Punjab govt to allot Panchayati land to 'Vimukat Jatis'

Chandigarh, Jan 30 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has directed all Deputy Commissioners of the state to identify the 'Shamlat' (Panchayati) land in the villages within their jurisdiction for the allotment of dwelling units to the members of the 'Vimukat Jatis'.

An assurance to this effect was given by Mr Badal to a confederation of Punjab Pradesh Vimukat Jatis led by its President Dr Tarsem Singh Mahla during a meeting held here today.

Mr Badal also asked the Deputy Commissioners to find out the ways and means to allot land to the eligible beneficiaries belonging to the Vimukat Jatis who had already constructed houses on the Panchayati land.

He also asked the Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala to submit the final report within a month relating to the case sent by the department of Welfare of SC/BC for reviewing the Vimukat Jatis status so that the state government could further take up the matter with the Union Government for inclusion of this community in the list of scheduled tribes.

Mr Badal also asked the SC/BC welfare department to thoroughly examine the proposal to grant five per cent reservation exclusively for eight Vimukat Jatis--- Sansi, Bazigar, Bauria, Bengali, Nat, Gadhila and Barar.

Responding to another demand for the constitution of a separate commission for Vimukat Jatis on the pattern of commission for scheduled castes and backward classes, Mr Badal asked the Chief Secretary to work out modalities for a separate board for the welfare of the community by giving due representations to their members.

He also agreed to the demand of the confederation to increase the income limit of Rs 5000 to Rs one lakh per annum for scholarship to the eligible beneficiaries of Vimukat Jatis on the pattern of SC families.

He also assured the representatives of the Vimukat Jatis that the state government would provide adequate funds for the construction of dharmshalas and cremation grounds for their community provided they procure land on their own. He also asked the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare to issue detailed instructions to all the deputy commissioners to include the word 'Vimukat Jati' while issuing a caste certificate and tie up with the Punjab SC Land Development and Finance Corporation to sanction loans to the members of the community at low interest rates on the terms and conditions listed for the scheduled castes.

He also directed the Principal Secretary Rural Development and Panchayats to extend the benefit of the construction of flush latrines to the Vimukat Jatis on the pattern of scheduled castes and a provision of special grant for this purpose should also be earmarked.

UNI HS JT MIR KP1728