Chandigarh, April 14: The Punjab government will spend atleast 30% of funds under all government schemes for the welfare of the state’sSC population.
This was announced on Wednesday by Chief Minister Captain AmarinderSingh, along with a host of other measures for the uplift of the Dalitcommunity, as a mark of homage to Dr BR Ambedkar, who he said should beremembered as the first Indian who achieved so much for the Dalit Samaj.
Paying floral tributes to the architect of the IndianConstitution, Dr. BR Ambedkar, on his 130th birth anniversary, at a virtualstate-level event, the Chief Minister also announced filling up of the SCvacancy backlog in all departments on priority, while promising to explore apost-matric overseas scholarship scheme for SC students, on the lines of theBaroda State Scholarship Scheme awarded to Baba Sahib under a scheme established by Sayajirao Gaekwad III.
The Chief Minister further announced a special Rs 500 croreRural Link Roads project for FY2022. The project will encompass construction ofnew link roads to the Bastis of Scheduled Castes and other poorer sections ofthe society, which do not currently have road connectivity. Shamshan ghats andplaces of worship will also be connected through the project.
A special allocation of Rs. 100 crore is proposed in 2021-22for modernisation of villages having more than 50% SC population, said the Chief Minister,adding this was aimed at providing further impetus to existing grants in thevillages having Scheduled Caste population greater than or equal to 50% of thetotal population.
Smart phones will be given to all Class 12 SC students ingovernment schools, while to motivate people to take up dairy farming, 150village-level awareness camps and training at 9 Training & ExtensionCentres will be conducted, with special emphasis on Scheduled Caste beneficiarie,he added.
The Chief Minister further announced that his governmentalso proposes to provide 30% reservation for SC applicants in villages underthe `Har Ghar Pakki Chhat’ scheme, and also 30% in the affordable housingscheme for EWS. His government also plans to set up a Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Training atJalandhar for competitive exams, including Civil Services. Proposed to beestablished under GGRK mission, it will have 50% seat reservation for
candidates belonging to SC families. Other projects plannedinclude Dr. BR Ambedkar museum and Dr. BR Ambedkar Institute of Management inPTU Campus, Kapurthala, he added.
Lamenting the anti-Dalit mindset that still exists in thecountry, the Chief Minister underlined the need for better awareness among thepeople. Unfortunately, he said he did not have the resources to do all that hereally wanted to do to spread Dr Ambedkar’s message.
Captain Amarinder recalled that when Rajiv Gandhi contestedfor the first time from Amethi, after the death of his brother Sanjay Gandhi,the campaigning task was handed over to him for one of the four areas in theconstituency. He went on to recall: “A SC youth who was deputed to help mewanted to get off the jeep before entering an upper caste dominated village, butI did not allow him to. He was standing next to me when the villagers offeredme water, asking him to go out. But I made it clear that he will not go outalone. So I also left the place, telling them – “Votan pao ya na pao, appa jaarahe hain”. (Give us votes or not, we are going!)
Remembering Baba Rao Ambedkar’s unparalleled contribution tothe nation, the Chief Minister said the son of a Subedar, he worked hard andstudied when majority did not go to school. After studying at ColumbiaUniversity (USA) & London School of Economics, he was also called to theBar at Gray’s Inn (London). A Professor of Political Economy in the SydenhamCollege of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai, he practiced Law in the BombayHigh Court, before going on to become India’s first Law Minister, and then theChairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee. The Chief Minister said he wasproud to be paying homage to a brilliant man, who drafted the Constitution onwhich the country is still running.
On the occasion, Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan cited some ofthe steps taken by the state government for Dalit welfare.
Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot lauded the variousmeasures taken by the Captain Amarinder government, including increase in theShagun amount and revival of post-matric scholarship scheme, which was stoppedby the Centre. His colleagues Aruna Chaudhary appreciated the commendable andrevolutionary steps taken for Dalit women and girls, while Charanjit SinghChanni stressed the need for the implementation of the 85th amendment, andregular recruitment of Dalits, along with reservations for Dalits in privateschools, police department, AG office and Chairmen of Boards.
PPCC president Sunil Jakhar criticised the `manuwadi soch’that still divides the society on the basis of caste, colour, creed, with nofinancial equality and Dalits still treated as untouchables. People who promotethis mindset are playing with thesentiments of the community and Baba Sahib’s ideology, he said, adding that itis “our responsibility to spread awareness among the SC community against theirexploitation.”
MLA Raj Kumar Verka suggested setting up a committee forimplementation of the 85th amendment, as well as increase in wages andpermanent employment for safai karamcharis.
Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Deputy Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha,congratulated the Chief Minister on his visionary outlook for the SC community.
Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhry and MLA Raj KumarChabbewal also shared their thoughts on Baba Saheb on the occasion.