Punjab Government Releases Rs 28.20 Crore Under 'Shagun Scheme'

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has cleared 18,798 cases of 'Shagun scheme' from March 2015 to June 2016 and Rs 28.20 crore has been deposited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

After holding a high-level meeting with senior officials of the department, state Welfare Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike today said the state government had already issued instructions to disburse shagun of Rs 15,000 directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.

He said that the SAD-BJP government has streamlined the Shagun disbursal process to the eligible girls belonging to Scheduled Castes, Christians, Backward Classes and Economically Weaker families or in the case of remarriage of widows and divorcees belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

The beneficiaries would have to apply for availing this scheme 30 days before commencement of marriage to complete all the necessary formalities, he added.