# Punjab Assembly Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes

Punjab Assembly Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes of Punjab Legislative Assembly is constituted annually for a one-year period from among the members of the Assembly. The committee focuses on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class of Punjab population.

## Functions

The functions of the committee are:
       (a) to consider and examine the recommendations contained in the reports of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Government of India, in so far as the Punjab State is concerned and which fall within the purview of the State Government, and to report to the House as to the measures that should be taken by the State Government ;
       (b) to report to the House on the action taken by the Government on the measures proposed by the Committee ;
       (c) to examine the measures taken by the Government to secure due representation of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes in services and posts under its control( including appointments in the Public Sector Undertakings, Statutory and Semi-Government Bodies) having regard to the provisions of Article 335 of the Constitution ;
       (d) to report to the House on the working of the welfare programmes for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes ; and
       (e) to examine such other matters as may be specifically referred to it by the House or the Speaker

## Appointment

The speaker appoints the committee and its members every year for a one-year term according to the powers conferred by Article 208 of the Constitution of India read with section 32 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (37 of 1956), and in pursuance of Rules 232(1) and 2(b) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.

## Members

For the 1-year period starting May 2022, the Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes of 16th Punjab Assembly had following members:
Committee on Welfare of SC, ST and OBC (2022–23) :
| Sr. No. | Name | Post | Party |
| 1 | Manjit Singh Bilaspur | Chairperson | AAP |
| 2 | Aruna Choudhary | Member | INC |
| 3 | Dalbir Singh Tong | Member | AAP |
| 4 | ADC Jaswinder Singh Ramdas | Member | AAP |
| 5 | Jiwan Singh Sangowal | Member | AAP |
| 6 | Jagsir Singh | Member | AAP |
| 7 | Kulwant Singh Bazigar | Member | AAP |
| 8 | Labh Singh Ugoke | Member | AAP |
| 9 | Dr Nacchatar Pal | Member | BSP |
| 10 | Rupinder Singh | Member | AAP |
| 11 | Rajnish Kumar Dahiya | Member | AAP |
| 12 | Sheetal Angural | Member | AAP |
| 13 | Sukhwinder Singh Kotli | Member | INC |

## Chairpersons

| Tenure | Terms | Name | Political party |
| 14th Punjab Assembly | 1 | Nirmal Singh | Shiromani Akali Dal |
| 2017-2018 | 1 | Raj Kumar Verka | Indian National Congress |
| 2018-2022 | 4 | Nathu Ram | Indian National Congress |
| 2022-23 | 1 | Manjit Singh Bilaspur | Aam Aadmi Party |

## Previous members

For the 1-year period before May 2022, the Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes of 15th Punjab Assembly had following members:

### 2021-2022

Committee on Welfare of SC, ST and OBC (2021–22) :
| Sr. No. | Name | Post | Party |
| 1 | Nathu Ram | Chairperson | INC |
| 2 | Balwinder Singh | Member | INC |
| 3 | Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal | Member | INC |
| 4 | Baldev Singh Khera | Member | INC |
| 5 | Gurpreet Singh | Member | INC |
| 6 | Joginder Pal | Member | INC |
| 7 | Kulwant Singh Pandori | Member | INC |
| 8 | Lakhavir Singh Lakha | Member | INC |
| 9 | Manjit Singh | Member | INC |
| 10 | Dr.Raj kumar Chabbewal | Member | INC |
| 11 | Surjit Singh Dhiman | Member | INC |
| 12 | Sukhwinder Kumar | Member | INC |
| 13 | Santokh Singh | Member | INC |

### 2020-2021

Committee on Welfare of SC, ST and OBC (2020–21) :
| Sr. No. | Name | Post | Party |
| 1 | Nathu Ram | Chairperson | INC |
| 2 | Balwinder Singh | Member | INC |
| 3 | Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal | Member | INC |
| 4 | Gurpreet Singh | Member | INC |
| 5 | Joginder Pal | Member | INC |
| 6 | Lakhavir Singh Lakha | Member | INC |
| 7 | Manjit Singh | Member | INC |
| 8 | Pawan Kumar Tinu | Member | INC |
| 9 | Dr.Raj kumar Chabbewal | Member | INC |
| 10 | Smt Rupinder Kaur Rubi | Member | INC |
| 11 | Sukhwinder Kumar | Member | INC |
| 12 | Santokh Singh | Member | INC |
| 13 | Surjit Singh Dhiman | Member | INC |

### 2019-2020

Committee on Welfare of SC, ST and OBC (2019–20) :
| Sr. No. | Name | Post | Party |
| 1 | Nathu Ram | Chairperson | INC |
| 2 | Baldev Singh Khaira | Member | INC |
| 3 | Joginder Pal | Member | INC |
| 4 | Kulwant Singh Pandori | Member | INC |
| 5 | Nirmal Singh | Member | INC |
| 6 | Pawan Kumar Adia | Member | INC |
| 7 | Dr. Raj Kumar Chabewal | Member | INC |
| 8 | S.Santokh Singh | Member | INC |
| 9 | Smt .Sarvjit Kaur Manuke | Member | INC |
| 10 | Smt Satkar Kaur | Member | INC |
| 11 | Sukhwinder Kumar | Member | INC |
| 12 | Ch. Surinder Singh | Member | INC |
| 13 | Surjit Singh Dhiman | Member | INC |

### 2018-2019

Committee on Welfare of SC, ST and OBC (2018–19) :
| Sr. No. | Name | Post | Party |
| 1 | Nathu Ram | Chairperson | INC |
| 2 | Baldev Singh Khaira | Member | INC |
| 3 | Balwinder Singh | Member | INC |
| 4 | Darshan Lal | Member | INC |
| 5 | Surjit Singh Dhiman | Member | INC |
| 6 | Kulwant Singh Pandori | Member | INC |
| 7 | Manjit Singh | Member | INC |
| 8 | Nirmal Singh | Member | INC |
| 9 | Pawan Kumar Adia | Member | INC |
| 10 | Dr. Raj Kumar Chabewal | Member | INC |
| 11 | Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala | Member | INC |
| 12 | Sukhwinder Singh | Member | INC |
| 13 | Tarsem Singh D.C. | Member | INC |

### 2017-2018

Committee on Welfare of SC, ST and OBC (2017-17) :
| Sr. No. | Name | Post | Party |
| 1 | Dr. Raj Kumar Verka | Chairperson | INC |
| 2 | Baldev Singh Khaira | Member | INC |
| 3 | Harpal Singh Cheema | Member | AAP |
| 4 | Joginder Pal | Member | INC |
| 5 | Manjit Singh | Member | INC |
| 6 | Nathu Ram | Member | INC |
| 7 | Nirmal Singh | Member | INC |
| 8 | Santokh Singh | Member | INC |
| 9 | Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala | Member | INC |
| 10 | Ch . Surinder Singh | Member | INC |
| 11 | Surjit Singh Dhiman | Member | INC |
| 12 | Sushil Kumar Rinku | Member | INC |
| 13 | Sukhwinder Kumar | Member | INC |