CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has allocated a dedicated fund of Rs. 2,113.09 crore for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other economic weaker sections of the society besides issuing strict directions to various authorities for speedy and proper implementation of SC sub plan and welfare schemes in the state.

Disclosing this here today, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister for Welfare of SCs/BCs, Punjab said that the government has decided to include backward classes and economically weaker sections of the society in the ongoing Shagun Scheme so that more and more beneficiaries could be covered and benefited under this scheme.

Ranike said that Punjab Government had been providing Rs 15,000 financial help as shagun to the girls belonging to SCs/BCs , Christians and economically-weaker families of other communities. He said that the state government has made the process of getting shagun more practical by disbursing the amount directly in the bank account of beneficiary. He said that now the applicants would have to submit their applications before 15 days of marriage.

The Minister asserted that the SAD-BJP government was committed for the speedy and proper implementation of welfare schemes and no carelessness would be tolerated in this regard. He has directed the officers concerned to take up the pending cases during 2009-10 and 2010-11 in the current financial year. He has also asked the beneficiaries to get their bank accounts opened in the banks with IFS code so that the Shagun amount could be deposited through online Banking Management System.