The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today gave his green signal to induct new 13.5 lakh beneficiary families under the new Atta-Dal scheme to give a much needed relief to the common man reeling under the impact of high inflation.Today presiding over the meeting of Principal Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners along with Revenue Minister Mr Bikram Singh Majithia and Health Minister Mr Surjeet Kumar Jyani at Ludhiana on Thursday, Mr Badal declared that that Punjab Government would state distribution of new Blue Cards in the state from February 5 and the process would be completed within next 10 days. He asked the Deputy Commissioner to personally monitor the distribution of blue cards and health cards to the beneficiaries so the people should no face any difficulty.Asking the Food and Civil Supply officials to accelerate the scrutiny process of lists of blue card holders, the Deputy CM said that the lists of valid beneficiaries should be uploaded on departmental website on or before January 22 so that claims for objections could be filed up to January 29. He directed that final lists should be uploaded by February 01.To provide the sand and gravel on reasonable rates, Mr Badal also gave his approval to new distribution scheme of mineral supplies, which would be implemented from February 01. Under this policy mineral supplies would be controlled by Mandi Board as nodal agency in coordination with district administrations and mining department.Badal said that Punjab Government has identified three major areas in the state, namely Pathankot, Rupnagar and Ferozpur districts which supplies the major share of natural resources. Under new distribution system, DCs would supervise and publically publish the affordable sand and gravel rates.
Badal strictly asked the DCs to ensure that there would be no monopoly in availability and transportation in sand and gravel. Badal said that from next month rates of sand and gravel would come down as Punjab Government is all set for the auction of 26 A-Category mines on February 6 and 7. Badal also asked the mining department to kick off the auction process of other 130 mines, having area less than 5 acre as state level committees could grant environmental clearance to these mines.Reviewing the newly proposed Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna, in which free medical facilities would be provided to Blue Card holders upto Rs 30,000 annually, Mr Badal asked the health officials to hire 2000 more machines to boost the ongoing process of card making of beneficiaries. He asked the Food Supplies department to coordinate with health department for smooth distribution of blue cards and health cards to the beneficiaries.Prominent amongst others present in the meeting included Advisor to Chief Minister Mr Mahesinder Singh Grewal, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Financial Commissioner Revenue N.S Kang, Principal Secretary Industries K.A. Singh, Principal Secretary to CM S.K.Sandhu, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister P.S Aulja, Principal Secretary Health Vinni Mahajan, Secretary Food Supply D.S Grewal, Special Principal Secretary to CM Gagandeep Singh Brar and Deputy Commissioners of all districts.