Congress-led Punjab Government on Monday promised to do in the next two years of its term what it was trying to accomplish in the past three. Asking for “a chance” on the completion of three years of his government, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced to give one lakh government jobs in the next two years.
Capt Amarinder gave his Government 75 marks out of 100 in a report card, presented by him and his ministers on Monday, with promises of a better performance in the subjects of employment generation, transport sector, illegal mining, corruption, affordable power, among others.
“Out of the total 424 poll promises, the government has implemented 225, while 96 have been partially implemented, and the remaining 103 would be implemented in the coming two years,” said Capt Amarinder while addressing the media in the media conclave along with all the Cabinet Ministers, party MPs.
“We have taken action on more than 75 percent of our promises made to the people of Punjab...I am confident that in the next two years, we should be able to fulfil all our commitment,” he said.
He said: “The Congress party works in a different way, and to ensure that all promises be implemented, the party high command has set up manifesto implementation committee and we will implement the entire manifesto.”
Even as he reiterated “one another time” his “commitment” to punish the guilty of sacrilege, bringing down power rates, de-monopolizing transport business, checking illegal mining, eliminating corruption, among other promises, the Chief Minister could not come up with clear answers on these burning issues riding high on which he came to power in 2017.
Contrary to the people’s high expectations, the Chief Minister did not make any major announcements, except announcing one lakh government jobs, and providing new bus permits in an attempt to end monopolization in transport sector besides reducing road tax.
He also announced to put in place the corrective measures to check illegal mining by Baisakhi, setting up 750 rural sports stadiums to promote sports and improve youngsters’ health, implementing Lokpal Bill covering all from Chief Minister downwards, binging Anti Red Tape Legislation, Land Leasing and Tenancy Bill, besides the State Drug legislation to deal with drug related cases.
Making concluding remarks during the conclave, the Chief Minister announced that one lakh youth will be provided government jobs over the next two year in total 17 state government departments, primarily in health, education, police, and electricity board.
“These jobs will be filled up through a transparent and merit-based system of selection…We also aim to cross the target of 20 lakhs employment facilitation by 2022 of which we have already achieved 12.17 lakh jobs as on today,” he said.
Underlining that the Government has decided to rationalize the electricity tariff in a manner that reduces their burden making it more affordable to the common man, the Chief Minister said that the final details of the new power tariff could be given only after the approval of power regulator — Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
“Since the decision to regulate tariff is the jurisdiction of the power regulator, the state is submitting its proposal in this regard to the regulator,” he said while refusing to give details of the proposed tariff reduction and how to counterbalance the loss to be suffered by the State by reducing the domestic tariff.
To ensure “no monopoly” in the state transport sector, the Chief Minister announced that the State Government would soon provide 5,000 new permits for small or mini buses, and 2000 new permits for stage carriage on commercially viable routes.
“After the Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on illegal extension of routes, I have directed the Transport Department to cancel all such permits,” he added.
Besides, he also announced to bring down the road tax and cess on ordinary buses from Rs 3.08 to Rs 2.96 as well as special one-time amnesty scheme for settling penal interest on non-payment of government dues by transporters, which the state Finance Minister Manpreet Badal claimed that the state would be able to “absorb”.
Facing criticism not only of the opposition but also his own party men over the issue of illegal mining, the Chief Minister said that the state was coming up with new guidelines “before Baisakhi”.
“The Department would examine all aspects and suggest corrective measures witing the next two-three weeks,” said the Chief Minister.
He said: “The sand mafia will not be allowed….I have asked the Minister to thoroughly review and make this system fully transparent…our aim is to ensure steady supply of sand at affordable rate at the pithead with proper use of technology to check any illegal activity by the contractors or illegal miners.”
On the promise of waiving off entire debt of the farmers, the Chief Minister said that the Government has waived off the farmers’ debt “as per our capability”.
“What Punjab has done, it is highest in the country…the maximum limit is Rs two lakh…we cannot go beyond that. And those, who have been left out due to some paper work, would be covered now. Besides, the government will start the debt loan waiver scheme for the farm landless labour as soon as the COVID-19 measures are over,” he said.
The Government will provide relief of Rs 520 crore to 2.85 lakh agricultural landless members if cooperative societies.
He also declared that the Government was soon to take further action in the sacrilege and subsequent police firing cases and would go to the bottom of the cases.
“Let me reiterate that all those persons, whether big or small, who are guilty of ordering firing upon innocent persons protesting the be-adbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji will be brought to book, also those responsible for be-adbi of our Guru cannot escape the punishment they deserve,” he said.
Also declaring that the Government has adopted zero tolerance policy against organised crime, he said a Special Operations Group (SOG) has been set up as anti-terrorist crack unit. “One village, one police officer scheme has also been launched to improve people-police interface,” he added.
Declaring that he will not allow mining, liquor, drug and transport mafias, or goondas, gangsters and terrorists to disturb the state’s peaceful environment, the Chief Minister said: “I will be absolutely harsh...As an ex-fauji, I know how to deal with them...Everyone will get a free chance to make the most of the opportunities in Transport and other sectors.”
Vowing to completely eliminate all the mafias from the state, the Chief Minister said his government was working to end all this since taking over Punjab’s reins, “but these things take time.” “We have done our best, and we could not have done any better considering the situation,” he said, complimenting his cabinet colleagues and officers for the excellent job done by them.
Claiming to work hard to break the back of the flourishing drug economy in Punjab, the Chief Minister said: “Let me clearly state that any person, irrespective of his position or political affiliation, if found involved in drug trade, will be taken to task. Drugs and drug peddlers have to go from Punjab whatever it takes,” he said.
Apart from medical colleges at Mohali, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, two more medical colleges have been planned at Gurdaspur and Malerkotla, he also announced.
