Punjab announces major concessions for farmers

The Punjab government on Friday announced free electricity for running of tubewells by farmers, free irrigation water, and abolishing of land revenue.

The decisions, which will become effective from Saturday, were taken at the first cabinet meeting of the Akali Dal(Badal)-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance which was presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The cabinet also decided to form committees which will give their reports within one month, suggesting ways and means to simplify sales tax and abolish octroi and inspector raj.

The cabinet also decided to give old age pension to men above 65 years and women above 60. It said proof of age will be the only criteria for availing of pension and that no conditions, including economic, would be laid. It also decided to make colonies for scheduled castes in a big way.

The other decision taken by the cabinet was the formation of a 'Shagun' scheme by which Harijan girls will get Rs 5,100 at the time of their marriage.

It announced the setting up of a agriculture produce export corporation which will have an equity of Rs 100 million at its inception.

Briefing newspersons after the cabinet meeting, Badal, while referring to the concessions given by the alliance government, said no government in the world had taken such widespread decisions for the welfare of the people.

Asked about the financial implications of the decisions, the new chief minister said the government would mop up more money from auctioning liquor vends which would now be done in a transparent manner. ''We will invite the press as well as opposition parties to the auctions and appoint observers to ensure the earlier mismanagement comes to an end,'' he said.

Badal said the government also hoped to mop up more resources by simplifying the sales tax structure and making it totally transparent. "The Congress government has looted and emptied the treasury but we are committed to give the concessions by exercising honesty and responsibility," he said.

Badal also announced an end to all discretionary quotas of the government saying the move would encompass discretionary quotas on allotment of plots as well as seats in medical and engineering colleges.

Badal and his cabinet colleagues will draw only a token salary of Re 1 per month.

Badal, who had earlier conveyed his wish not to draw any salary, said his cabinet colleagues also decided unanimously to draw only a token amount.

The new chief minister said the cabinet had also decided to institute a Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award for honesty and efficiency among government employees. He said complaints with proof against gazetted officers would get an award of Rs 50,000 while those against a non-gazetted officer would get Rs 25,000.

Badal said Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had phoned to congratulate him and he had requested a meeting on February 19. He said though the meeting would be largely a courtesy one, he would impress on the prime minister to write off the state debt of Rs 80 billion which it incurred in fighting militancy. "The Punjab problem is a national problem and the money spent on fighting it should not be thrust on us," he said.

The chief minister said he would listen to public grievances for two hours whenever in Chandigarh. "I will come to the office at 0900 hours everyday and expect all officers to come at the same time." He announced that austerity measures, including no official lunches or dinners for ministers when they visit the field, would be observed.

Stating that there would be no witch-hunt and no major transfers, Badal sought the cooperation of all opposition parties in running the government.

UNI