Sangrur, August 9
The Punjab government will constitute a pay commission tomorrow. The government will also appoint 1300 more service providers (doctors) soon to provide better health service to a population of 5000 by a doctor in the rural areas of the state. Octroi will be abolished from September 1 in the state.
To a question here today, Mr Surinder Singla, Finance and Health Minister, Punjab, said after a meeting the Council of Ministers the Punjab government would constitute a pay commission tomorrow. He declined to give details, like the number of the members of the commission or name of the chairman of the commission, by saying that he could not say more about the commission at this stage.
On the appointment of more service providers in rural dispensaries of the state, Mr Singla said in three to four days he would clear the proposal for the appointment of 1300 more doctors so that 5000 persons, living in the villages, could get a doctor for treatment in their respective areas. When his attention was drawn that due to maximum age limit of 35 years for the appointment of a service provider 1300 more service providers may not be available in the state, Mr Singla said in case he felt a shortage of doctors on account of age limit then he might think to raise the age limit for the appointment of more service providers.
Mr Singla also disclosed he had decided to set up committees in all districts under the presidentship of the Deputy Commissioners to improve infrastructure in rural dispensaries. In these committees besides the Deputy Commissioner, the chairpersons of the Zila Parishad and the ADC (D) would be other members. He said he would give a grant of Rs 25 lakh to each district for improving infrastructure in the dispensaries.
With regard to octroi abolition in the state, Mr Singla claimed that the octroi would certainly be abolished from September 1, as the government was committed to fulfill its commitment, on the abolition of octroi, Mr Singla also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for starting the construction of the building of government girls Senior Secondary School here foundation stone of which was laid by the Chief Minister on May 9, 2005.
Mr Singla said he had ordered the collection of samples of the cold drinks in the state and 70 samples had been collected by the Health authorities. He said if during testing of the cold drinks, pesticides etc were found more than permissible norms then he would take action against the companies concerned.
