Haryana Minister Krishna Bedi Vows Transparent Governance, Announces One-Time Loan Settlement for Defaulters

Chandigarh, September 11 – Haryana Cabinet Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes Welfare, and Antyodaya Department, Krishna Kumar Bedi, said the government is committed to ensuring that the benefits of welfare schemes reach the last person in society, leaving no community behind in the path of development.

Reviewing departmental work under the Seva Suraksha Pakhwada, the minister instructed officials to focus on service-oriented and transparent governance. He stressed that empowering the poor, needy, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and marginalized sections remains the central goal of the government’s policies.

During the meeting with senior officials, the minister also discussed the functioning of drug de-addiction centers. Currently, 93 centers are operating across the state, and the government aims to review their conditions during the fortnight-long campaign. He said shortcomings will be corrected, and if required, new centers will be opened. Pension distribution systems were also reviewed, with directions to ensure accountability in cases of wrongful disbursement and to keep the process proactive for citizens’ ease.

The minister also sought updates on the UDID card scheme and reviewed the Vivah Shagun Yojana, instructing checks on cases where inter-state marriages might have been used to claim benefits fraudulently.

After the review meeting, Bedi told reporters that the department will mark the birth anniversaries of eminent personalities as “Seva Diwas” every year to strengthen the spirit of service. Employees will also be honored on these occasions.

On loan schemes, the minister announced that subsidies under the Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation have been increased from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000. Defaulters will be offered a one-time settlement scheme, enabling them to clear dues and rejoin the loan process. Between 2013–14 and 2025–26, 51,030 beneficiaries have received ₹338.65 crore under the corporation’s schemes.

Emphasizing the government’s Antyodaya vision, Bedi said the goal is to provide loans and assistance to the needy to make them self-reliant through employment opportunities.

Responding to questions on Punjab’s flood relief package, Bedi said the Aam Aadmi Party government earlier claimed it did not need assistance, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi still extended support for the people’s welfare. He remarked that if the Congress is criticizing the package, it should also recall its own track record in office.