Punjab Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur reviews SC Sub-Plan, urges timely fund use, transparency & new schemes for Scheduled Castes’ welfare.

Dr. Baljit Kaur, Punjab’s Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities, presided over a crucial meeting to assess the state’s implementation of the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) for the socioeconomic well-being of the Scheduled Caste population. At the conference, which included in-depth discussions, senior officers from about 25 departments that administer schemes under the SC Sub-Plan participated.

Dr. Baljit Kaur discussed the projects carried out by several departments under the SC Sub-Plan for the 2025–2026 fiscal year during the meeting. In order to ensure that the benefits of government welfare programs reach the people at the grassroots level as soon as possible, she instructed the officials to expedite the utilization of funds provided for schemes whose expenditure has not yet been made and to ensure that the funds are released immediately.

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The Minister made it clear that any carelessness or abuse would not be accepted and that the money allotted under the SC Sub-Plan must only be used for the benefit of the Scheduled Caste community. In order to guarantee appropriate, transparent, and efficient use of the designated monies, she further instructed all departments to submit comprehensive lists of beneficiaries and villages covered under their various plans to the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also emphasized the necessity of creating fresh, creative, and people-focused plans that meet the needs of the Scheduled Caste group today. According to her, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is consistently implementing successful policies aimed at empowering the Scheduled Castes, promoting their overall development, and raising their level of living.

In order to make the execution of Scheduled Caste-related schemes more efficient, timely, and goal-oriented, the Minister further stated that similar review meetings will be held on a regular basis to closely monitor the SC Sub-Plan’s progress.