The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday rebuked the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government for launching its much-hyped scheme to deliver wheat flour to the doorsteps in a reckless manner.
«The AAP government remained ill-equipped to practically implement the aforementioned scheme for the beneficiaries in Punjab», LoP added.
Bajwa said that there are around 18000 depot holders in the state, however, they have only 1200 biometric machines, which would not be sufficient for the smooth functioning of the scheme.
«There are approximately 35 lakh smart card holders and 1.41 crore beneficiaries of the aforementioned scheme in the state. With only 1100 inspectors and 1200 biometric machines, the beneficiaries are expected to have a tough time getting benefits. Meanwhile, the All India Fair Price Dealers› Federation has demanded one biometric machine for each depot holder», Bajwa added.
Senior Congress Leader, Bajwa said that the AAP government often finds itself in an embarrassing situation when it makes decisions or launches a scheme without performing groundwork. In several instances, the AAP government had taken U-Turn from its decisions.
«After drawing criticism for its decision to play the ‘mourning bugle’ on December 27, 2023, to mark the martyrdom of Chhote Sahibzade — two younger sons of the 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh — the Punjab government took a U-Turn and decided to roll back its decision», Bajwa added.
The opposition leader said that in August 2023, the government had undemocratically dissolved the Panchayats in the Punjab, but when the issue reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, it withdrew the notifications on the same.
«The AAP government still has time to provide biometric machines to each depot holder to ensure the smooth functioning of wheat flour at the doorstep scheme, otherwise it may have to make a U-Turn on this scheme as well», said Bajwa.