Will implement 13-point charter of initiatives once SAD-BSP alliance voted to power

Chandigarh, Aug 3 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday announced a thirteen point charter of initiatives which the SAD-BSP alliance will implement once it ‘comes to power’ in the state in 2022.
The slew of initiatives include a grant of Rs 2,000 per month to all women heads of blue card holder families besides a Rs 10 per liter reduction in price of diesel for agriculture consumers, provision of power at the rate of Rs five per unit for industry, an interest free loan of Rs 10 lakh for students, providing free power up to four hundred units per month to all households and doing away with outstanding residential bills of all blue card holders. All connections of BPL families, which have been disconnected due to nonpayment of bills, will be restored.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr Badal also announced a health insurance cover of Rs ten lakh per annum which will cover treatment, medicines, diagnostic tests, surgeries and medical equipment in all public and private hospitals.
Simultaneously in a big announcement for youth to help them go in for higher studies in India and abroad, the SAD chief announced that a Student Education Card with interest free loan upto Rs 10 lakh would be issued to the students for the purpose of college fees and coaching fees like IELTs. He announced that for scheduled caste students this facility would be in addition to the SC scholarship which would be restarted.
Speaking about the initiatives which would be taken up in the agriculture sector, Mr Badal said legislation would be passed in the State assembly to ensure the three agriculture laws were not implemented in Punjab. He said simultaneously the government would introduce minimum support price (MSP) for fruits and vegetables and pay the differential in case of reduction in prices to farmers.
Stating that the next SAD-BSP government would prioritize health and education, he said 500 bed Government Medical Colleges with super specialty facilities would be established in every district. He also announced that 33 per cent reservation would be given to students passing their education from government schools in all professional colleges in the State, including medical colleges.