By IANS
Ludhiana/Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday launched the much-awaited ‘atta-dal’ (wheat and pulses) scheme for the poor during Independence Day celebrations in Ludhiana.
In his address to the people after unfurling the national flag, Badal said in another announcement that land along rivers and rivulets being sowed and maintained by people would be transferred in their names. Over 42,000 acres had been identified for the purpose.
Giving details of the ‘atta-dal’ scheme, he said his government had fulfilled its election promise of providing wheat and pulses to poor people in Punjab at Rs.4 and Rs.20 per kg respectively. And handed over bags of wheat and pulses to select beneficiaries of the scheme on the occasion.
The scheme will benefit nearly 1.4 million families in Punjab who have an annual income less than Rs.30,000.
The state government will provide a maximum of 35 kg of wheat and four kg of pulses to each family per month at the subsidised rates to help them overcome inflation.
Congress leaders were quick to attack the populist scheme, saying the Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had made the promise of subsidised wheat and pulses to the entire population of Punjab whereas it was now being given to just a small percentage.
Throughout Punjab, towns and cities remained decorated on the occasion of the country’s 60th anniversary of independence with shopkeepers and big stores announcing sales and other schemes to attract customers.
Across Punjab, and particularly at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, people thronged gurudwaras and other religious places from morning to pay obeisance.
In Chandigarh, Punjab Governor and union territory administrator S.F. Rodrigues unfurled the national flag at the Sector 17 Parade grounds.
An impressive march past by Chandigarh Police and paramilitary forces, fire brigade and educational institutions was followed by colourful tableaux from various wings of the administration and local institutions.
In neighbouring Haryana, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda unfurled the national flag at Ambala and said that Haryana was well on the road to becoming the number one state in the country.