MUMBAI, MARCH 11: The constituents of the Congress-led Democratic Front Government on Friday unanimously decided to implement the recommendations of the Srikrishna and Gundewar Commissions `in letter and spirit'.The Srikrishna Commission was appointed by the Sudhakarrao Naik-led Congress government in 1992 to investigate into the communal riots that followed the Babri Masjid demolition, while the Gundewar Commission was set up to inquire into the death of 11 persons in violence at Ramabai Nagar, Ghatkopar, following the desecration of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue.Briefing mediapersons after a high-level meeting of the coordination committee to chalk out a common minimum programme, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said since an agreement had been reached, action would be taken as per the law against those held guilty by the two commissions. ``Since the Srikrishna Commission report is pending before the Supreme Court, we will act as per the Apex Court directions,'' the Chief Minister added.The Srikrishna Commission had passed strictures against a section of top Shiv Sena leaders for allegedly inciting communal violence. The report was rejected by the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party Government headed by Manohar Joshi. A petition demanding implementation of the report's recommendations is before the Supreme Court.The committee has also decided to scrap the controversial Shivshahi Punarvasan Prakalp Limited, set up during the Sena-BJP rule to provide free houses to 40 lakh slumdwellers in the metropolis. ``We have no alternative but scrap the company, since as against the requirement of eight lakh flats, less than 3,400 houses were provided to slumdwellers,'' Deshmukh said.The Chief Minister said the plan to provide houses to slumdwellers will be revamped. It has been proposed to set up cooperative housing societies for the pre-1995 slumdwellers, and provide them with loans at a nominal rate of interest. ``We will chalk out a time-bound action plan, give photopasses to pre-1995 slumdwellers, organise their rehabilitation and bring in a legislation for the removal of post-1995 slumdwellers,'' Deshmukh said.Alarmed by the growth of coaching classes in the city, Deshmukh said henceforth, directors or managers of coaching classes will have to register with the Department of Education. ``The director will have to maintain a register of teachers as well as students and their mode of payment and for the purpose, we will bring in a comprehensive legislation during the ensuing Budget session,'' he added.The government will chalk out a four-year programme to provide drinking water through taps to rural Maharashtra, as providing drinking water to the rural sector was one of the DF Government's main programmes.The government also decided to reconsider its decision to hike prices of essential commodities under the Public Distribution System.The DF Government will make efforts to curb corruption by pushing for the right to information. Efforts will also be made to simplify procedures and scrap obsolete laws and procedures, he said.The Chief Minister said funds will be made available to the Krishna Valley Development Corporation at the earliest, in order to secure the State's share of Krishna river waters by May 31, 2000.Farmers who had earlier to take loans at 12 to 15 per cent interest rates, leading to mounting debts, can now heave a sigh of relief with the government announcing its decision to provide Rs 25,000 as crop loan at the rate of six per cent to farmers in Maharashtra.The lacunae in the current crop insurance scheme will also be looked into. The policy on the issue of threshold crops will be made applicable to all crops after bringing about the necessary changes, he added.Several Employment Guarantee Schemes for rural farmers, labourers and artistes will also be undertaken by the government, Deshmukh said, adding a monthly pension will be given to to farmers and labourers above 60 years of age.
