Welfare schemes must reach the marginalised: Himachal House panel

Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Welfare Committee, Mohan Lal Brakta, issued a stern directive to officials in Bilaspur, emphasizing the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of government welfare schemes to marginalised sections of society. He asserted that any delay in implementing these schemes would be seen as a form of corruption and dealt with strictly. “It is the duty of officials to ensure benefits reach the poor and needy with transparency and within stipulated timelines,” he said.

The committee, which includes MLAs Randhir Sharma, Vinod Kumar, Reena Kashyap, Lokendra Kumar, Deepraj, and Anuradha Rana, also reviewed the progress of both state and centrally-sponsored schemes targeting Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. Key discussions included the proposal to enhance loan limits under employment-based schemes and the allocation of land to the landless in the district. Officials were directed to prepare a detailed report for submission to the state government.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar reported that Bilaspur district received Rs 81.95 crore under the Scheduled Caste Development Programme in 2023–24 and Rs 89.52 crore in 2024–25, most of which has been effectively utilised. He also said Rs 169 crore worth of Public Works Department projects are currently underway, along with the upgradation of 48 drinking water supply schemes.