Be more accessible, Badal tells administrators

KURALI, Jan 5: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has categorically asked all the district administrators to be more accessible to...

KURALI, Jan 5: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has categorically asked all the district administrators to be more accessible to the public. Addressing a gathering at the centenary function of the local Khalsa Senior Secondary School here this afternoon, Badal lamented that for minor issues the public had to rush to the state capital as the authorities were not available when needed.

The CM directed the district administrators to camp at various assembly segments in their respective areas once a week and said that the grievances of all the ruling party workers be redressed.

Saying that stern actions would be initiated in case the party workers were not entertained on priority basis, the CM said, 8220;It is because of them that we are running the show8221;.

Adding that the public demands be considered as a Hukamnama edict, he warned against cold shouldering by any senior administrator. Asking the government officials to be fair in public dealing, Badal said, quot;There should be no laxity in the functioning of the official machineryquot;. Referring to surprise checks, he said that absenteeism prevailed and it had to be checked. Badal held the previous government responsible for the prevailing fiscal crisis in the country.

Emphasising the need for sharing of information technology skills, Badal said that education was a basic need, which should be fulfilled on the lines of the developed countries.

Later, he announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh each for Kurali, Kharar, Morinda and Ropar Municipal Councils from his discretionary quota. Likewise, a grant of Rs 5 lakh was announced for Roopnagar Bar Association by the Chief Minister following the demand of Food and Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal. A grant of Rs 12 lakh was also announced for the school.

Addressing the gathering, Lok Sabha member Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, who is also an alumnus of the school, demanded a bridge across the Niholka rivulet. Others present on the occasion were Kharar MLA Daljeet Kaur, Morinda MLA Ravi Inder Singh, Minister Raja Singh and Chamkaur Sahib MLA Satwant Kaur Sandhu.