SC panel hearing: Punjab officials fail to present action-taken report

Punjab government officials summoned by the National Scheduled Castes Commission to present an action taken report regarding the diversion of more than Rs 4,000-crore meant for implementation of the SC Sub Plan (SCSP), failed to provide a satifactory response to the panel members.

Punjab government officials summoned by the National Scheduled Castes Commission to present an action taken report regarding the diversion of more than Rs 4,000-crore meant for implementation of the SC Sub Plan (SCSP), failed to provide a satifactory response to the panel members.

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Chamar Mahan Sabha president Paramjit Singh Kainth, the main petitioner, said that state chief secretary Rakesh Singh and the finance secretary DP Reddy (additional charge, did not attend the meeting.

Those who appeared before the commission were the welfare secretary Anurag Aggarwal, director welfare department Pirthi Chand and joint secretary SCSP Chaman Lal.

"An action taken report was to be presented in the commission on Tuesday. However, Punjab officials failed to produce the report. They were pulled up by the chairman of the commission Dr PL Punia and told to appear on July 18. They were told that in the next hearing the team should include the chief secretary and the finance secretary," Kainth said.

The commission also pointed out that the Punjab government had also failed to implement the Babu Jagjiwan Ram Chaatrawas Yojna.

Kainth added that till the state government headed by the SAD-BJP alliance was non-serious towards it though the issue was highlighted by the sabha on several forums and now the state faced the brunt of the commission over it.