Badal seeks peoples' participation in developmment schemes

Badiala, Bathinda, Dec 5 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the people to join hands with the state government for initiating the World Bank-funded development projects of drinking water and sewerage in the villages.

After paying tributes on 35th death anniversary of Sant Baba Fateh Singh at a state-level function organised here at his native village, Mr Badal in his address said that Sant Fateh Singh was a saint-statesman and the founder of the 'Punjabi Suba' who led a crusade against the then Congress regime at Centre for the statehood for Punjabis.

Mr Badal alleged that Congress had been ''misleading'' the Punjab and Punjabis since its inception due to ''political and vested motives''.

"Congress has not only played havoc with the sentiments of the people of Punjab but also ruined one of the most developed and progressive states in the country economically", said Mr Badal.

The Chief Minister blamed the previous Congress Government for a staggering debt of Rs 45000 crore due to its wrong economic and financial policies.

Mr Badal also indirectly admitted that the state's financial position was not good and the people should come forward to contribute towards its development plans and schemes.

"It is not feasible for the government to provide every thing free and subsidise every facility because governments need funds to run administration and execute development schemes and plans", said Mr Badal.

He, however, said that once the state was out of financial crisis it would again give facilities and concessions liberally as per their expectations.

Mr Badal said that the state government had prioritised the education and health care as the core sectors for development.

He announced to upgrade three 10+2 schools at village Burj Dhilwan, Choke and Rampura in Joga constituency at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore and set up an 'Adarsh School' in this constituency at a cost of Rs 4 crore.

Another school would be constructed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee at a cost of Rs 3 crore at village Badiala in the memory of Sant Fateh Singh.

He also asked the village panchayats to convince the people to contribute their respective shares for the World Bank's drinking water and sewerage schemes.

"State government alone could not implement these schemes on its own due to certain in-built terms and conditions where the monetary participation of the people is mandatory" Mr Badal explained.

He also announced that a multi-specialty cancer hospital will be set up in Bathinda to provide health care facilities to the poor patients at subsidized rates.

He said that the state government would soon announce a health care policy and set up a corpus fund to provide free treatment to the economically poor patients suffering from ailments like cancer, cardiac and chronic diseases.

Paying glowing tributes to Sant Fateh Singh on the occasion, the Member Parliament and Acting President of Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal asked the people to follow his legacy as the Saint-leader had contributed immensely for safeguarding the rights of the people of Punjab.

UNI