Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has stated that a formal announcement about payment of Rs 1,500 to Dalit and poor women for boosting their social and economic empowerment would be made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, falling on Tuesday.Cheema was addressing a function held by Dr BR Ambedkar Awareness Society in Malerkotla to mark the birth anniversary of Babasaheb.Cheema called upon residents of the region in general and Dalits in particular to follow ideologies of Dr Ambedkar in case they wanted to improve their lifestyle and enjoy a bright future.“Those who have followed Dr Ambedkar’s principles have certainly gained better positions in society than those who looked towards others for moving further,” he said.Recalling the life and ideology of Babasaheb, Cheema said the Constitution, which was drafted by him, continues to guide all sections of society on various aspects of personal and public life. The emphasis he placed on education, continues to be a source of inspiration for society today, he said.Cheema quoted Dr Ambedkar’s words ‘Education is like milk of a lioness, whoever drinks, roars’ and claimed that the state government was committed to bringing improvements in the fields of education, healthcare and social justice.Installation of Babasaheb’s statue in Malerkotla, the construction of a community centre and regularisation of temporary sanitation workers of the area were among demands which the minister assured to accept on the occasion.MLA Mohammad Jamil Ur Rahman, and District Planning Committee Chairman Sakib Ali Raja were among others who spoke on the occasion.