Punjab’s Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, has highlighted the distinct challenges facing the state and has called on the Centre to introduce essential policy reforms aimed at benefiting Scheduled Castes (SCs).

During a high-level meeting in Delhi, attended by ministers from various States and Union Territories, Dr. Kaur emphasized that each state encounters unique obstacles, providing a platform for states to express their specific issues.

With nearly 32 percent of Punjab’s population belonging to SCs, a figure that may have risen, Dr. Kaur advocated for an increase in the gap-filling fund under the Adarsh Gram Yojana. She proposed raising the current allocation of Rs 20 lakh per project for villages to at least Rs 1 crore, as the existing amount is insufficient for comprehensive infrastructure initiatives, especially road construction.

She also noted that the Social Justice Department currently depends on the Rural Development Department for scheme implementation, which creates administrative challenges. To rectify this, she urged the government to provide comprehensive guidelines for establishing dedicated technical units at both district and state levels under the Social Justice Department for better monitoring and execution of projects.

Moreover, Dr. Kaur called for an increase in administrative charges from the current 4 percent to 10 percent to help cover expenses related to these technical units and ensure effective execution of welfare programs.

She stressed that states should have the autonomy to choose the villages for development projects, as they possess a better understanding of local conditions. Additionally, she recommended broadening the scope of infrastructure projects so that states can tailor development work to meet local needs.

Dr. Kaur requested that advances on administrative charges be disbursed for selected villages to facilitate necessary preparations in advance.

Addressing concerns about the funding mechanisms for skill development projects, she pointed out that the time required to execute these initiatives is substantial. The current stipulation that 75 percent of the previous installment must be utilized before releasing new funds often leads to delays in project implementation, a situation she urged the Centre to reconsider, especially during election periods when administrative processes tend to slow.

Another significant request was for an increase in financial assistance to beneficiaries from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000, noting that the existing amount is insufficient compared to other schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Scheme. She also requested that this financial support be separated from any loan requirements, as many beneficiaries come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and lack collateral.

Highlighting the financial strain faced by Punjab, Dr. Kaur mentioned that 3,293 villages have been selected under the scheme, with a total outstanding amount of ₹684 crore. However, only ₹61 crore has been received from the Government of India so far, which limits coverage to just 365 villages. She strongly urged the Government of India to promptly release the pending ₹583 crore to facilitate the timely completion of ongoing development projects.

The Cabinet Minister expressed her confidence that the Government of India would favorably consider these requests, fostering inclusive growth and development for the Scheduled Castes community in Punjab. She reaffirmed the commitment of the Punjab Government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to tirelessly work for the upliftment of marginalized sections of society.