PHAGWARA: Mohan Lal Sood, Chairman, Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Dev. & Finance Corporation met Hon'ble Union Minister for Commerce , Som Parkash and hands over D.O. letter urging him to take up the matter of enhancing existing subsidy under the Central Sector Scheme " Special Central Assistance to SCs" three times so that the eligible beneficiaries could get maximum benefit under the scheme.
While meeting the Union Minister, Sood said the subsidy under the said scheme was still Rs. 10, 000 since 1999 despite a major increase in the inflation index, while it should have been enhanced three times. He also informed that the other central sponsored schemes were providing upto 25 - 35 % subsidy to the Scheduled Castes families and as such the subsidy under the special Central Assistance to the Scheduled Castes nedds to be increased by atleast Rs. 30, 000/-
Chairman, Punjab SC Corporation urged the Union Minister that Punjab Government had already forwarded a positive proposal to Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment and Minorities, Govt. of India.
He also said that the increase in subsidy by the Centre Govt. would certainly strengthen the opportunities for Scheduled Caste beneficiaries in setting up income generating ventures under various self employment schemes.
Sh. Som Parkash, Hon'ble Union Minister assured Chairman that he will take up the matter at appropriate level and tries his best to get rate of subsidy enhanced as per demand of the department as early as possible.
Sh. Sood also told media persons that Corporation would provide total loans to the tune of Rs. 10 crores to eligible beneficiaries for self employment on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of Corporation as it has completed 50 years.
He also mentioned that under the leadership of Capt. Amarinder Singh this Corporation had already distributed loan amounting to Rs. 20.33 crores ( including subsidy of Rs. 2.04 crore) to 2093 beneficiaries during previous financial year 2020-21 dedicated to 400th Birth celebration of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur ji.