Punjab To Compensate Farm Labourers Also In Case Of Crop Loss Due To Natural Calamities: Bhagwant Mann

Chandigarh, April 28 (TNA) Extending a major relief, in a Labour-day (May 1) gift to the working class, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced to earmark 10% amount of compensation meant for crop loss due to any sort of natural calamity for the farm labourers also.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting held at the local Circuit house, Ludhiana under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister. Divulging the details, the Chief Minister, while interacting with the media persons on the side-lines of the Cabinet meeting, said that this landmark initiative is aimed at benefitting the farm labourers who usually are bereft of such compensation despite the fact that they suffer a lot due to nature's fury.

He said that now not only the farmers but the labourer will also be compensated for the loss of their work due to natural calamities. Bhagwant Mann said that this is the gift of the state government to the entire working class who give their sweat and toil for producing the crops, on the upcoming Labour Day on May 1.

The Chief Minister also announced that the state government will also soon start a massive registration drive to register the working class so that they can get benefits from the various central and state-sponsored schemes. He said that most of these schemes lapse as there is no proper registration of the labourers but now this will be ensured to benefit the working class. Bhagwant Mann also bemoaned that the successive state governments have hitherto ignored this noble cause.

He said that now Cabinets will not be confined only in the rooms of the Secretariat but they will be held in the villages, towns, and cities across the state so that people are facilitated. Bhagwant Mann said that with this boost will be given to the development of the state on one hand and will facilitate the people by getting their routine administrative works done on the other.

The Chief Minister further said that he had already directed the officers especially the Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to enhance their field visits. He said that the aim is that the people should not have to run from pillar to post for getting their routine administrative work done. Rather, Bhagwant Mann said that the government will provide facilities to the people at their doorsteps through such schemes.

The Cabinet also gave its consent for sending the case of six prisoners for seeking the premature release of life convicts confined in the jails of the state. After the nod of the Cabinet under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, these special remission/ premature release cases will be submitted to the Punjab Governor under Article 161 of the Indian Constitution for consideration/ approval.

As a part of phase II of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahautsav being celebrated to commemorate the 75th year of Indian Independence, the Cabinet also gave a green signal for sending the case of 14 prisoners falling in category 6, for seeking the premature release of life convicts confined in the jails of the state. After the nod of the Cabinet under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, these special remission/ premature release cases will be submitted to the Punjab Governor under Article 161 of the Indian Constitution for consideration/ approval.