Chandigarh/Patiala, July 27
Reiterating the Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan’s firm commitment of fulfilling the guarantee given to the 36 thousand contractual employees of Punjab Government, the Finance and Planning Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday said that all the eligible employees would get good news soon.
Replying to media queries during an informal interaction with the journalists, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema who was here to review the current status of ongoing development works as the minister in-charge of Patiala district, said that the committee formed to regularise the contractual workers of Punjab Government has thoroughly discussed the ways to meet the end during last meetings. He said that there are many guidelines of the Supreme Court and the departments too have their own rules to recruit the employees, which the committee is considering in depth and the services of all those fulfilling the required criteria would be regularized soon.
Replying to a query regarding the fiscal status of the state, Mr. Cheema said that the fiscal heath of the state would be improved soon as the intention of the government is clear, but it is regrettable to say that the previous government did not pay any attention to improve state finances for five years. He further added that the previous government did not even make efforts to increase the state revenue and remained dependent only on the GST compensation provided by the Centre Government.
Mr. Cheema further said that Rs 6,200 crore were received from the excise last year and under the new excise policy the target is to collect Rs 9,600 crore this year. To a query regarding Punjabi University, the Finance Minister said that the government is serious about clearing the university’s debt of Rs 150 crore while its annual grant has been increased from Rs 114 crore to Rs 200 crore.
Earlier, Harpal Singh Cheema reviewed the various ongoing development projects of the district including rejuvenation of Badi and Chotti Nadi, 24X7 drinking water supply, new bus stand, heritage street around Quila Mubarak, dairy farm Ablowal, Sports University, surveillance traffic infrastructure, Mohalla clinics, rejuvenation of Rajindra Lake, and upgradation of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital besides reviewing the various projects of PWD, Forest and horticulture departments.
The Finance Minister also reviewed the work being done under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana, Central and State Sponsored Pension Schemes. He said that it should be ensured that the benefits of these schemes should reach the real beneficiaries at ground level. The Finance Minister also sought the complete report of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. He also gave orders to stop the pensions of deceased pensioners. While reviewing the Sugamya Bharat Yojana programme, Mr. Cheema took serious notice of the lapse in utilisation of the funds and sought a report from the Public Works Department. Reviewing the Samagra Sikhya Abhiyan, he said that no lapse in utilization of funds in the schemes of Centre Government would be tolerated.
Taking stock of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Scheme, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana, Mid-Day Meal and other schemes, the Finance Minister said that the beneficiaries of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana should be physically verified and kitchens should be constructed in all schools.
While reviewing the working of the Excise Department, Finance Minister strictly instructed the officials that GST collection target should be met. He said that the mobile wings should be more vigilant and regular checking of tax evasion routes should be done besides taking strict action against tax evaders.
Prominent amongst others, MLA Dr. Balbir Singh, MLA Guralal Ghanour, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Divisional Commissioner Arun Sekhari, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Aditya Uppal, ADC Gautam Jain, ADC Gurpreet Singh Thind and ADC Isha Singhal were also present in the review meeting.
