CHANDIGARH: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has expressed serious concern over the implementation of the provisions of Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes (PoA) Act in Punjab.
The Commission was in Chandigarh to hold a Review Meeting for Punjab & Chandigarh. It held deliberations with the people’s representatives and associations yesterday and with the top administrative officers of Punjab and Chandigarh today.
Following the meeting, NCSC chairman, P L Punia said that State Vigilance & Monitoring Committee headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had not met since 2006 even though it is required to hold a meeting every six months.
Similarly, the meetings at the district- level are also not being held on a regular basis.
He further said that the financial assistance of `434.07 lakh, provided under the Scheduled Caste Special Component Plan released by the Centre in 2010, had not been properly utilised and the utilisation certificate in this regard was not submitted so far, resulting in the non-release of the funds to the state for 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014.