Sampla holds meeting with ministers and senior officers of Punjab and Haryana

Chandigarh, November 13, 2014: Vijay Sampla, Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India held a meeting with the Ministers and senior officers of Punjab and Haryana, Department of Welfare and Social Security to review the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Sampla, addressing all participants assured that special care shall be taken to serve the interests of Punjab, he also directed the officers to ensure implementation of welfare schemes sincerely, honestly and with full dedication so that benefits reach the beneficiaries.

Gulzar Singh Ranike, informed the Minister of State regarding the Centrally Sponsored Schemes being implemented in the State of Punjab.  He drew the attention of the Minister towards ‘Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojna’ which has been recently launched on pilot basis. He stressed that despite having the largest percentage of S.C. population, Punjab has not been covered under this scheme and requested for inclusion of Punjab in the scheme on priority basis. The Welfare Minister further informed that the Offices, Corporations etc. relating to the Welfare Department are staggered at various locations because of which general public has to face a lot of inconvenience to avail of the welfare services. Therefore, to provide a single window facility to the common man, the Department proposes to construct ‘Welfare Bhawan’ at the cost of Rs. 22 crore on one acre land allotted by PUDA at Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar.  In this regard, the Welfare Minister requested the Central Minister to provide special financial assistance to the extent of 50% of proposed cost.

The Welfare Minister, Punjab, also highlighted the need for setting up a Centre on the pattern of Ambedkar Institute of Career and Courses, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar in the border districts of Punjab for the benefit of S.C. students of remote areas. He also drew attention of the Minister towards the need to revise the conditions for BPL beneficiaries so that maximum number of S.C. population in Punjab can avail of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. He requested that the process of releasing the first installment of Rs. 25.65 crore rupees as Special Central Assistance under Schedule Caste Sub Plan for the year 2014-15 and approving the proposals regarding Centrally Sponsored Schemes sent to Govt. of India may be expedited.  At the same time, he thanked the Govt. of India for releasing Rs. 149.67 Cr. as advance fund for the year 2014-15 to Punjab under the scheme of Post Matric Scholarship to S.Cs.

Surjit Kumar Jayani, Minister of Department of Health & Family Welfare and Social Security & Development of Women & Children, sought the Central Minister to grant financial assistance for establishing Drug-De-Addiction Centers in Punjab. He further demanded the release of Rs. 3.50 crore as Special Central Assistance for the construction of ramps, lifts and other facilities at the Regional Spinal Injury Centre in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar. He further requested that funds in respect of the proposals regarding financial assistance to N.G.Os and other Centrally Sponsored Schemes pending with Government of India may be released well in time.

Seema Jain, Secretary Welfare, Govt. of Punjab, explained the Central Schemes in detail.  She said that for the year 2014-15, out of the budgetary provision of 549.29 crore for Centrally Sponsored Schemes, a sum of Rs. 310 crore has been utilized. Apart from this, a sum of Rs. 440 crore is likely to be spent on the scheme of Post Matric Scholarship to S.C. during the year 2014-15.

Jaspal Singh, Secretary, Social Security & Development of Women & Children, Punjab,   while informing about the schemes of his Department assured  that the Central Schemes are being  implemented with full dedication.

The meeting was attended by Vineet Joshi, Assistant Media Advisor, Punjab Paramjit Singh, Director, Department of Welfare of SCs & BCs, Punjab, Alaknanda Dayal, Director, Social Security & Development of Women & Children, Punjab, Chaman Lal Wasan, Director, Schedule Caste Sub Plan and all district welfare officers of Punjab. 

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