Dr Ambedkar remembered on 130th birth anniversary

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 14

Leaders from government and different parties paid homage to Dr BR Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary here on Wednesday.

Chairman Punjab Warehousing Corporation Raj Kumar Verka, who was the chief guest on the occasion at the district-level programme held at District Administrative Complex here said that a chair in the name of Baba Sahib would be established in Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) and a memorial dedicated to him would be established with the investment of Rs 120 crore at Kapurthala.

Reiterating the commitment of his government to elevate the standard of living of Scheduled Castes, he said the government had initiated a scholarship scheme for the students coming from reserved categories in the name of Dr Ambedkar. He said the architect of the Constitution provided an equal status to all citizens of the country.

Talking to CM during the virtual programme he demanded that salaries of the safai karamcharis must be hiked and they must be given regular jobs. He sought implementation of the 85th amendment.

Verka informed that the state government would invest 30 per cent of funds from its own resources for the welfare schemes for the SCs. He said jobs under the SC quota would be filled on priority and the students from the reserved categories would be provided economic assistance in gaining higher education.

In a separate programme, Cabinet Minister OP Soni, paid floral tributes at the statue of Dr Ambedkar in Town Hall. He said the present dispensation increased the amount under the Shagun Scheme being given to Dalit families and revival of post-matric scholarship scheme.