Chandigarh, September 4
For a state that has gained the dubious distinction of leading the country in female foeticide, issues concerning members of the fairer sex appear to be of little concern to Punjab, which has yet to implement a host of schemes for women and the girl child launched by the central government.

At a review meeting conducted by the Punjab State Commission for Women earlier this week, members pointed out not a single penny has been spent by the social security department in providing travelling concessions to women above the age of 60. Moreover, they noted financial assistance amounting to Rs 100 lakh for the Dhan Lakshmi Yojana meant for newborn girls was lying unused and no grants had been given to the NGOs working for women and children. The department had also failed to spend any money for most of its schemes in the second quarter of this year, the members added.

No money has been spent on supplementary nutrition for pregnant and lactating mothers and children below 6 years under the Integrated Child Development Scheme this year. According to the department, out of the total of Rs 100 crore allocated Rs 10 crore was released last month and is still lying in the government treasury.

The commission, headed by Gurdev Kaur Sangha, noted the department had not set any physical or financial targets under the Anti-Dowry Act. The panel’s member secretary, Sarvesh Kaushal, has asked for a detailed report from the department on implementation of various social welfare schemes within a fortnight.

It was also pointed out at the meeting that directors had earlier allowed funds allotted to several schemes to lapse and had evinced little interest in implementing them. The fact that former directors did not even bother to visit women’s and children’s homes was also brought up.

Commission members Pushpinder Kaur and Kiranjot Kaur, social security director DD Tarnaich and RS Khatra, representing the DGP, were present at the meeting.