Punjab Government has provided Rs 60.17 crore to 40,105 beneficiaries under Shagan Scheme and 100 percent amount under this welfare scheme is being credited to the accounts of beneficiaries using on-line management, Gulzar Singh Ranike Welfare Minister Punjab, said on Saturday.
The Minister said that budget of Rs 98 Crore has been earmarked for the scheme for the financial year 2015-16 and till September 2015, Rs 41.43 crore has already been transferred into accounts of 27611 beneficiaries.
Ranike said that in the month of October and November 2015 amount of Rs 18.74 crore has been credited into the 12494 beneficiaries’ accounts.
He said that during financial year of 2012-13, the Punjab Government had covered 82,267 beneficiaries under this scheme and Rs 124.30 crore were released.
Similarly during financial year 2013-14 total 80,810 beneficiaries were covered by releasing grant of Rs 121.21 crore , whereas during the financial year 2014-15, in total 58,362 beneficiaries under Shagun Scheme were released grant of 87.54
crore.
Shagun scheme is being provided to families of Schedule Casts, backward class, Christians, economically weaker section, widows of any caste with the minimum age of 18 years on the occasion of their marriage.
Annual income of the family should not exceed than Rs 32,790 and financial assist of Rs 15000 is provided under this Shagan Scheme.
Punjab Government has been using the on-line management system for disbursal of amount of Shagan Scheme to the beneficiaries.
"Punjab Government has also been generating awareness among the public regarding various welfare schemes of the department by the publications of brochures and booklets," the minister
added.