CHANDIGARH: Punjab government on Friday approved the criteria for grant of financial assistance and facilities to Sangharshi Yodhas who participated in anti-Emergency protests and Punjabi Suba movement to safeguard the interest of the state.
The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers during its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Chandigarh.
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said financial assistance of Rs. 1000 per month would be given to the participants who had undergone imprisonment for up to three months.
The Sangharshi Yodhas who were under imprisonment for three months to six months would be given a financial assistance of Rs. 1500 per month and Rs. 2000 per month for those who were imprisoned for more than six months.
They would be required to submit the jail certificate or two co-prisoners certificates for the purpose of proof.
The panchayat in rural areas and municipal committee in urban areas can also give in writing after unanimous approval, the time spent by Sangharshi Yodha in prison due to participation in Morchas.
Apart from this, those Sangharshi Yodha who were beneficiaries in the past their pensions have also been restored.
Keeping in view the administrative exigencies, the Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to revive and fill up 25 posts of Punjab Civil Service (Executive Branch) for direct recruitment as well as of various registers.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to the appointment of Manjinder Singh Sirsa as Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister in the rank of State Minister.
It also gave approval for the creation of posts of six Private Secretaries, six Personal Assistants, six Clerks, six Telephone Attendants, six peons and six cooks for the office of the new Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, .
The Cabinet also gave green signal to amend The Right to Service Act-2011 by promulgating an Ordinance thereby substituting the name ‘First Appellate Authority’ and ‘Second Appellate Authority’ with ‘Grievance Redressal Authority’ and Appellate Authority, respectively in the principal Act and empowering them to take suo-moto notice of failure to deliver services and to pass order.
The Cabinet also gave go ahead to formulate a new policy for regularisation of plots/buildings located in the unauthorised colonies in the state by promulgation of The Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2016.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of corpus of Rs. 10 crore for the upkeep and maintenance besides to meet day to day administrative expenses of the upcoming Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum in Amritsar.
The Museum would be dedicated to the nation on October 23.
The Cabinet also gave nod to treat any of these documents i.e., voter card, electoral roll, ration card/Aadhar card, matriculation certificate and birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births & Deaths as an evidence for the purpose of verification of age of the applicant.
In order to extend better police services to the people residing in the rural areas, the Cabinet cleared the proposal of Home department to recruit 4,000 constables and 750 constable drivers under Rapid Rural Police Response Scheme (RRPRS).
To further strengthen the Intelligence Wing of the state police, the Cabinet gave approval to create 781 new posts including 11 DSPs, 24 Inspectors, 66 SIs, 64 ASIs, 116 Head Constables and 500 Constables.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also approved the creation of 4425 additional posts including ADCP/SP, ACP/DSP, Inspector, SI, ASI, Head Constable and Constable to provide best and efficient security services to the people in Ludhiana, Amritsar and SAS Nagar (Mohali) which are the famous business, religious and industrial centres.
The Cabinet also gave approval to amend the Marriage Palace policy so as to remove the hardships faced by the owners besides ensuring facilities of adequate security and parking lot for the general public converging there on the social functions.
It also agreed to go ahead with the proposed conversion policy for industrial plots laying within the Industrial Focal Points/Industrial Estates/Industrial Parks to non-industrial purposes.