Shagun scheme to go online in two months: Punjab minister Baljit Kaur

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Chandigarh, June 27

Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Baljit Kaur has said the shagun scheme would be made online in the next two months.

Rs 219.2 cr needed

The state has 43,640 cases, against which the shagun payments have not been released due to paucity of funds. The govt needs Rs 219.2 crore. An adequate provision has been made in this year’s Budget. — Baljit Kaur, Cabinet Minister

“The state has 43,640 cases, against which the shagun payments have not been released due to paucity of funds. The government needs Rs 219.2 crore. An adequate provision has been made in this year’s Budget,” she said during the Question Hour while replying to a query by MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli.

She assured the House that her department would settle all pending cases, including the ones wrongly rejected.

Meanwhile, MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj highlighted the problem of long delay in transferring tubewell connections to new landowners after the sale of land. Minister for Power Harbhajan Singh said 3,17,781 tubewell connections had been transferred to family members after the death of original allottees. However, there was a delay in the transfer of connections to new land buyers.

The House also discussed the poor sports infrastructure in the state. Ghanaur MLA Gurlal Singh said, “The state is losing out on youth participation in sports as we lack equipment and required coaches. The state needs a sports policy.”

To this, Minister for Sports Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said, “The government has started the process of hiring physical training instructors to give the youth an opportunity to exploit their potential.”

Congress MLA Pargat Singh said, “The state needs to begin immediately if we want to see any change in five to seven years. You don’t excel in sports overnight.”

Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs Harjot Singh Bains, in his reply to a question raised by MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand, said: “The state is considering setting up a film city on the basis of a report prepared by the Department of Industries and Commerce.”