Chandigarh, February 9  : Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur addressed a high-level meeting in Delhi with the Union Minister and Ministers from various States and Union Territories. She strongly urged the Government of India to release the pending RS 583 crore Funds at once. This will guarantee the prompt completion of ongoing development projects. Dr. Kaur 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. She emphasized that each state has its own set of challenges. This platform provides an opportunity for states to voice their specific concerns.

Punjab Needs Higher Gap-Filling Fund for SC Villages: Minister

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 said the authorities should increase the gap-filling fund to at least ₹1 crore.The government currently sets it at ₹20 lakh per project for villages under the Adarsh Gram Yojana. The existing allocation is insufficient for comprehensive infrastructure development. This is particularly true for road construction.

 Funds : Seeks Administrative Reforms for Effective Welfare Implementation”

The Social Justice Department relies on the Rural Development Department to implement schemes. This reliance leads to administrative hurdles. She urged the Government of India to issue detailed guidelines. These guidelines should establish a dedicated technical unit at the district and state levels under the Social Justice Department. This is necessary to ensure effective monitoring and implementation. She requested an increase in administrative charges from the existing 4% to 10%. “This raise covers expenses related to technical units.”It will also ensure the smooth execution of welfare programs. Dr. Kaur also emphasized that states should have the autonomy to select villages for development projects.. This is because they have better knowledge of ground realities. Additionally, she urged widening the scope of infrastructure projects. This change would allow states to decide on the type of development work based on local needs. She further requested the advance release of administrative charges for selected villages. “This would ensure that we can make the necessary preparations beforehand.”

“Dr. Baljit Kaur Seeks Easier Fund Release & Higher Aid for Skill Projects”

Dr. Baljit Kaur addressed concerns about the grant and aid component of skill development projects. She stated that these projects take considerable time to execute. The existing requirement mandates utilizing 75% of the previous installment before releasing new funds.Such conditions often cause delays in implementation. She urged the Government of India to relax this condition. This is especially important during election periods. Administrative processes may slow down project execution at these times. Another key demand was an increase in financial assistance for beneficiaries, from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000. The current amount is inadequate compared to other schemes. These include the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Scheme. She also requested that this financial assistance be delinked from the loan component. Many beneficiaries belong to economically weaker sections. They lack the collateral required to secure loans.

“Minister Urges Centre to Release ₹583 Crore for Punjab’s Development”

She highlighted the financial shortfall for Punjab. She stated that 3,293 villages were selected under the scheme. The total due amount is ₹684 crore. However, the Government of India has only provided ₹61 crore so far. This figure includes ₹40 crore released just two months ago. This limitation restricts coverage to only 365 villages. She strongly urged the Government of India to release the pending ₹583 crore immediately. This will ensure the timely completion of ongoing development projects. The Cabinet Minister expressed confidence that the Government of India will positively consider these demands. This consideration will ensure 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.