Cabinet discusses agenda to woo voters ahead of code

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 10

The Punjab Cabinet meeting held tonight under CM Parkash Singh Badal is learnt to have served the purpose of formalising the SAD-BJP alliance’s agenda for wooing voters rather than just doing routine legislative business.

Apart from framing rules to regulate the real estate sector and private schools by setting up regulators, the key issues discussed were quick implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwal Yojana under which free LPG connection are to be given to 5 lakh BPL families in the state.

Sources said the ministers were informed that the state government had already deposited its share of money for the free LPG connections, but the final nod was to be given by the Centre and oil marketing companies. The ministers asked the officials in the Social Security and the Food and Supplies department to ensure the scheme’s implementation before the code of conduct was implemented, most likely in December-end.

Under this scheme, there will be complete waiver of administrative cost of Rs 1,600 per connection and the cylinder refill cost will be deposited in the Jan Dhan accounts of beneficiaries. The ministers also raised apprehensions over the political fallout of the social security pension not being disbursed to 18 lakh beneficiaries due to demonetisation. Though the Social Security Department has tried to use the banking channels—pensions are distributed in cash through sarpanches and other political leaders of the ruling alliance—for disbursal of Rs 92 crore meant for pensions to old age, widow, destitute children and differently abled persons, the poor cash flow has hit the disbursement.

Sources said the Chief Minister would meet bankers tomorrow and seek Rs 100 crore into the state government’s account for the disbursal. The ministers were also reportedly told to prepare and bring to the next—and probably the last of this government — Cabinet meeting on December 15 agenda for wooing voters. The issue of giving VAT concessions to some sections of the industry was also discussed and could come up in the next meeting, it was learnt.