Punjab’s Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Sunday called on the Union Government to address critical gaps in welfare schemes for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Punjab. During a high-level meeting in Delhi with Union Ministers and state representatives, she emphasized Punjab’s unique challenges and demanded immediate release of Rs 583 crore in pending funds to ensure the uninterrupted execution of welfare projects.
With Scheduled Castes comprising nearly 32 percent of Punjab’s population, Dr Baljit highlighted the urgent need for increased financial aid and policy reforms. She proposed that the gap-filling fund under the Adarsh Gram Yojana be increased from Rs 20 lakh to Rs one crore per project, as the current allocation is inadequate for large-scale infrastructure development, particularly for road construction in SC-dominated villages.
The Minister pointed out administrative hurdles in implementing welfare schemes, as the Social Justice Department depends on the Rural Development Department. To resolve this, she urged the Centre to set up dedicated technical units at district and state levels under the Social Justice Department, ensuring efficient monitoring and execution. Additionally, she requested an increase in administrative charges from four percent to 10 percent to cover the costs of these technical units.
She further advocated for greater autonomy for the states in selecting villages and designing development projects, citing their first-hand knowledge of local needs. She also requested that administrative funds be released in advance, allowing states to make necessary preparations.
Focusing on skill development programs, Dr Baljit noted that the current requirement to utilize 75 percent of previous funds before new disbursements leads to delays. She urged the Centre to ease this condition, particularly during elections when administrative slowdowns are common.
Another key demand was to increase financial assistance for beneficiaries from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh under welfare schemes, aligning it with programs like the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Scheme. She also called for delinking this assistance from loan components, as economically weaker beneficiaries often struggle to secure loans.
She also stressed that Punjab had identified 3,293 villages under the scheme, requiring Rs 684 crore, yet only Rs 61 crore has been received, limiting support to just 365 villages. She strongly urged the Centre to release the pending Rs 583 crore immediately, ensuring the timely completion of development projects for Scheduled Castes.
Expressing confidence in a positive response from the Centre, Dr Baljit reaffirmed that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, remains committed to uplifting marginalized communities, ensuring their rightful access to growth and opportunities.
Rs 4.21-cr allocated to strengthen 15 old age homes
Chandigarh: In a significant step towards enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens, the Punjab Government has released Rs 4.21 crore to strengthen facilities in 15 old age homes across the state. The initiative aims to provide safe, dignified, and comfortable living conditions for elderly residents, reaffirming the government's commitment to their well-being. The state’s Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur stated that destitute senior citizens are offered free accommodation, food, clothing, and essential services in these homes, which are run in collaboration with the NGOs.
District-wise, Ludhiana received the highest allocation of Rs 70.41 lakh, followed by Sangrur (Rs 58.49 lakh), Amritsar (Rs 37.68 lakh), and Ropar (Rs 30.80 lakh), among others. Additionally, new old age homes are being constructed in Barnala and Mansa at a cost of Rs 17.34 crore, each accommodating 75 senior citizens.
