Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced a Bhagat Kabir Chair in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Rs 10 crore for the development of Bhagat Kabir Bhawan in Jalandhar.
The Chief Minister, on the occasion of Bhagat Kabir Jayanti, also announced that the State Government will soon disburse Rs 560 crore to landless farm labourers under the Debt Waiver Scheme.
Virtually joining the people of Punjab in paying respects to the 15th-century mystic poet and saint Bhagat Kabir, the Chief Minister said that the Chair to commemorate Sant Kabir will undertake research on the life and philosophy of the great mystic poet.
“The Bhagat Kabir Bhawan will be built over a 0.77 acre area, of which 13,000 square feet covered area would house a community hall with seating capacity of 500. Of the Rs 10 crore, Rs three crore would be spent on construction and Rs seven crore towards the land cost,” he added.
The Chief Minister, participating in the state-level celebrations at Jalandhar from here through video conferencing, exhorted them to follow his teachings in right earnest so as to carve out an egalitarian society rising above the parochial considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion.
The Chief Minister also listed various welfare schemes for the underprivileged being carried out by the State Government in line with Bhagat Kabir Ji’s philosophy including Smart Ration Card Scheme, Ashirwaad Scheme, Shagun Scheme and old age and widow pension.
On the debt relief scheme, the Chief Minister said that all loans up to Rs 50,000 of the SC and BC Corporation had been waived. Besides, free power facility was also being given up to 200 units to SC households.