In a major development, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Cabinet on Thursday took multiple key decisions and also allocated budget for carrying out the work. Punjab Cabinet meeting took place at CM Mann's residence on Thursday. Among the major announcements were the revival of the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage (Teerthyatra) Scheme, the introduction of a school mentorship program, and amendments to the mining policy to make sand and gravel more affordable for the public.
Now people above 50 years of age will be able to travel to religious places for free. The government will bear all the expenses. A budget of 100 crores has been kept for this.
At the same time, mentorship program will start for 80 schools of eminence in the state. Under this, senior IAS and IPS will adopt schools for five years. Apart from this, amendments made to the mining policy have been approved to provide cheap sand to the people. Now farmers will be able to sell sand from their fields themselves. However, a limit will be set for excavation etc.
Free travel to many religious sites including Ayodhya Ram Mandir
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Chief Minister's Pilgrimage Scheme has been approved. Under this scheme, people aged 50 years or above will be made to travel to religious places. The government has allocated a fund of Rs 100 crore for this scheme. Registration for the scheme will start at the end of April and the travels will start from May.
In the meeting, it was told about the Chief Minister's Teerth Yojana, that all the travels will be done by air-conditioned vehicles. The government will make arrangements for the accommodation and food of the passengers. The list of pilgrimage sites including Sri Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar), Durgiana Temple, and Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh will be finalised soon. The journey will be done by both bus and train.
School mentorship program will be started
FM Cheema further said that the government has established 118 Schools of Eminence to improve the education sector. The department has selected 80 schools in these Schools of Eminence under which the officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) posted in Punjab will adopt one school each for five. They will go to schools and meet the children. This will establish an emotional bond with the schools. They will guide the students. This will develop in them the feeling of going into civil services and serving the country.
'Sand and gravel to be cheaper in Punjab'
In the cabinet meeting, the amendment of Mining and Crusher Policy 2023 was approved. In this, a decision has been taken to reduce the gap between demand and supply, to stop illegal mining, to increase revenue and to provide sand and gravel to people at cheaper rates. Earlier, public mining sites and commercial mining sites were included in this. Whereas now three new categories have been added.
The first category of crusher mining site included in this. In this scheme, crusher owners who have their own land will be able to use their land or take land on lease. They will pay royalty to the government. A certain limit will be fixed according to which they will be able to do mining.
The second land owner category has been created. In this category, farmers who have sand available in their fields will also be able to sell sand themselves. They will be able to sell through a group or at the site themselves. DC will take a decision regarding government land. Now there will be five places instead of two, due to which the prices of sand will come down and it will be easily available.
Earlier the government used to give environmental clearance, now individuals will be able to get this clearance themselves and do their work. The duties of every officer have been determined. The process has been simplified so that no one faces any trouble. All the provisions have been amended, which will increase the revenue of the government.