Pb to prioritise development works in SC community settlements

To ensure inclusive development of the disadvantaged sections of the society in Punjab’s all-round growth, the State Government has decided to accord top priority to the development works in the Scheduled Caste (SC) community settlements in the villages.

To implement these guidelines in the letter and spirit, a letter has been issued to all the concerned officers on the directives of Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa.

Bajwa has instructed the departmental officers to intensify their efforts to uplift the SC community and ensure the desired results through an action bound program. He has asked the officers, especially the ones posted in field, to get these development-oriented projects concerning the well being of SC community in the villages on the highest priority.

The Minister has asked the officers to utilize the government grants for developmental purposes in the villages priority wise by giving preference to the projects such as dharamshalas, cremation grounds, water supply and sewerage facilities in the vicinity of SCs settlement.

“It has been brought to my notice that at the time of using the grants for development works in the villages, the projects or areas related to the SC community were often ignored thereby resulting in deprivation of this most vulnerable section of the society from basic amenities and necessities,” he said.

Bajwa also directed the officers to ensure SC community dharamshalas be equipped with all the requisite facilities so as to save the poor and needy sections from incurring unnecessary expenditure at the time of holding their social functions.

The Minister also said that in case of dharamshala being located in a congested area, the panchayat must exchange its land with someone else and construct dharamshala in a spacious and well-spread-out area as an alternate site.

He made it  clear that only after the completion of development works meant for SCs , other development projects of the village be initiated.

Bajwa also emphasized that at the time of giving panchayat lands on lease, the adequate public announcement must be made in village  through loudspeaker in the Gurudwara or Temple of the concerned village for the separate bidding of the third part of land reserved for the SC community.

“The real motive of this entire exercise is to allot such land only to the deserving members of the SC community of the concerned village,” he said.

The Minister also exhorted the SC community people, those who were taking the land on lease through bidding from the SC quota, to cultivate the land themselves. He unequivocally said that if the land taken on lease is sublet to someone else for cultivation, the bidding would be cancelled.