Farmers take out a protest march. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 30
Thousands of farmers from Punjab on Thursday took out a protest march to Parliament here, demanding to stop the import of food crops, especially wheat, which are being sufficiently produced by farmers.The protest is being held under the aegis of Bharti Kisan Union Ekta (Dakaunda), Azad Kisan Sangharash Committee and Krantikari Kisan Union.
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A charter of demands will be handed over to PM Narendra Modi and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.The farmers are demanding an immediate stop to the import of foodgrains, especially wheat; implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations; and farm debt waiver.
Dharamsot tells officers to get cracking; implement welfare schemes
Instructs officers to the data of beneficiaries within 15 days
Sadhu Singh Dharamsot
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 30
Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Minister for Forests, Printing and Stationery and Welfare of SCs/BCs, on Thursday directed the officers of the Welfare Department to roll up their sleeves to ensure the benefits of welfare schemes to the needy.After presiding over a high-level meeting of officers of the department, Dharamsot said the priority of the department should be to implement all welfare schemes in true spirit to provide much-needed respite to the needy and downtrodden.He said instructions to the officers down the line had been issued to ensure the implementation of welfare schemes as enlisted in the Five-Year Plan.He said the department had also been directed to update the data of the schemes implemented vis-a-vis the record of beneficiaries during the 11th and 12th Five-Year Plans within the next 15 days.He urged the officers and employees of the department to work with full dedication and sincerity and ensure the implementation of schemes in public interest. He said the transfers of the employees would be considered on the basis of their work and progress.
Sidhu launches ‘People’s govt at their doorsteps’ campaign
Minister for Local Government Navjot Sidhu in a discussion with local leaders during his first visit to Nayagaon on Thursday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
Chandigarh, March 30
Punjab Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday launched a campaign with an aim to reach out to the people to understand their problems.Named as ‘People’s government at their doorsteps’, the campaign was launched in Mohali district by Sidhu, who said Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has “set a mission for all of us to provide a hassle-free and corruption-free atmosphere to the people”.The cricketer-turned-politician also made a surprise visit to the Nayagaon area near Chandigarh, along with senior officials of his department and district administration, an official release said here.Sidhu, who left the BJP to join the Congress months before the Punjab Assembly polls, also visited the proposed site for a sewage treatment plant (STP).He found it “not suitable” for the project as it was located near a residential area and directed the officials to send another proposal for a new site, the release added.During the visit, Sidhu gave a patient hearing to the locals and municipal councillors, besides directing the Nagar Panchayat officials to solve all the problems raised by the people in a time-bound manner.He reiterated the Congress party’s poll promise of providing quality services and a corruption-free system to the people of Punjab.“Corruption and harassment of citizens will not be tolerated at any level,” the minister said and asked the officials to display “every detail” of the ongoing development works on flex boards to ensure transparency.Sidhu said he would visit towns and cities across Punjab as a part of the campaign and would try to solve the problems of the people with their participation. — PTI