The sole motive to enhance the cash award was to give due recognition to the outstanding contribution made by these noted personalities for the promotion of the Punjabi language, literature and culture, he said addressing a gathering here.
On the occasion, he felicitated 43 literary personalities with Shiromani Sahit Rattan and Shiromani Sahitkar awards.
The CM said that personalities to be honoured with Shiromani Sahit Rattan award from next year would be given a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh instead of Rs 5 lakh.
Similarly, the cash award for Shiromani Sahitkar award has been doubled and the recipients would get Rs 5 lakh from the next year.
He also announced that to introduce another award to honour the enormous contribution of journalists of Punjab origin, who have settled abroad.
Badal asked the Education Minister to ensure to hold a function every year to felicitate the litterateurs in respective fields.
The Chief Minister said that it was the SAD-BJP government which enacted a legislation to make the use of Punjabi language in all government and semi-government offices mandatory and to introduce it as a compulsory subject in schools.
