In a major reprieve for millions of families, especially from weaker and underprivileged sections of society, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday launched “Mera Ghar Mere Naam” scheme to confer proprietary rights on the people living in the houses within the ‘Lal Lakir’ of villages and the cities.

Channi, addressing the gathering during State-level function, envisioned that the scheme will give much-needed succour to all the people, especially that of needy and underprivileged strata. “Earlier, this scheme was launched only for the residents of villages, but now it is being extended to the eligible residents of the cities within the ‘Lal Lakir’,” said Channi, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Revenue Minister Aruna Chaudhary.

He said the Revenue Department has been mandated to undertake drone survey of such residential properties, both in rural and urban areas, for digital mapping.

The Chief Minister said subsequently, all the eligible residents, after proper identification or verification, will be given the property cards (sanads) to confer proprietary rights upon them in a time bound manner. Prior to this, the beneficiaries will be given a time of 15 days to file their objections, and in case no reply is received from them, the property card will be issued which will serve the purpose of registry against which they can avail loans from the banks or even sell their properties thus enhancing its monetary value.

The people residing in the houses in old localities (mohallas) since long time, generation after generation, will also be covered under the scheme, he added.

The Chief Minister added another path breaking scheme, Basera, is providing relief to people residing in slum areas outside the Lal Lakir by giving ownership rights to them.

“By coming Deepawali, the State Government will ensure proprietary rights to people under this scheme,” he said.

He elaborated, “All the power connections, which have been disconnected in the State due to non-payment of bills, will be reconnected by Deepawali. Anyone, regardless of caste, creed, and religion will get the benefit of the Government’s waiver scheme. Out of 72 lakh consumers, nearly 52 lakh across the State will be benefited from it.”

The CM said though he has very little time, he is working overtime to ensure that people are benefited from the State Government’s development-oriented schemes.

‘MAIN PRIORITY AS CM IS TO RESTORE CONG WORKERS’ HONOUR AND DIGNITY’

Striking an emotional chord with Congress workers, the CM said a new era of Congress workers and elected representative’s rule has been ushered in the State. “As the Chief Minister, my major thrust will be to restore the honour and dignity of Congress workers. Every Congress worker is now the Chief Minister of Punjab as I have decentralised all the powers in State,” he said.

PUNJAB POLICE FULLY CAPABLE OF FOILING ANY CROSS BORDER TERRORISM ATTEMPT

Asserting border residents are country’s brave-heart patriots, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that by enhancing BSF’s jurisdiction, the Centre is posing serious question mark over their patriotism and integrity which cannot be tolerated.

Randhawa said the Punjab Police is fully capable

of foiling any attempt aimed at destabilising State through cross border terrorism or

drug trade. At same time, he also lambasted the Modi Government for curtailing the Border Area Development fund started by Manmohan Singh Government thereby jeopardising the development of border areas.