Minister for Social Welfare, Mr. Bali Bhagat informed the House that 60 locations have been identified for opening up of new Anganwari Centers under “On-Demand” scheme in Ramban constituency. He said the government is also contemplating to construct Scheduled Caste Girls Hostel in Ramban under Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana adding that in this regard DC Ramban has been asked to identify the land for the purpose.Replying to a question by Mr. Neelam Kumar Langeh, the Minister informed the House that 174879 pension cases under various categories are pending for release of pension adding that the matter regarding clearing of pending cases has been taken up with the Centre and the State Finance Department.The Minister said 175 cases are pending under NFBS in Ramban constituency. He said Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for empowerment of adolescent girls - SABLA was launched by Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in five districts namely Jammu, Kathua, Anantnag, Kupwara and Leh on pilot basis during 2010-11. He said SABLA is 100% centrally sponsored scheme and the mandate for its extension to other districts of the State lies with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Responding to the supplementaries raised by some members, the Minister said that 29 pending pension cases under various schemes have been cleared. He said the department is now checking and weeding out defunct pension cases after every three months.The Minister said that Government is going to set up about 4000 new Anganwari Centers in the State. He said in this regard the leftover habitations and villages are being identified. He said the local MLAs would be consulted when these centers are to be established.The Minister said that Anganwari Workers and Helpers would be engaged as per the prescribed selection procedure on merit basis. He said the pending wage cases of Anganwari workers and helpers would be examined for appropriate action.Legislators, Mr. M. Y. Tarigami and Mr. Mubarak Gul raised supplementaries to the main question.