Dr. Baljit Kaur Urges Centre to Strengthen Welfare Schemes for Scheduled Castes in Punjab
Minister Calls for Immediate Release of ₹583 Crore Pending Funds for Punjab
Cabinet Minister raised various issues of Social Justice Department with Union Minister
Chandigarh, February 9 (WISHAVWARTA):- Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, while addressing a high-level meeting in Delhi with the Union Minister and Ministers from various States and Union Territories, highlighted the unique challenges faced by Punjab and urged the Government of India to implement key policy reforms for the welfare of Scheduled Castes. She commended the Government of India for this initiative, emphasizing that each state has its own set of challenges and that this platform provides an opportunity for states to voice their specific concerns.
Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted that Punjab has a Scheduled Caste population of nearly 32%, which may have further increased. Given this demographic, she stated that the gap-filling fund, currently set at ₹20 lakh per project for villages under the Adarsh Gram Yojana, be increased to at least ₹1 crore, as the existing allocation is insufficient for comprehensive infrastructure development, particularly for road construction.
She also pointed out that the Social Justice Department relies on the Rural Development Department for implementing schemes, leading to administrative hurdles. To address this issue, she urged the Government of India to issue detailed guidelines for establishing a dedicated technical unit at the district and state levels under the Social Justice Department to ensure effective monitoring and implementation. Furthermore, she requested an increase in administrative charges from the existing 4% to 10% to cover expenses related to technical units and ensure smooth execution of welfare programs.
Dr. Kaur also emphasized that states should be given autonomy in selecting villages for development projects, as they have better knowledge of ground realities. Additionally, she called for the widening of the scope of infrastructure projects, allowing states to decide on the type of development work based on local needs. She further requested that administrative charges be released in advance for selected villages so that necessary preparations can be made beforehand.
Dr. Baljit Kaur also addressed concerns regarding the grant and aid component of skill development projects, stating that these projects take considerable time to execute. The existing requirement that 75% of the previous installment be utilized before new funds are released often causes delays in implementation. She urged the Government of India to relax this condition, particularly during election periods when administrative processes may slow down project execution.
Another key demand was an increase in financial assistance for beneficiaries, from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000, as the current amount is inadequate compared to other schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Scheme. She also requested that this financial assistance be delinked from the loan component, as many beneficiaries belong to economically weaker sections and lack the collateral required to secure loans.
She highlighting the financial shortfall for Punjab, she stated that 3,293 villages were selected under the scheme, with a total due amount of ₹684 crore. However, only ₹61 crore has been received from the Government of India so far, including ₹40 crore just two months ago, limiting the coverage to only 365 villages. She strongly urged the Government of India to immediately release the pending ₹583 crore to ensure the timely completion of ongoing development projects.
The Cabinet Minister expressed confidence that the Government of India will positively consider these demands, ensuring inclusive growth and development for the Scheduled Castes community in Punjab. She reaffirmed the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to working tirelessly for the upliftment of marginalized sections of society.
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