Chandigarh, June 11
Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi on Thursday directed various government departments to take immediate measures aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of Dalit communities, including ensuring fair opportunities in promotions, speedy disposal of cases under the SC/ST Act and improved infrastructure for community institutions.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Garhi said the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities has been instructed to immediately ensure the training of Roster Register Checking Committees. The move is aimed at ensuring justice to eligible government employees and officers in promotion-related matters and bringing greater clarity in the implementation of roster registers as per the prescribed law.
He said the police department has also been directed to provide training on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent-level officers. According to Garhi, the training will help improve clarity in police action and investigations following complaints received from different districts and facilitate timely disposal of cases.
Emphasizing the need for strengthening community infrastructure for Dalit brethren, Garhi said the dinance department and the department of social justice have been directed to ensure land availability and budget allocations for the construction of new Ambedkar Bhawans in districts where such facilities do not exist. He also stressed the need for proper maintenance of existing Ambedkar Bhawans across the state. Garhi noted that in some districts, Ambedkar Bhawans are currently being utilized by other departments and said alternative arrangements should be made so that these facilities can serve their intended purpose.
Earlier, while chairing the 29th meeting of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission at Punjab Bhawan, Garhi instructed officials to accord priority to complaints and issues concerning members of the Scheduled Castes community. He reiterated that the Commission remains committed to protecting the rights and interests of Scheduled Castes in Punjab.
The Commission also reviewed the status of cases registered under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 with senior officials from the Police Department, Local Government Department, Social Justice Department and other agencies. Garhi directed police officials to expedite the disposal of such cases to ensure timely justice for complainants.
During the meeting, the Commission reviewed security arrangements for devotees visiting Sri Rakba Sahib in Ludhiana, the main centre of Bhuriwale Gurgaddi (Garib Dass) Sampardaye, and Sri Jhandian Dham in Ropar, as well as Sri Khuralgarh Sahib, the sacred site associated with Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji. These religious centres attract large numbers of devotees belonging to Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The issue of security arrangements at Ram Moksh Dham, Tapprian Khurd in Balachaur, which also serves as the residential hermitage of Acharya Chetna Nand Ji Maharaj, the present spiritual head of the Kabirpanthi Bhuriwale sect, was also discussed. The meeting was attended by Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission non-official members Rupinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Gulzar Singh, Member Secretary Nayan Jassal, ADGP Security Dr. Kaustubh Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Ravinder Singh, Director Local Government H.S. Brar and senior officials from GMADA and other departments.
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