Punjab will give matching grant to people for development projects: Manpreet

“People would care less about a project where government money is spent,but when they pay from their pockets,they would ensure its proper upkeep,” he added.

He later told The Indian Express that the sanction and release of this grant would be smooth and free from official hurdles and rigmarole.

Saying that he feels that heads of DPCs need to be shaken and stirred to put the state on the path of progress,he announced that this meet would be institutionalised and held twice a year. “The first session will be held in June,when the first quarter is over and we can chalk out a plan for rest of the year. The next congress will be held in December-end,when we will evaluate the result of three quarters,and also make a plan for the next year,” he said.

Without mincing words,he said at times chairpersons were appointed only to adjust someone,but they should understand that there was more to their post than official car and other benefits. He told them that they should not consider this as a perfunctory ceremony,but as a duty towards the development of the state.

He asked the participants to understand the schemes and needs of their areas and seek changes in the policy,if required.

He peppered his pep-talk with anecdotes and Urdu couplets. On the importance of planning,he recited,“ Husne tadbeer se jaag uthta hai kaumon ka naseeb … (Planning can brighten the destiny of nations).”

He also narrated incidents from the lives of Subhash Chandra Bose and revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil,and while giving a low-down on sense of responsibility and accountability,he gave an example of Hazrat Umar of Baghdad,who,when approached by his countrymen to become the king,had said,“If a dog dies hungry on the banks of the River Euphrates,Umar will be held responsible.”

Coming to Central schemes,he said these should be customised as per the needs of the states. To shore up his argument,he said Punjab needs special funds for its live border,which has witnessed very little economic growth. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would meet the vice-chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Thursday and seek an increase in the Rs 22-crore package for border area development.