Punjab Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot today warned the government officials, who fail to provide benefit of government welfare schemes to the needy and eligible beneficiaries, of strict action. Similarly, those officials, who do not provide benefits of welfare schemes to SC ST communities would also not be spared.He said this while addressing an awareness seminar on The Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955, Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989, Manual Scavenging Act 2013 and different welfare schemes at SCD Government College, here today. This seminar was organised by Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Punjab, which was also attended by MLAs Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon and Mr Surinder Dawar, ADC (General) Mr Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Councillor Mr Harkaran Singh Vaid, Divisional Forest Officer Mr Charanjit Singh, District Welfare Officer Mr Rajinder Kumar, besides several others.While addressing the seminar, Mr Dharamsot said that the Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab government has started several welfare schemes for the weaker sections of the society, such as Scheduled Castes, but it is sad to state that not all eligible persons are able to avail benefit of these schemes. He said that sometimes, even people do not have complete knowledge about these schemes and that is why, they even fail to apply for them. And sometimes, even officials do not work hard enough to ensure that all eligible persons and needy get benefits. He warned that all such officials would have to face strict legal action. He also urged the residents that if they face any problem in government offices, then they should directly contact him.
He informed that the Punjab government has cleared all cases of Shagan scheme till June 2019, all funds related to scholarship schemes have also been transferred into the accounts of students till year 2016. While accusing the previous Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party government, Mr Dharamsot said that despite their coalition partners in power at centre, the Akalis never took up issues related to scholarships. He said that it was his department that took up this matter with the union government and that is why, the scholarship funds were released. He assured that no eligible beneficiary would be left out while providing benefit of welfare schemes.He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he is not the prime minister of only BJP ruled states, but of the entire country. He also appealed that the Union government should immediately release the pending amount of Rs 4100 crore, that is the GST share of Punjab, so that the financial status of Punjab improves. He also accused the union government of increasing inflation.He said that the court decision of acquitting Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and other 31 persons in Ludhiana City Centre case has been the real victory of truth and people’s faith in Indian legal system has strengthened.On this occasion, the panchayats of villages Dolon, Ghungrali Rajputan and Kot Aga were honoured. Mr Ramanjit Singh Lali and Mr Naresh Dhigan were also present on the occasion.