PUNJAB: As a part of Punjab government's efforts to give further fillip to the "all round development of the state", Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the year 2015-16 will be observed as the "year of development".
"The year 2015-16 will be observed as 'year of development' and the state government has been already making concerted efforts for the overall development of the urban and rural areas, Badal said in Dhuri Assembly segment.
During this phase, focus of the state government will be to provide ultra modern civic amenities to the people in urban and rural areas, he said.
"All round development of the state is the foremost priority of the SAD-BJP alliance government for which a major scheme has already been embarked upon, which will be implemented in the current fiscal," the CM said.
"In urban areas our focus will be on providing the facility of water supply, sewerage, Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), streetlights, roads and parks whereas in rural areas provision of roads, potable drinking water, disposal of waste water and toilets will be our thrust areas," Badal added.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said in order to open new vistas of employment for the youth, the state government has initiated a major campaign to impart training to the youth for skill development.
He said the Punjab State Skill Development Mission has started producing desired results.
"Due to encouraging results of skill development campaign in the state Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed him as Chairman of Sub Group of NITI Aayog on skill training for chalking out road map for skill development in the country," he said
"Skill development is the need of the hour to eradicate the menace of unemployment and give boost to the progress of the country," Badal said.
Asserting that it the mission of the state government to make Punjab a completely drug-free state, the CM said massive steps have been taken to check drug peddling in the state. He also said that drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres have been set up to help addicts shun drugs and lead life with dignity and pride.
These efforts were producing desired results and soon Punjab would be totally drug free, Badal said.
Stressing that the NDA was ever ready to help the state when ever Punjab government has sought anything from them, he said the recent decision of the Centre to enhance the share of state in Central taxes from 32 per cent to 42 per cent has immensely benefited the state.