Jalandhar, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Punjab BJP president and former Union Minister Vijay Sampla said the Union Government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, had introduced several initiatives to support Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in Punjab, covering education, skill development, employment, entrepreneurship, rural development and healthcare assistance.
Sampla made the remarks during an informal interaction after paying floral tributes to Bhagwan Valmiki on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti. He highlighted government funding and welfare programmes aimed at improving educational opportunities, livelihoods and social welfare for SC communities.
Sampla said ₹173.69 crore had been released to Punjab under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana between 2022-23 and 2025-26, including ₹90.94 crore in 2025-26. A further ₹17.80 crore had been released during 2026-27 as of the time of the statement.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, 3,763 villages were identified, with more than five lakh Scheduled Caste residents living in these areas. By October 2026, 327 villages had been developed as Adarsh Grams. The scheme was also expanded to cover 1,500 additional SC-majority villages across 11 states.
Highlighting educational assistance, Sampla said 3.69 lakh students benefited from the post-matric scholarship scheme and 5.07 lakh from the pre-matric scholarship scheme between 2020 and 2023.
During 2024-25, ₹322.44 crore was released for 205,605 students under the post-matric scholarship scheme. In 2025-26, ₹333.37 crore was provided for 163,066 students under the same scheme. Additionally, ₹26.47 crore was released for 125,119 students under the pre-matric scholarship scheme in 2025-26.
Under the SHRESHTA scheme, 108 students secured admission to residential schools. Meanwhile, ₹1.04 crore was sanctioned for 100 beneficiaries at the Central University of Punjab under the Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence initiative.
Sampla also highlighted support for SC entrepreneurs and employment initiatives. He said ₹19.40 crore was sanctioned and ₹19.25 crore disbursed to five SC-owned companies under the Venture Capital Fund.
Through the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), 21,756 individuals benefited, while ₹24.31 crore was provided to 1,553 beneficiaries in 2025-26. Under the Stand-Up India scheme, ₹76.41 crore was sanctioned for 388 SC accounts.
He added that assistance for training, interest relief and medical treatment was also provided through the PM-DAKSH, Vishwas and Dr. Ambedkar Medical Aid schemes.
Referring to initiatives associated with the Valmiki community and sanitation workers, Sampla said ₹6.40 crore in central assistance had been provided for Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal in Amritsar.
Under the Swachhta Udyami Yojana, ₹7.92 crore was used to support 22 pay-and-use toilet facilities and 22 sanitation vehicles.
Under the NAMASTE scheme, 4,465 sewer and septic tank workers and 3,765 waste pickers had been registered in Punjab. Among the identified manual scavengers, 231 received cash assistance, 62 underwent training and 46 received capital subsidies.
In 2025-26, compensation of ₹37 lakh each was facilitated in three cases involving sewer-related deaths. Sampla further said that 494 sanitation workers in Punjab were certified between 2022 and 2024, with 256 securing employment. From 2020 to 2024, a total of 8,892 individuals received training under the PM-DAKSH scheme.
Sampla also referred to constitutional provisions and initiatives recognising the contribution of the Scheduled Caste community. He said the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes until January 25, 2030.
He cited the naming of the airport in Ayodhya after Maharishi Valmiki as an example of recognition and respect for the community, adding that the Modi government had sought to connect SC communities with greater dignity and opportunities.
Sampla served as Union Minister of State from 2014 to 2019 and as Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes from 2021 to 2023. Som Parkash also served as Union Minister of State from 2019 to 2024.
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