Punjab expected to procure 132 lakh metric tons wheat: Chief Secretary
Punjab is expected to procure 132 lakh metric tons wheat, out of which 17.14 lakh metric tons have already been acquired, Chief Secretary Anurag Verma said on Sunday.
Homeless freedom fighters and families, with annual income less than Rs Three lakh, living in villages will be given assistance for building a house under Punjab Pendu Awaas Yojna (PPAY).
The state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday, gave its nod to the implementation of this scheme in a phased manner, with all the houseless freedom fighters to be covered in the first phase.
Giving details of the scheme, an official spokesperson said a beneficiary would be given Rs 1.20 lakh by the state government, besides 90 man days or labour, which would be provided to him in convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
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In addition, a toilet would be constructed in the house at a cost of Rs 12,000 under the MGNREGA or Swachh Bharat Mission. The house to be constructed under the scheme by the beneficiary would be of about 25 squre metres with one room, kitchen and a toilet.
In the second phase to be undertaken after an year, applicants with an annual family income from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 3.00 lakh would be covered under the scheme.
In another decision, the Cabinet enhanced ex-gratia grant of Members of Punjab Legislative Assembly from existing Rs One lakh to Rs Five lakh by amending section 10-A (1) of “The Punjab State Legislature Members (Pension and Medical Facilities Regulation) Rules, 1984. In case of death of person serving as a Member of the Punjab Assembly, an ex-gratia grant of Rs Five lakh would be provided to the members of his family.
The Cabinet also approved an Ordinance for the constitution of the Punjab State Higher Education Council, in line with the requirements of the Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan.
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