Free education, healthcare for migrants in Punjab

With the migrant population from other states dwindling in Punjab, state Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Monday announced free education and healthcare facilities for them.

Badal also said the migrants will be offered housing facility on easy instalments.

Addressing a gathering at a function organised by Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Parishad to celebrate Vishwakarma Day here, Badal acknowledged that migrant labour had played an important role in putting Punjab on the high growth trajectory.

The chief minister said the state government would soon open schools, primary healthcare centres and dispensaries in the areas dominated by migrant labour. Special surveys would be conducted by the district authorities to identify the sites for such facilities.

Announcing housing facility for migrants on easy instalments, Badal said the migrants would not have to pay the cost of land for these houses and only the construction charges would be collected from them through easy instalments.

Badal said the state government would ensure that one third of the houses constructed under housing schemes are reserved specially for the migrants.

He said that special camps would be organised in each district to provide ration cards, Aadhaar cards, voter cards and other facilities to eligible migrants.