The Punjab State Schedule Caste commission held a Review Meeting here today held under the presence of Chairman Rajesh Bagha in which non government members of commission, police and other members were present. In the meeting the Welfare Department, Punjab, reviewed the information for 2016-17 regarding welfare centric schemes aimed at the educational, social and economic well being of the people belonging to Scheduled Caste category.Disclosing this, a spokesman of the commission said that the Commission took strong notice of the complaints about bogus certificates pertaining to SC category and directed the Welfare department to probe the matter and ensure severe action against those involved in this fraudulent exercise. The Commission also ordered welfare department to place hoardings at tehsil level to inform people about different castes eligible for issuance of scheduled caste certificates.
The spokesman further said that 'Scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (Prevention of Cruelities) act 1989' has been formed by the Government so as to put a stop to the cruelties inflicted on people hailing from SC category. Going further, the spokesman said that informative boards regarding this act should be placed at every police station and a report regarding this should be submitted after every 3 months.It was emphasized on the Government to conduct regular meetings of vigilance monitoring committee for which the Welfare department was instructed to constitute committees at State and District level.The spokesman also divulged that as per the orders of Hon'ble Supreme court ordered that 'Safai Karamcharis' would not go inside the sewerages for cleaning process but these orders are not being followed properly. The Commission asked the local government department to ensure compliance of Supreme court guidelines concerning the issue and submit a report to the commission.