Published & Updated as on - 2010-02-18

While urging the NRI Punjabis to undertake development projects in villages and the cities of the state, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government would bear 70% of the cost of such projects. The Chief Minster said this while inaugurating the state’s biggest senior citizens home, which has been built on a 19-acre land by NRI Anil Kumar Monga. He stressed that NRI’s should focus more on improving the Infrastructure of the villages and bring about other changes to modernize the villages while assuring that the state will put in its share in such projects. He added, “NRIs should also focus on opening skilled centres in various parts of the state to address the problem of unemployment. The state will give land free of cost in such projects and even a part can also be added as a share in making of that centre. The youth can hence get training from such centres and can get jobs in factories and other places. This will also help Punjab industry to address the problem of labour shortage.”

The senior citizens’ home, named as “Heavenly homes” is a 650-room project, out of which 400 have already been made. The senior citizens’ home will be having an auditorium for watching movie or some other programmes, a swimming pool, steam cooking centre, 24 hours water and power supply, 24 hours room service and much more, said Monga. This project is a part of the Dream and Beauty Charitable Trust set up Monga in year 1995. “Here, senior citizens can get all those facilties which they can not get at home and they can also enjoy with their group. So the idea is to enable them have a good time with better facilities. It has been made as per the global standards,” Monga said.

He said that 70% of the rooms would be paid and 30% would be given free of cost. Though charges have not yet been fixed, but all those who can afford are invited to stay in this senior citizens’ home. The price structure will be finalized in about 15 days time and will be advertised globally, he added. Monga is of the opinion that with change in lifestyle, and emergence of nuclear families, Punjab too needs senior citizen homes, and that too with better facilities. Meanwhile, the trust started providing meals to workers on Chandigarh road after paying Rs 1 in year 1995. And that project is still going on from morning till evening. Apart from this, trust is having Karma charitable hospital and is running Marg Darshan programme which trains youngsters in different streams after class 12 and hence helps in getting them jobs as well. Monga, meanwhile is a US-based resident dealing in fragrance and real estate business.

Source:Indian Realty News 11/2/10