Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday told the Assembly that the state government will ensure that the finance ministry releases money for its flagship Shagun Scheme under which financial assistance of Rs 15,000 is given to girls from economically weaker sections for their marriages a month in advance so that it can reach the beneficiaries on time. While making the announcement during Question Hour,Badal said the aim was to ensure that the money reaches the beneficiaries before the weddings take place. Moreover,the backlog of beneficiaries,which has been pending since 2009,will also be cleared at the earliest,he added. He was replying to a question on pending Shagun Scheme applications raised by Congress Sadhu Singh. Welfare Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said that while 298 such cases were pending in Nabha for 2009-10,510 for 2010-11 and 90 each for 2011-12 and 2012-13. These cases will be disposed off by July 7,he added. In reply to a question by Congress Sunder Sham Arora,the government stated that groundwater level was declining in 85 per cent area in Punjab. While Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar demanded that a comprehensive study should be held in this regard,the chief minister said that in the next few days,a meeting of experts on the issue has been called to look into the matter.
