Proper management and maintenance of all the four Sikh monuments, inaugurated in the SAD-BJP regime, would be on top of the agenda of the Punjab Government even if the present Government does not return to power.
The last meeting of the Punjab Cabinet held on February 24, took up the appointment and placement of the staff in these four monuments, most of which were inaugurated towards the close of the five-year tenure of the Parkash Singh Badal Government.
The Cabinet was scheduled to meet on Tuesday but was deferred for two days as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal could not make it to the city after a trip from abroad, the officials said.
In order to appease the Sikh community, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) constructed four Sikh historical monuments, Virsate-e-Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib, Wadda Ghallughara (great holocaust) in Sangrur and Chota Ghallughara (small holocaust) in Gurdaspur and Fatehburj in Mohali.
These monuments were built to create awareness about the Sikh history amongst people. The inauguration was done by Badal just before the model code of conduct came in force in December last year. However, the administrative framework of these institutions is not yet ready and the recruitment process for the upkeep of the monuments is not yet complete.
“The Government wants to make necessary arrangement for the monuments and their management in the future,” Chief Secretary, Punjab, SC Agrawal said. Though the Council of Ministers cannot take any policy decision regarding the matter but they can take a call for the betterment of these structures by putting in a system in place, he added.
After the inauguration, the number of visitors and tourists to these monuments has increased. As the model code of conduct came into force and the State went for polls, the Government could not allocate adequate staff and provide facilities to the visitors of the monuments. Cabinet is likely to take a decision on the possibility of deputing more English speaking staff in these monuments so that they can explain Sikh history to the foreigners and NRIs.
Besides this, State’s fiscal health and financial position after the five-year rule are in the list of discussion for Cabinet Ministers. The CM is also likely to review the status of development schemes started in these five years, said Government officials.
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