‘Rangla Punjab Vikas’ guidelines get Punjab cabinet’s nod, to boost grassroots devpt

Chandigarh: To give impetus to development at the grassroots level, the Punjab cabinet Thursday gave its nod to the guidelines for the Rangla Punjab Vikas scheme. In the state budget (2025-26), Rs 585 crore has been set aside for the scheme to fund essential local development projects in every district, with Rs 5 crore being spent in each of the 117 assembly constituencies.
An official spokesperson said funds will be provided for local, everyday development needs in the districts. The funds will be disbursed by the deputy commissioners and will be spent based on the recommendations of the MLAs, community organisations, citizen groups and public-spirited citizens. The works recommended will be approved as per the guidelines of the scheme.
The approval for projects will be given by the district-level committee constituted under the chairpersonship of the DC, with the concurrence of the minister in charge for the district, as appointed by the chief minister. Subsequently, the district-level committee will get the work executed by the appropriate authority and ensure proper supervision and timely completion. The deputy commissioner will be competent to accord administrative and financial sanctions for the approved works.
In his budget speech, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema had said the development fund will be a huge enabler in ensuring all-round development of districts with the construction and repair of roads and bridges, street lights, clinics, hospitals, schools, water and sanitation.
BOX:
NOD TO SHIFT VILLAGES FROM PATIALA TO MOHALI
In order to facilitate the people of eight villages, including Manakpura, Khera Gajju, Urna, Changeera, Uccha Khera, Gurditpura, Haripura, and Lehlan, the cabinet also gave its nod to transfer them from subdivision/tehsil Rajpura (Patiala) to subdivision/tehsil Banur (Mohali).
BOX:
CABINET PAYS HOMAGE TO VICTIMS OF PAHALGAM ATTACK
At the start of the cabinet meeting, the ministers led by CM Bhagwant Mann, paid tributes and observed a two-minute silence for those killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The cabinet said this attack has bruised the psyche of every countryman. It was a barbaric and inhuman act, said a spokesperson, adding that the cabinet noted that it once again proved that terrorists do not have any religion and their sole aim is to spread terror among the masses. No religion allows such a heinous crime, this senseless violence was an outrage against humanity and deserves to be condemned in the strongest possible words, he added.