Untouchability not yet stamped out: Minister

CHANDIGARH: Punjab''s minister of social welfare Joginder Singh Mann stated that untouchability in Punjab has not been stamped out despite the tall claims made by various religious reform movements.
The minister said this at the inauguration ceremony of the two-day workshop on the ``impact of special component plan and PSCFC schemes on the scheduled castes in Punjab,’’ which began in Panjab University on Wednesday.
The minister announced that the Punjab government has decided to constitute Punjab commission for scheduled castes and an ordinance would be promulgated in this regard.
Mann, while lashing out at the non functioning of the department of welfare pointed out how the district welfare officers were busy in their own welfare instead of the welfare of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for whom they were appointed.
The minister admitted that half of the cases of old pension were fake and bonded labour in the form of siri system was still engaged in agriculture and thus the system continues in the state. He also said that scheduled caste women in Punjab still are not safe in the field of the landlords who boast of their right to outrage the modesty of those women and added that almost all the land is usurped by the upper caste.
Principal secretary, department of social welfare Punjab JR Kundal noted that 73rd amendment is not being implemented in true spirit and in rural areas health system, water supply and other infrastructure amenities were yet to be accomplished.
Director of Punjab scheduled castes land development and Finance Corporation pointed his finger at the ``vote buying policy’’ of the politicians who manage votes by bribing people. He highlighted how large sale fake certificates of SCs in Punjab are in circulation in order to garner the games unlawfully.
District welfare officers, zila secretaries of the zila parishads from all across Punjab, academicians, trade unionists and NGOs are taking part in the workshop which is a corroborative effort of Department of sociology, PU and Department of welfare Punjab.