Ahead of polls, MLAs to get Rs 5-crore grant each

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 16

Cabinet ministers and MLAs from the Majha region, at a pre-Budget meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, called for the involvement of elected representatives in the implementation of next phases of the loan waiver scheme.

The CM is set to launch the scheme for small farmers at two state-level functions in Mehraj (Bathinda) and Ropar by the end of this month. Pointing out that as the debt waiver scheme, intended to politically benefit the party, was seeing their little involvement, the legislators suggested that they be allowed to distribute the cheques to beneficiaries in their respective constituencies before the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha comes into force.

The Chief Minister announced an untied grant of Rs 5 crore each to MLAs under the “Sehri Parivartan Yojna” and the “Smart Village” scheme in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.

Under the Urban and Rural Environment Improvement Programme to be undertaken in a phased manner, the government would be spending Rs 1,500 crore. Out of this, Rs 1,000 crore would be spent on improving rural infrastructure while Rs 500 crore would be used for urban infrastructure.

Apart from the Cabinet ministers, MPs Partap Bajwa and GS Aujla also attended the meeting.

Even as the open sale of de-addiction drug buprenorphine is being criticised, MLAs representing the border areas hailed the increase in its consumption, stating that it was taking away addicts from synthetic drugs.

MLAs gave suggestions like strengthening of roads and bridges, early disbursement of waiver amount, scheme for landless labourers and use of MGNREGA for the improvement of rural infrastructure. Over the next two days, MLAs from the Doaba and Malwa regions have been called for similar meetings.