Govt approves financial aid to women acid attack victims

Wednesday, 31/05/2017

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Chandigarh : The Captain Amarinder Singh Cabinet on Tuesday decided to provide Rs 8,000 as financial aid to women victims of the acid attacks.

The Cabinet also took a slew of other important decisions including gave its nod for formulation of a new policy to provide compensation to the martyrs from the Army, the para military forces, the Punjab Police and to the victims of accidents or fire incidents.

It also decided to rename the ‘Shagun Scheme’ as ‘Ashirwad scheme’. Under the ‘Shagun scheme’ financial help of Rs 15,000 is provided for marriage of daughter, who is above 18 years, to poor families of Punjab.

Under the proposed ‘The Punjab Financial Assistance to Acid Victims Scheme 2017’, women victims of acid attacks will be provided Rs 8,000 per month per head aid by the Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children, Punjab, an official spokesman said here.

The proposal, to which the cabinet gave its approval, will enable the victims or their family members/relatives to apply for the aid to the District Social Security Officer of the concerned district.

The sanctioning authority will be a District Level Committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, and the victim will receive the payment directly in her bank account, the spokesman said.

Besides approving the change of name of ‘Shagun Scheme’ to ‘Ashirwad Scheme’, the cabinet also gave the go-ahead to online payment to the beneficiaries, directly into their bank accounts.

Market committees dissolved

In another move to reform the agriculture sector, reeling under the mismanagement legacy inherited by the Congress government, the cabinet also okayed the supersession of the existing nominated Market Committees. As per the cabinet decision, Section 12 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1961, will be amended to appoint Administrators, who shall perform the official duties and exercise powers of the Market Committees for a period of one year or till the nomination of Market Committees, whichever is earlier.

Contract extension for pharmacists

The Cabinet also decided to extend the contract of the Pharmacists working as service providers and class IV employees in 1186 Subsidiary Health Centres of Zila Parishads in Rural Development & Panchayats Department. The extension will be for one year, from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, or till regular recruitment (whichever is earlier) at the existing rates of Rs.7000 and Rs.3000 per month respectively.

Five-year extension to Civil Aviation advisor

The Cabinet also decided to grant extension to Advisor Civil Aviation Captain Abhay Chandra for a period of five years from May 10, 2017 to May 9, 2022, to carry out VIP flying operations besides handling other important issues of the Department of Civil Aviation.

Formal approval to appointment of AG

The Cabinet further ratified and granted ex-post facto approval to the appointment of Senior Advocate Atul Nanda as Advocate General of Punjab.