Punjab Government today released Rs.26.39 crore to be disbursed as Shagun to 17594 Scheduled Caste girls that was due up to May, 2014.Disclosing this here today, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike Scheduled Castes/ Backward Classes Welfare Minister said that government has already issued instructions to disburse Shagun of Rs. 15000 directly in the bank account of beneficiary brides before the marriage date. He said that an outlay of Rs.98.80 crore was provided in under Shagun Scheme during the year 2012-13 and Rs.152 crore was provided during the year 2013-14 out of which Rs.90 crore were for the new applicants and Rs.62 crore for pending cases.The Minister said that SAD-BJP Government has streamlined the Shagun disbursal process to the eligible girls belonging to Scheduled Castes, Christians, Backward Classes and Economically Weaker families or in the case of remarriage of widows and porcee beneficiaries belonging Scheduled Castes.
He said that now the beneficiaries would have to apply for availing this scheme 30 days before commencement of marriage completing all the necessary formalities. He said that the applicants would file their applications with the District/Tehsil Welfare Officers and it would be their duty to disburse the amount in the bank account of beneficiaries in stipulated time frame. He said that Punjab Government has taken this decision to provide prior financial help to the families before marriages of their wards and to make the scheme more transparent.He said that applicants, who would apply for the scheme before 30 days of marriage, can get the benefit in given time frame and the other cases would automatically become invalid and the amounts would be transferred in the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Online Banking Management System.