Punjab CM promises discretionary funds to MLAs on lines of MPLADS - Hindustan Times
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Punjab CM promises discretionary funds to MLAs on lines of MPLADS

By, Chandigarh
Jun 28, 2022 12:59 AM IST

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann made the announcement during the Question Hour while responding to a query listed by SAD leader Manpreet Singh Ayali

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday assured the state legislators of launching a discretionary fund for them along the lines of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). Similar schemes have already been implemented in a few other states, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-ruled Delhi.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said it will help end the practice of halqa incharges followed by previous ruling parties.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said it will help end the practice of halqa incharges followed by previous ruling parties.

Mann made the announcement during the Question Hour while responding to a query listed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manpreet Singh Ayali.

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Ayali, who heads his party’s legislature group, told the Vidhan Sabha that for day-to-day needs, the MLAs had to look towards the government and the allocation of a fixed discretionary fund would facilitate their functioning and also support local development. He said that when the states like Assam, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi could offer such discretionary funds to MLAs, Punjab should also follow suit and provide at least 5 crore each annually.

“We are in support of MLALAD fund and will work on the proposal,” said Mann, adding that this would also help in moving away from the practice followed by previous governments, wherein the ruling party used to nominate its leaders as halqa incharges for disbursal of funds bypassing the elected representatives.

Aashirwad: 219cr due to 43,640 beneficiaries

Replying to a question raised by AAP legislator Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, the minister for social justice empowerment and minorities, Dr Baljit Kaur, said that disbursal of 219 crore was pending to 43,640 beneficiaries under the Aashirwad scheme. Under the scheme, the state government provides 51,000 aid for a girl’s marriage to families belonging to socially and economically weaker sections.

On a question by AAP legislator Narinder Kaur Bharaj, power minister Harbhajan Singh said that in case a farmer’s death, a tube well in his name is transferred to the legal heir under Section 11 of the Supply Code 2014. He said since 2017, 31,801 applications were received for it and only 20 cases were pending. However, the MLA demanded simplification of the procedure, to which the minister said that government was keen to do it.

Minister for public works Harbhajan Singh told the House that work on four-laning of the Sirhind-Patiala road will be completed by August 2023. The matter was raised jointly by ruling party MLAs Chetan Singh Joramajra and Ajit Pal Singh Kohli.

On a question raised by AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra to develop Gharam in Patiala district as a historical town, tourism and cultural affairs minister Harjot Singh Bains said the government will include this town having religious importance in the upcoming tourism policy.

Water resources minister Brahm Shanker Jimpa informed the House that the construction of Kandi canal stage-2 passing through Garhshankar has been completed. Adding to the reply to the query posed by MLA Krishan Singh Rori, he said that after the completion of rehabilitation work for stage-1, water will be released in the canal.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Gurpreet Singh Nibber is an Assistant Editor with the Punjab bureau. He covers politics, agriculture, power sector, environment, Sikh religious affairs and the Punjabi diaspora.

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