to tarnish the image of both Punjab and Punjabis.
S. Badal questioned Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and asked the Congress party to come out with clarification over the campaign launched by party after the former laid a foundation in this regard by giving a fictitious statement. He said that the concocted claims of Congress over the issue of drugs have fallen flat with the recent recruitment drive of Indian Army, where more than 5500 youth undergone a dope test and not a single case of addiction had come to fore. He said that now Congress should give clarification over the issue.
S. Badal also announced that a state level committee will look into the modalities of providing ownership rights to the owners of houses and plots falling in Lal Dora belts in the villages.
While addressing the leaders of SC/BC wing of Shiromani Akali Dal and office bearers of various welfare committees from SC, BC, STs and poverty stricken sections of society here, S. Badal said that they have finalized the structure of committee to provide ownership rights to the owners and plot holders inside the ambit of Lal Dora. He said that this long pending issue would be resolved soon as the necessary directions in this regards have been issued to the committee. He said that SAD-BJP government was fully committed to address all issues pertaining to SC/BC/ST and weaker sections of the society.
Talking about the scholarship amounts to be given to students, Mr. Badal said that Punjab was disbursing Rs. 400 crore as scholarship to the 3.5 lakh students presently as compare to Rs. 40 crore four years ago. He said that they were taking up the issue of pending grant of Rs. 250 crore with the Union Government and this amount will also be got released soon.
S. Badal also announced that Punjab Government was contemplating to enhance then amounts of pension and shagun schemes benefiting to SC/BC beneficiaries. He said that the files of Shagun Scheme and various pensions schemes would be approved at the level of Sewa Kendras on the recommendations of Nambardaars, Panches and Sarpanches.
Giving information about the ongoing project under which toilets were being constructed in villages of Punjab, S. Badal said that they have set aside Rs. 2000 crore for this purpose. He said that in the areas having SC/BC/ST population toilets would be provided as the work in this regard was on full swing.
S. Badal also announced that Deputy Commissioners have been asked to form District level Welfare Committee to discuss and sort out issues pertaining to SC/BC/ST people. He said that these committees will hold monthly meetings by ensuring due representation from these communities.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included President of SAD’s SC Wing Gulzar Singh Ranike and Sohan Singh Thandal (both cabinet ministers), Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh and Pawan Kumar Tinu (both CPS), Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Dashan Singh Shivalik, Vaninder Kaur Loomba, Joginder Singh Jindu (all MLAs) and Gobind Singh Kanjhla and Darbara Singh Guru were also present.
