CHANDIGARH, MARCH 08: Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minories Minister Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharmsot on Monday termed the Budget 2021-22 presented by Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal as progressive, pro-poor, development oriented. He lauded the Punjab budget and said that it would boost Punjab’s economy and open a new path for development in all sectors.
Mr. Dharmsot said that Punjab accords a high priority to safeguard the interests of poverty stricken sections including SCs/BCs and Minorities by proposing an allocation of Rs. 1,372 crore for 2021-22 i.e. an increase of 52% over 2020-21 of Rs. 901 crore under various welfare schemes for educational, socio economic and other development programmes.
Mr. Dharmsot Said that during 2020-21, the State Government has provided financial assistance of Rs. 120 crore to 57,142number of SC beneficiaries and Rs. 45 crore to 21,428 BC/EWS beneficiaries. Under this scheme the Government has provided assistance of Rs. 21,000 to Scheduled Caste girls during 2020-21, daughters of widows of any caste at the time of their marriage and to Scheduled Caste widows/divorcees at the time of their re-marriage. To enhance the assistance under Ashirwad Scheme from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 51,000 w.e.f. 01.07.2021, he added. An allocation of Rs. 250 crore has been provided in 2021-22 for this scheme.
In order to extend financial assistance to SC students, he said that, Punjab Government has set aside Rs. 750 crore for providing scholarships to two lakh students in the year 2021-22.
Likewise, with the intention of minimizing the drop-out rate from elementary to secondary school, enhancing their performance and providing them with a better chance of progressing to the Post-Matric stage of Education, an allocation of Rs. 60 crore has been made for the year 2021-22 so as to provide support to the parents of Scheduled Caste Children for the education of their wards studying upto 10th class.
Social Justice Minister said that Punjab Government also undertaken to fill the backlog of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes in the various departments under the recruitments being made as a part of State Employment Plan 2020-22.
