Chandigarh: The Punjab Government on Thursday released funds to the tune of Rs. 405.34 crore towards payment of various schemes and development projects including sum of Rs. 197.46 crore on account of social security pensions/other financial assistance schemes and Rs. 86 crore for Smart Phones.
According to an official spokesperson these funds have been released to boost the tempo of overall development and growth in the state with a directive from Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to all the departments to intensify its efforts for additional resource mobilisation by cutting down wasteful expenditure to further consolidate state’s fiscal position especially due to sluggish economy amid Covid-19.
The spokesperson further said that Rs. 197.46 crore has been released for making payment towards social security pensions and other financial assistance schemes, to nearly 25.57 lakh beneficiaries including elderly, widow and destitute women, dependent children and disabled, for the month of October 2020 paid in November 2020.
A sum of Rs. 64.19 crore has been released on account of Mid Day Meals and Rs. 18.36 crore for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) Schemes. Likewise, Rs. 15.15 crore had been released for salaries to the staff under the scheme for setting up of Ghallughara and other Memorials besides Rs. 15.12 crore for clearing pending bills under centrally sponsored and NABARD Schemes. Apart from these, Rs. 4.40 crore has been released to District Treasury Kapurthala for making payment of pending bills related to 550th Prakash Purb celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Similarly, an amount of Rs. 3.40 crore has been released under Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) and Rs. 1.26 crore to fund various development schemes being executed by NABARD in Faridkot district.
