Punjab Cabinet approves ₹68 crore loan waiver for Dalits

Chandigarh

The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved the waiver of loans totaling Rs 68 crore taken by more than 4,700 Dalit families from the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh, chaired by Mann, where it was agreed that all debts accumulated until March 31, 2020, would be waived.

Mann said the government is forgiving the loans that Dalit families took for different purposes such as starting small businesses, shops, and dairy farming. This relief will help 4,727 beneficiaries, he added. Mann also mentioned that Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had promised this loan waiver in his budget speech in March, and now the cabinet approval will make that promise a reality.

Finance Minister Cheema, who was also present at the briefing, explained that the waiver includes the entire loan amount, along with any interest or penalty charges. He called this move a significant relief for the Scheduled Caste community. Cheema pointed out that this debt has been outstanding for almost 20 years, and criticized previous governments—both Congress and the Akali Dal-BJP—for not supporting Dalit families during their terms.

This loan waiver is an important step by the Punjab government to reduce the financial burden on Dalit families and support their economic growth. It aims to empower the Scheduled Castes by giving them a fresh start and helping improve their livelihoods without the stress of old debts hanging over them.