Directions issued to release SC Sub-Plan funds immediately and ensure benefits reach the grassroots
Funds earmarked for Scheduled Castes must be spent exclusively for the SC community: Dr. Baljit Kaur
Chandigarh, January 2:
Punjab’s Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, chaired an important meeting to review the progress of the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) being implemented in the state for the socio-economic welfare of the Scheduled Caste community. Senior officers from around 25 departments implementing schemes under the SC Sub-Plan participated in the meeting, during which detailed discussions were held.
During the meeting, Dr. Baljit Kaur reviewed the initiatives undertaken by various departments under the SC Sub-Plan during the financial year 2025–26. She directed the officials to expedite the utilisation of funds allocated for schemes where expenditure has not yet been made and to ensure that the funds are released immediately so that the benefits of government welfare schemes reach the people at the grassroots level without delay.
The Minister categorically stated that the funds allocated under the SC Sub-Plan must be utilised exclusively for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste community and that any negligence or misuse would not be tolerated. She further directed all departments to submit detailed lists of beneficiaries and villages covered under their respective schemes to the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities to ensure proper, transparent and effective utilisation of the earmarked funds.
Dr. Baljit Kaur also emphasised the need to design new, innovative and people-centric schemes in line with the present-day requirements of the Scheduled Caste community. She said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S.Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously taking effective measures for the holistic development, empowerment and improvement of the living standards of the Scheduled Castes.
The Minister added that such review meetings would be held regularly to closely monitor the progress of the SC Sub-Plan so that the implementation of schemes related to Scheduled Castes becomes more timely, streamlined and result-oriented.
The meeting was attended by Social Security, Women and Child Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Sh Vikas Partap, IAS, Principal Secretary of the nodal department, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Sh. V.K. Meena, IAS; Director-cum-Additional Secretary, Ms. Vimmi Bhullar, IAS; Research Officer Dr. Livpreet Kaur; and Shri Kamaljit Singh, among others.
