780-463-8800
[email protected]
Chandigarh, March 26:
The Forests and Wildlife Preservation, SC/BC Welfare Minister, Punjab, S. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot has termed the budget presented today by the Finance Minister, Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal as pro-farmer, SC/BC and Minority apart from being development oriented.
Terming the budget as realistic, futuristic and taking care of the aspirations of all the sections of the society, Mr. Dharamsot said that the Captain Government is well aware of the needs of the weaker and deprived sections of the society. He also said that the State Government in a giant step towards the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Minorities has kept reserve an amount of Rs. 1235 crore for the year 2018-19 which would be utilised in running the educationally, socially and economically welfare schemes.
Mr. Dharamsot further said that the government has increased the amount paid as Shagun under Aashirwad scheme to SC, BC, Christian girls, widows of any caste/divorcees from Rs. 15000 to Rs. 21000. He also divulged that the payment under the scheme would be made under online banking management system to ensure transparency. He also said that the budgetary provision of Rs. 150 crore for the Aashirwad Scheme for the year 2018-19 is praiseworthy.
Lauding the Finance Minister for providing funds with regard to various developmental works as well as the welfare schemes, Mr. Dharamsot said that in the new budget Rs. 860 crore have been kept for the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes category students under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme. He also added that directions have been given for the speedy completion of the audit of the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme so as to make sure that the students don’t have to encounter any problem in deriving benefit from the scheme. He also announced that if during the audit any institution is found indulging in bungling then requisite action as per the law would be taken.
Disclosing more, the Welfare Minister said that the state government has increased the reservation quota of the backward classes in the educational, technical and professional institutions from 5 to 10 percent besides increasing the family income limit of the backward classes families from Rs. 6 to Rs. 8 lakh per annum.
The minister further said that the government during 2018-2019 has decided to initiate campaign of ‘Ghar Ghar Haryali’ and it is important that every person taking part in the campaign plants 3 saplings for the sake of better environment. He further revealed that in order to free the environment from pollution and increasing green cover every household would be provided with 15 saplings of Sheesham, Kikar, Jamun, Mango, Aanwla and Neem.
The Welfare Minister also divulged that during the year 2018-19 Rs. 12970 crore have been earmarked for subsidy to the farmers, industry and the poor sections, Rs. 4250 crore for farmers debt relief, Rs. 152 crore for tackling the problem of water logging, Rs. 300 crore for the development of border areas, Rs. 55.40 crore for the new focal point to be established at Nabha whereas a proposal has also been formulated to construct 10000 houses for the homeless people.
