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Punjab releases Rs 690.96 crore for welfare schemes

Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the Punjab government on Saturday released funds amounting to Rs 690.96…

Punjab releases Rs 690.96 crore for welfare schemes

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh (Photo: Facebook)

Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the Punjab government on Saturday released funds amounting to Rs 690.96 crore under various welfare schemes, including pension payments, compensation to farmers against crop damage, retirement benefits and medical reimbursement.

An official spokesperson said that the CM had categorically directed all the departments to create resources for welfare schemes through prudent fiscal management so that the beneficiaries, constituting the most deprived sections of the society, do not face any more hardships.

The spokesperson said retirement benefits had been cleared till 30 September, 2017, with the release of Rs 218.84 crore, while Rs 23.19 crore had been released towards reimbursement of medical bills till 30 September, 2017.

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Among the other amounts released were Rs 100 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Rs 50 Crore under National Health Mission (NHM), said the spokesperson, adding that financial assistance to the tune of Rs 115 crore had been released for disbursement of pensions under various social security schemes for February 2018.

Under the Ashirwad Scheme, the sum released stands at Rs 25 crore, with another Rs 42.86 crore going towards compensation to farmers against crop damaged as a result of various factors, added the spokesperson.

It was further disclosed that Rs 30.26 crore had gone towards Water Supply and Sanitation, while Rs Eight Crore had been disbursed for border area compensation.

The state government has also given Rs 7 crore as grant-in-aid to the Punjabi University, and a sum of Rs 3.81 Crore had been released under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Further, the government had also released Rs 60 Crore under Japan International Cooperation Agency, besides releasing Rs 7 crore for discretionary grants of ministers, said the spokesperson.

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