DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh has directed officers to convene a joint meeting of the officers from the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and Antyodaya Department (SEWA), and the Higher Education Department at the earliest in order to release the pending amount of the post-matric scholarship for Scheduled Caste students from the previous year.

Additionally, from this year onward, the scholarship amount should be disbursed at the time of admission to prevent students from facing financial difficulties in continuing their education.

The Chief Minister was holding a review meeting today with the officials of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and Antyodaya Department (SEWA).

The Minister of State for Social Justice, Empowerment, SCs & BCs Welfare and Antyodaya, Shri Bishamber Singh, was also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, it was informed that under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Scheduled Caste students with an annual family income of less than Rs. 2.5 lakhs are eligible to apply. This scheme is implemented in 60:40 ratio between the Central government and the State government. In the year 2023-24, 82,248 students were awarded a total of Rs. 151.46 crores in scholarships. Similarly, under the Backward Class Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, 55,998 students received a total of Rs. 36.32 crores in scholarships.

The Chief Minister directed the officers to increase the amount of the Haryana State Shubhra Jyotsna Pension Scheme, which currently provides a monthly pension of Rs. 15,000. It was informed that the number of beneficiaries is approximately 900.

He also stated that under the Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, Rs. 61,000 out of the Rs. 71,000 provided should be disbursed at the time of registration so that the beneficiaries can use this amount for their daughters' weddings.

Sh. Nayab Singh stated that the Haryana government has taken the responsibility of caring for elderly individuals over the age of 80 who live alone for various reasons. To this end, Samarth Vriddh SEWA Ashram Scheme are being established across the state. In the first phase, these ashrams will be opened in Gurugram, Hisar, Jhajjar, Sirsa, Sonipat, and Yamunanagar. These ashrams will be operated by NGOs and social institutions.

The Chief Minister emphasized that under the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Awas Navinikarn Yojna, the state government provides financial assistance of Rs. 80,000 for the repair of houses for poor families. He directed the officials to complete the verification process of the applications received under this scheme as soon as possible and to release the financial

assistance promptly.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, Sh. T.V.S.N. Prasad, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Commissioner & Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes & Backward Classes and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, and Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Smt. Ashima Brar, along with other officers.


(editor@dailyworld.in)