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Posts of mandi board senior vice-chairman, vice-chairman in Punjab abolished
The Punjab assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill 2023 abolishing the posts of senior vice-chairman and vice-chairman in the Mandi Board.
Chandigarh
The Punjab assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill 2023 abolishing the posts of senior vice-chairman and vice-chairman in the Mandi Board.
The posts of vice-chairman and senior vice-chairman were created in 2010 and 2016, respectively. However, no powers were delegated to them. “It caused additional financial burden on the board. To cut down the economic and administrative burden on the Punjab Mandi Board, it will be appropriate to abolish these posts,” reads the proposal mooted in the assembly.
Panel for reviewing salaries of drivers, PAs of MLAs
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann recommended setting up of a legislative committee for reviewing salaries of drivers and personal assistants (PAs) attached with legislators after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi raised the issue saying that low salaries breeds corruption.
Sukhi said the drivers and PAs get ₹10,000 per month which is not sufficient to support the family needs. He said ₹84,000 monthly salary to the legislators goes into giving “shaguns” and visiting people. He raised the issue when the salaries and allowances of chief whip in the Punjab Legislative Assembly Bill 2023 came for discussion in the House. According to the bill passed in the House, it was proposed to bring the perks and salaries of chief whips on a par with the cabinet ministers in the state.
Cap on members in SC commission
According to the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes (Amendment) Bill 2023, it was proposed to restrict the number of members to five, out of which one member should be a woman. At present, there is a provision for 10 members in the commission.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi objected to it, saying that SCs are 40% of the total population in the state and more members would help in raising the voice of the downtrodden. Justifying the move, minister for social security, women and child development Dr Baljit Kaur said there is a need for committed members, and in that case, the number has no consequence. The bill was passed unanimously.
