DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is actively working towards the welfare of Scheduled Castes. The state government has issued a sanction to incur the remaining funds for various ongoing projects aimed at their welfare for the current financial year 2024-25. This was revealed by Dr. Baljit Kaur, the Minister of Social Justice and Minorities, during a press release.

Divulging in this regrads, Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under the grant-in-aid component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana, the action plan for the year 2022-23 for Punjab was approved by the central government. To complete these projects in the year 2023-24, a total of Rs 17.24 crore was sanctioned, enabling the completion of both district-level and state-level projects.

Dr. Kaur explained that the sanctioned Rs 17.24 crore had been drawing limit fixed during 2023-24. She elaborated that out of the sanctioned Rs 17.24 crore, Rs 1.69 crore was allocated for development projects in Bathinda. Of this amount, Rs 0.84 crore was spent during the last financial year, with the remaining Rs 0.85 crore now approved to incur in the current year 2024-25.



Minister explained that for the ongoing development projects in Faridkot district, Rs 0.61 crore was sanctioned. Out of this, Rs 0.16 crore was spent during the last financial year and the balance of Rs 0.45 crore is now approved to incur in the current financial year. Similarly, Rs 1.29 crore was allocated for Kapurthala district, with Rs 0.20 crore spent last year, and the remaining Rs 1.09 crore now sanctioned for this year.

She stated that in Ludhiana district, Rs 2.30 crore was sanctioned, of which Rs 0.66 crore was spent last year. The remaining Rs 1.64 crore is now available for the current financial year. For Moga district, Rs 1.32 crore was allocated, with Rs 0.34 crore spent last year and the remaining Rs 0.98 crore now sanctioned for expenditure this year.

Dr. Kaur further mentioned that out of Rs 8.28 crore allocated for state-level projects, Rs 5.59 crore has been spent, and Rs 2.69 crore is now available for the current financial year. The progress of the projects and details of the beneficiaries will be uploaded by the district-level implementing agencies on the web portal pmajay.dosje.gov.in.

The Minister emphasized that the Punjab government has issued the necessary letter regarding the expenditure limits for the completion of both state-level and district-level projects. She said that concerned authorities have been instructed to ensure the completion of these projects within the stipulated timeframe. Any irregularities found during the completion of these projects will attract strict action against those responsible.
(editor@dailyworld.in)