Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced a Bhagat Kabir Chair at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, and Rs 10 crore for the development of Bhagat Kabir Bhawan in Jalandhar.

On the occasion of Bhagat Kabir Jayanti, the CM also announced that his government would soon disburse Rs 560 crore to landless farm labourers under the Debt Waiver Scheme.

Virtually joining the state people in paying respects to the 15th-century mystic poet and saint Bhagat Kabir, the CM said the Chair to commemorate Sant Kabir would undertake research on the life and philosophy of the great mystic poet. The Bhagat Kabir Bhawan, he said, will be built over a 0.77 acre area, of which 13,000-Sq ft covered area would house a community hall with seating capacity of 500. Of the Rs 10 crore, Rs 3 crore would be spent on the construction and Rs 7 crore towards the land cost, he added.

Participating in the state-level celebrations at Jalandhar from here through video-conferencing, the CM 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 CM listed various welfare schemes for the underprivileged being carried out by his government in line with Bhagat Kabir Ji’s philosophy. These included Smart Ration Card Scheme, Ashirwaad Scheme, Shagun Scheme and Old Age & Widow Pension. He pointed out that amounts under these schemes had been hiked by his government, with the pension amount to go up from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500 per month from July 1.