PUNJAB NEWS : The Punjab Government, led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, is firmly dedicated to protecting the rights of the poor and marginalized communities.
PUNJAB NEWS : This was highlighted by Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur while chairing a high-level review meeting at Punjab Bhawan today.
PUNJAB NEWS :- She stressed that one of the government’s top priorities is the effective enforcement of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the grassroots level to ensure victims receive timely and fair justice.
During the meeting, different departments and police officials presented progress reports, while MLAs and senior officers shared constructive suggestions to strengthen future strategies.
Committee members and MLAs appreciated Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Dr. Baljit Kaur for guaranteeing smooth disbursal of benefits to eligible SC students under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, calling it a major step for the empowerment of SC youth. Dr. Kaur informed that the state has targeted 2.7 lakh SC students under the scheme this year, with sufficient funds already allocated.
The review covered multiple aspects, including district-wise implementation of the SC/ST Act, functioning of vigilance and monitoring committees, progress of welfare programs for SCs, STs and other disadvantaged groups, inter-departmental coordination, legal aid, compensation, rehabilitation measures, and budget allocations.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Dr. Kaur said Punjab is determined to ensure that every citizen lives with dignity and security. She added that social justice extends beyond legal protections to cover education, jobs, healthcare, and economic upliftment.
The Minister instructed officials to convene regular district-level review meetings, prepare time-bound reports, and expedite pending court cases under the Act to ensure speedy justice. She assured that wherever gaps are found, corrective measures will be taken so that the Act is enforced in its true spirit.
She also thanked the MLAs and officials for their active support in implementing the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act effectively across the state.
The meeting was attended by MLAs Principal Budh Ram, Dr. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, Dr. Charanjit Singh, Hakim Singh, Jeevan Singh Sanghowal, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Kulwant Singh Pandori, and Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, along with senior officers including V.K. Meena (Principal Secretary, Social Justice), Ravinder Singh (Additional Secretary), Vimmi Bhullar (Director, Social Justice), G.S. Sahota (Executive Director, Backfinco), Gurpreet Singh Khaira (IAS), Naveen Saini (DIG, Crime), Parminder Singh (Director, National Commission for SC), Surinderjit Kaur (AIG), Raj Bahadur Singh (Joint Secretary, Social Justice) and senior representatives from the Home and Finance Departments.