Punjab govt to spend Rs 1300 crore for SC development

Chandigarh, July 18 (UNI) Punjab Government would spent Rs 1330 crore for the socio economic development of Scheduled Castes during 2007-08.

This was disclosed by Social Welfare Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike while presiding over the state-level Standing Tripartite Committee for the implementation of Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP).

It was decided in the meeting that the allocation under SCSP would be booked under the separate minor head 789 ''SCP for SCs'' and a corrigendum of the State Plan Budget will be issued by the Finance Department.

All the funds earmarked under SCSP amounting to Rs 1330 crore would be released to the concerned departments well in time.

The decision of the Cabinet taken in March 2003 for implementation of Maharashtra Model for Scheduled Castes Sub- Plan will be reviewed, the Minister said at the meeting.

It was also decided that Special Central Assistance meant for the upliftment of below-poverty-line Scheduled Castes would be released to the implementing departments immediately after receiving the proposals. The Chief Secretary would issue the instructions to all the Administrative Secretaries to ensure that the funds under SCSP would be spent on the development of Scheduled Castes so as to make these funds non-divertible and non-lapsable.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh, Social Welfare Secretary Narinderjit Singh and other senior officials.

UNI