Sangrur Vikas Yatra concludes at village Changaal, Singla traverses 111 km on foot
Interacts with people of 92 villages, Panchyats of 92 villages get grants worth Rs.5 crore
5 Dariya News
Ghabdan(Sangrur) 03-Mar-2019
Under the State Government's scheme for houses for homeless, disbursement of 5 Marla plot ownership certificates has Started in Sangrur, informed Cabinet Minister Vijay Inder Singla during his halt at village Ghabdan in Sangrur district, on the final day of the Sangrur Vikas Yatra.Nine homeless families in village Ghabdan and 45 in Bharaj and Lakhewal village were given plot ownership certificates.Welcoming the initiative of the State Government, Gurjant Singh, Sarpanch of village Ghabdan said ,"This is a great initiative and I am happy that this noble cause has commenced from my village." Beneficiary Harpal Singh,a daily wager supporting his blind father and eight other members was elated over getting the plot and said," I wish my father could see just for a day that we now have our own piece of land."Goga Singh father of beneficiary Gurdeep Singh said,"Owing to young son and daughter in law in family I could not sleep in the make shift arrangement created for family shelter, so I used to go to the village Zamindar's house to sleep in his shed. I am overjoyous that we will now have our own house."Similarly, daily wager Tarsem supporting his three young daughters and widow sister , Major Singh son of a brick klin labourer and Nirbhai Singh supporting his mentally retired brother and two young girls said " as far as our memory goes, perhaps in last three generations we have never been plot owners. We can't say getting this plot is a dream come true as we 'never even dreamt' of destiny being so kind to us. May God bless those who materialized this." The parents of all the beneficiaries admitted in unison that absence of shelter was a major hitch in getting their young son's married.Moved by the feelings of the beneficiaries, Singla assured them that he would pursue their cause and propose providing Rs 1.5 lac to all the beneficiaries under the scheme, for the construction of house on the plots given by the government.
Creating a record of sorts, Cabinet Minister Vijayinder Singla traversed 111 km on foot and interacted with people of 92 villages of district Sangrur. The pedestrian tour christened as 'Sangrur Vikas Yatra' kicked off from village Channo on February 27 and concluded at village Changaal on March 3. En Route, the Minister interacted closely with different sections of society from farm labourers to effluent farmers, from brick klin workers to cattle rearers and shopkeepers, from homeless poor to members of Panchayats, taking special care to interact with the rural youth and women. He informed and educated them about government policies and apprised them of the ongoing development works as well as those in the offing. Singa disbursed grants worth approximately Rs. 5 crore during the tour to 92 Gram Panchayats. He also disbursed debt waiver certificates worth Rs. 1.90 crore to the beneficiaries. Taking stock of the progress of the ongoing projects, the Minister paid a surprise visit at the construction site of the Government Degree College Bhawanigarh and also monitored the status of cleaning of village ponds. The philanthropic element in the tour included organisation of free check up Camp for Early Detection of Cancer. Interestingly, throughout the padyatra the Minister checked in for night stay at the houses of the villagers and relished the meals cooked by them. Braving all odds, be it thunderstorm and rain showers, be it muddy terrain or sunny afternoons, the padyatra went unabated. The Minister also spend some lighter moments with the rural kids. Rubbishing aside the remarks of opposition who called padyatra 'a tour for seat', the Minister said "My padyatra is not a political gimmick. I am blessed with the status of a Cabinet Minister and I am amongst my people to assess their problems and propel my constituency towards higher growth trajectory." He added "Associating the padyatra with the forthcoming Parliamentary Elections is childish. I have not staked any claim at any quarter for the Lok Sabha seat. The sole purpose of my tour is to interact with my people and redress their grievances."