Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today urged the centre to extend Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) to Punjab as it has the highest proportion of scheduled casts (31.9 percent) vis a vis total population amongst all states which are included under the scheme.Calling on union minister for social justice and empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot at his office in the presence of state minister for social justice and empowerment Vijay Sampla here on Monday, Mr. Badal said despite fulfilling all policy rules under the scheme, Punjab had not benefitted as much as it could in terms of schemes concerning SCs. He stressed that villages having 50 percent or more SC population in the state could witness integrated development by receiving grants to the tune Rs. 100 crore under PMAGY.
Emphasising to cover Punjab under this scheme as early as possible, Mr. Badal said NDA government had assured to include state but still final decision from the ministry was awaited. He said 5 states chosen by centre including Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu had less SC population as compared to Punjab. He said in Punjab more than 2800 villages had 50 percent or more SC population so state should not be kept out from the ambit of PMAGY. Union Ministers Gehlot and Vijay Sampla assured the Deputy CM that the matter would be resolved at the earliest and Punjab would be included under the PMAGY.
Discussing the current status of Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) for economic development of BPL families in the state, Mr. Badal apprised the union minister that Punjab had utilised Rs. 440.48 lakh and provided benefits to 7841 beneficiaries during the last fiscal. He said during the current year Rs. 68.58 lakh has been spent till September.
Deputy CM also asked Gehlot and Sampla to expedite the release of Rs. 25.65 crore to enable implementation of action plan for the year 2014-15 under various schemes for SCs. He also discussed the issue of post-matric scholarship scheme for SC students seeking release of remaining grant to the tune of Rs. 229.54 crore out of total Rs. 440 crore for the ongoing session.Deputy Chief Minister also sought execution of scheme for implementation of the persons with disabilities act (SIPDA) to provide barrier free environment in government offices, educational institutions and other public visiting areas. Mr. Badal requested release of Rs. 5.88 crore under this scheme.Apprising the union minister about proposed setting up of National Institute of Sports for Disabled Persons, Mr. Badal offered 10 acres of land for this purpose at Zirakpur. He said proceedings for approval of project should be expedited besides constitution of site selection committee at the earliest.
On the demands and issues of Punjab government, Gehlot and Sampla assured Mr. Badal said needful action would be taken soon to ensure inclusion of Punjab in PMAGY as well as disbursement of grants relating to other schemes. They also assured that post-matric scholarship scheme and SCSP grants to be considered on priority. Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Social Security and health minister Punjab Surjit Kumar Jiyani, union secretary social justice and empowerment Sudhir Bhargava, union secretary disability affairs Stuti Kacker, secretary sc/ bc welfare Seema Jain and secretary social security Jaspal Singh.