The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asger Hassan Samoon Friday said that the government will open vocational training centres in different parts of the Valley to economically empower specially-abled children, destitute orphans and widows.Chairing a high level meeting, he expressed concern over the plight of specially-abled children, orphans and widows in the State. The Divisional Commissioner directed all the Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir and Custodian General to identify vacant land in their districts for the purpose.He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to set a timeline for identification of the land and its transfer to the Department of Social Welfare in order to expedite the process of setting up of such centres.He said the unfavorable conditions had given birth to thousands of orphans and widows and majority of them have no source of income which makes them susceptible to social evils. He said such vocational centres will economically empower them and integrate them into the society.
Dr Samoon stressed for involvement of Non-Governmental Organisations for capacity building in these ventures. He said such category of people will be the focus of the government in coming days as avenues of employment would be created for them.The Divisional Commissioner was informed that Department of Social Welfare runs 17 orphanages in different parts of the State. However, he said the restrictions on access imposed by the privately-run orphanages must be done away with to bring accountability and transparency in the system.Div com said that there should be a home for specially-abled people, who constitute two percent population of the state, as well as destitute orphans and widows, in every district of the state. He also emphasized for making people aware of their rights and special privileges made available for them by the government under various welfare schemes.The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone, who informed that modalities will be explored for transferring a patch of land, measuring around 150 kanals near Zakura, to the Department of Social Welfare for building first such Centre.Officials of Department of Social Welfare and representatives of some prominent NGO's working in Kashmir Valley also participated in the meeting.