Chandigarh, March 28 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced a scheme to deliver ration at the doorsteps of the people across the state.
Making an announcement in a video message, he said the Aam Aadmi Party government's scheme is aimed at providing good quality ration 'atta' (wheat flour) and 'daal' (pulses) to the people packed in clean gunny bags.
"You need not to stand in long queues or miss your daily-wage anymore for getting ration and now our officials would check your availability before delivering the ration at your doorsteps," he said.
Mann said under this scheme, an option would also be given to those beneficiaries who want to get ration supply from the nearby depots as per their convenience.
He said the people have to still stand in long queues for fetching ration even after 75 years of Independence, whereas now in a digital era, people can get anything delivered online within no time at their place.
This people-friendly initiative would ensure the best quality ration at their doorsteps as "earlier our mothers had to go even two km for getting ration that too of substandard quality not fit for human consumption".
"Our government has made an endeavour to provide healthy and hygienic ration at your doorsteps."
Mann said this scheme was earlier introduced in Delhi by the Arvind Kejriwal government but somehow was stalled by the Centre as it intended to make people stand in long queues for ration.
Addressing members of industrial associations, who called on Channi here in the presence of Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, he said that most of their demands have already been met as promised by him during the Punjab Investors' Summit.
A Rajya Sabha member and close aide of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her inception in Punjab affairs has caused suspicion among the leaders in Punjab who were fighting a turf war. Soni could be reckoned to be the choice of the high command if Congress returns to power as a consensus candidate.
The new limit will apply to both Indian passport holders as well as persons of Indian origin carrying the Overseas Citizen of India card travelling to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province through Kartarpur corridor.
The development comes after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmer bodies, suspended the agitation after the Union government repealed the three farm laws and conceded its other demands. Subsequently the farmers started vacating the Delhi borders where they have been stationed for more than a year.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday gave a clarion call for the establishment of a truly federal structure in the country, with genuine cultural, political and economic autonomy to states. It also announced to implement a Rs 50,000 per acre crop insurance scheme, besides commitment to revive the pre-2004 pension scheme for government employees.
In order to provide constructed houses to the economically weaker section (EWS) across the state, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved invitation of applications for allotment of 25,000 houses to be constructed by urban development authorities. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Channi here.