Punjab: Cabinet to take up new scheduled castes welfare bill

CHANDIGARH: In a move that will earmark a part of the state’s annual budget for the welfare of the scheduled castes in proportion to their population in Punjab, chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday gave the go ahead for putting a new bill before the cabinet so that it could be introduced in the next assembly session.
At 31.94%, Punjab has the highest percentage of SC population in the country. ‘The Punjab State Welfare and Development of Scheduled Castes (Planning, Earmarking and Utilization of Financial Resources) Sub-Allocation Bill, 2021’ will enable the government to put in place an institutional mechanism to formulate and monitor the implementation of the scheduled caste sub-plan (SCSP), and matters connected with it.
The legislation, when passed in the assembly, will give the state government a platform to ensure the overall development of scheduled castes through effective implementation of various welfare schemes under SCSP. Some other states like Telangana have already passed such laws, for accelerated development of the specific communities with focus on economic development, education, and human resource, security, and social empowerment.
Reiterating the government’s firm commitment to the socio-economic and educational development of the SC population in the state, Capt Amarinder said the bill will give a big boost to his government’s efforts to ensure the welfare of this segment.
An official spokesperson said the SCSP directorate would be the nodal agency for the purpose. The authority competent to approve state annual budget estimates would also accord approval to the SCSP simultaneously, before submitting it to the legislative assembly. There would be a single mechanism for flow of funds under SCSP and the finance department would remain the controlling authority for this purpose.
The progress of SCSP would be reviewed and monitored at state-, district- and block-levels, as per procedure and by the committee as prescribed. Each department shall ensure transparency and accountability at all levels in the implementation of the SCSP.
The efficacy of the legislation would be ensured by the systematic and exhaustive procedures on all aspects with respect to the formulation and implementation of SCSP in the state. Moreover, the departments implementing SCSP would become liable to implement it in its true spirit for the benefit of stakeholders, scheduled castes population in the state, said an official spokesperson.
The new law would ensure transparency and accountability at all levels in the implementation of SCSP. There will also be a provision of incentives for commendable performance and penalties for wilful neglect of any rule under the law by a government functionary, he added.