Punjab Congress MLAs today demanded a local area development (LAD) fund of Rs one crore per year even as they raised their issues like industry's pending VAT refunds, debt waiver for scheduled castes and higher allocation of funds for education, health etc in a meeting called by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
Chief Minister Singh announced his government's decision to set aside Rs 128 crore every month for disbursement of old age pension, while assuring that the distribution of free mobile phones to youth would commence this year.
The chief minister also shared with the members details of his government's plans to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, disclosing that he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for grants for the programme. He had requested former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to chair the organising committee for the event, Amarinder Singh said.
Reiterating his government's commitment to the implementation of every single manifesto promise of the Congress, the chief minister said as many as 150 promises were fulfilled in the first year itself and the remaining were in the process of execution.
The chief minister today held a first of its kind meeting with Congress MLAs and MPs to seek their suggestions for the upcoming budget.
"It was a unanimous demand of the MLAs in the meeting that the MLA LAD fund of Rs one crore per year be set up. Every time a legislator goes to his constituency, people of his area seek funds for development or some other purpose. Therefore, a LAD fund should be constituted for MLAs to meet such demands," said Congress MLA from Qadian Fatehjang Singh Bajwa.
Amritsar Central MLA O P Soni sought that the state government should make a provision of VAT refund in the budget. He said a sum of Rs 400 crore as VAT refund of the state industry was pending.
Soni also sought funds for a rail link between Makhu and Patti area for boosting economic development of the area, besides further seeking allocation of funds in budget for drinking water in summer in Amritsar.
MLA from Chhabewal Raj Kumar sought an act on Scheduled Caste sub plan to stop diversion of funds, adding that it was promised by Congress during assembly polls.
The MLAs and MPs were unanimous in favour of greater coordination between the elected representatives and the bureaucracy to bring in more connect between the government and the people.
Suggestions from the elected representatives ranged from waiver of debts of SCs/STs to expediting the implementation of the Shagun scheme, as well as clearance of pending free Atta Dal supplies.
Members also sought higher allocation of funds for the vital education and health sectors, railway links, water conservation projects, crop diversification, installation of tubewells, clearance of pending cane dues, drainage and canal clearing ahead of the monsoons, and development of border areas.
Investments were also sought to boost the transport segment to facilitate the citizens of Punjab, with a suggestion to launch more deluxe buses to earn revenue for the state exchequer.
There were also suggestions related to formulation of a time-bound policy for the reclamation of government property, as well as for regularisation of illegal colonies.
The chief minister reiterated that loans for 10.25 lakh of the total 17.5 lakh farmers in the state would be settled by November this year, with one lakh farmers set to be provided debt relief certificates at a state level function this month itself.
He further disclosed that the March 11 job fest will see employment being provided to 40,000 youth.
In response to a request for sanctioning of Rs 5 crore for the completion of Beant Singh Memorial in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said he would take up the matter with the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator.
Health Minister Brahm Mahindra welcomed the initiative by the chief minister, while accusing the Akalis of "criminal wastage" of the hard-earned money of the people of Punjab, pointing out that Rs 4,500 crore were wasted on 'Sangat Darshans'.
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal lamented the "pitiable" financial state of Punjab, which the government was trying to improve through various steps to generate revenue. The state government, he alleged, was also negotiating with the Government of India on the Rs 31,000 crore loan agreed by the Akalis, to the detriment of the state.
The Finance Minister disclosed that the PIDB had released Rs 550 crore for pending ongoing development works. Money will also be released for the completion of all pending works in villages and cities in this budget, he assured the members.
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