THATTA, Nov 26: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah distributed ownership deeds (Sanads) for agricultural land among 113 women peasants who got 25 acres each in coastal taluka Jati on Wednesday.

The chief minister said in his address to the gathering that the Pakistan People’s Party government had earmarked some 40,000 acres of land, which would be allotted in phases to landless women peasants to provide them a permanent source of livelihood.

He said that the government was also considering supplying free of cost fertiliser and seed to the women peasants so that they could start cultivation right away during the ongoing Rabi season.

He said that despite a deficit budget the government would continue programs launched under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto program.

The poor and the downtrodden were now getting Rs1,000 per family under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Support Program for which Rs34 billion had been earmarked, he said.

Mr Shah announced raise in policemen’s salary to Rs10,000 and said that the families of policemen who lost lives in line of duty would get Rs1 million.He said that Sindh had suffered a lot since 1996 with regard to irrigation water but hoped after talks with India on construction of Baglihar Dam and streamlining of system Sindh would get its due share.

He announced upgradation of taluka hospital and said that the government had grave concern over increasing menace of hepatitis B and C in the province and had set aside a huge amount of Rs2 billion to combat the deadly disease.

He said that under a revised policy, girl primary students would get Rs1000 a month as an incentive to boost their interest in education.

Mr Shah ordered inquiry into a complaint that majority of school buildings were being used as Otaqs (guesthouses) by feudal lords in the district.

He assured that Pasco would start procurement of rice and establish its centres in the district within a week. He also promised that cane crushing season would start soon.