Punjab cabinet passes resolution seeking repeal of three farm laws
CHANDIGARH : A day after the induction of 15 ministers, the Punjab cabinet led by Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday passed a resolution seeking repeal of the central government’s three contentious farm laws.
The specially convened meeting coincided with the Bharat bandh call by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions leading the protests at the Delhi border and elsewhere.
Terming the agriculture laws as anti-farmer and against food security, Channi said they were a threat to the peasantry and their future generations. “Therefore, the earlier resolutions passed by the state assembly seeking repeal of black laws should be conceded by the Centre without delay,” he said.
He asked his ministers to win the confidence of the families of 155 deceased farmers by visiting their homes and delivering them appointment letters for government jobs besides instructing chief secretary Anirudh Tiwari to verify the households left out of the process.
Channi also directed Tiwari to explore ways to rationalise compensation for farmers whose land was acquired for government projects.
Ministers asked to work overtime
Channi asked all ministers to work overtime as time left to fulfill promises made before the 2017 polls was too short, it is learnt. “The CM also asked all ministers to work from 9am to 10pm and sit in office at least two days a week, it is learnt. The ministers would also be given additional responsibility of a district each to oversee government functioning and for redressal of people’s grievances,” said a minister. Channi assured to announce “people-centric decisions” in the next cabinet meeting on October 1.
Curtail security: CM
CM Channi asked the ministers to keep their security “bare minimum” saying that he had already curtailed his own. “This would save the general public from unnecessary inconvenience,” he said. To provide access to the elected representatives like sarpanches and municipal councillors it was decided to issue cards from the offices of deputy commissioners and sub-divisional magistrates (SDMS) so that they are allowed entry in government offices and secretariats in Chandigarh.
Seeks 100-day roadmap within a week
In his first meeting with department heads and administrative secretaries after he took over as CM Channi cautioned all officers against corruption. He also asked officers to give respect to ministers and MLAS, as per rule of law. “I am soft and gentle, but please don’t mistake my gentleness thinking I will let inaction go unnoticed,” Channi said.
He directed officers to submit their proposals for a 100-day roadmap for their departments to the chief secretary within a week.