Rs 104 crore disbursed: Sirmaur dist sees significant progress in welfare schemes

Deputy Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Sirmaur District Welfare Committee, Vinay Kumar, chaired a review meeting on Friday to assess the implementation of welfare schemes being run by the Department of Empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, minorities and specially abled in the district. The meeting was attended by Paonta Sahib MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Pachhad MLA Reena Kashyap and Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Verma.

Officials informed the committee that for the financial year 2025-26, an amount of approximately Rs 26.53 crore has so far been allocated to benefit eligible beneficiaries under various social security pension schemes. Cumulatively, the department has disbursed nearly Rs 104 crore across multiple schemes to deserving individuals in the district.

Under the National Family Benefit Scheme, financial aid of Rs 20,000 is provided to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the event of the death of the primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 60 years. In Sirmaur, a budget of Rs 4.40 lakh was sanctioned during 2025-26, benefitting 22 eligible families.

It was also shared that under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, compensation worth Rs 14.85 lakh has been provided to victims in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The meeting also reviewed progress under works funded through the Pradhan Mantri Scheduled Castes Abhyuday Yojana. Vinay Kumar directed the concerned officials to ensure that all Central and State Government-supported schemes reach rural beneficiaries and are implemented effectively.

“The purpose of this committee is to ensure that every eligible person in the state benefits from welfare programmes and that these schemes are utilised in the best possible manner,” he said.

DC Verma assured the Deputy Speaker that all works under the schemes would be completed in a time-bound manner.