Punjab CM decides to allot 1 lakh residential plots to homeless Dalit families

Seeking to meet the Congress' 2017 poll promise, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday announced allotment of one lakh plots of over 1,300 square ft each to homeless Dalit families in the state.

Announcing his decision, the chief minister said in the first phase of the allotment, at least 10 plots of five 'marlas' each would be allotted to homeless scheduled caste families in each village, where land is available with the village panchayat.

One marla is equal to over 272 square ft of land.

Where the panchayat land is not available, the allotment would be done in the second phase after arranging the land, said an official press release quoting the chief minister.

The statement said the Rural Development and Panchayat Department has been given the task to monitor the allotment process.

Singh announced the decision during a review meeting of the government projects with deputy commissioners of various districts of the state.

In the meeting, Singh also asked deputy commissioners ..