18 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2018

From poll battles to development projects, the region has a lot to look forward to in the year ahead. Here’s a sneak peek at what lies in store

CABINET EXPANSION

Will he, won’t he? Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has kept his MLAs on tenterhooks by deferring the cabinet expansion on one pretext or another. The party legend has it that Amarinder never wanted so many (77) to win. Now, right from old-timers to young Turks of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, all are in the waiting list. The CM has again given a fresh date to fill the remaining eight slots after the civic elections.

ENGLISH MEDIUM

To bridge the education gap, the Amarinder govenrment will introduce English as a medium of instruction from Class 1 in its schools across the state from the new academic session. The primary education department has identified 400 schools. The aim is to ensure children of government-run schools are able to compete with those from private ones. A forward-looking move indeed, but its success will depend on the availability of qualified teachers and monitoring. Those interested in Punjabi as the medium of instruction can continue with it.

SMOGFREE WINTER

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has promised to end the annual invasion of smog by finding alternate ways of disposing of crop residue. His government has signed an agreement with a Chennai-based company for setting up 400 processing plants for converting paddy straw into bio energy. Let’s hope it works!

TOUGHER LAW

Punjab and Uttar Pradesh got new governments in March. Both governments talked about a law on the lines of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). While the BJP government in UP brought its bill in the assembly, a cabinet sub-committee in Punjab is examining its draft bill. Punjab Police are likely to be empowered with the stringent law to deal with organised crime, particularly gangsters. They also look forward to the setting up of a special operations group (SOG) for anti-terror operations. SOG jawans will get training from Israelis.

DEBT WAIVER DELIVERY

A key poll promise, the Capt government’s budget announcement of Rs 9,500-crore loan waiver for 10.25 lakh small and marginal farmers has remained on paper. With the fundstarved administration looking at ways to raise resources, the wait is getting longer – and the farmers restless.