Minister for Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs, Sajad Ghani Lone today said the Government has taken various measures to ensure maximum public participation in the existing system where people can be involved in the process of monitoring of various welfare schemes.He said the Government has decided to constitute ‘Social Welfare Committees’ at village level to work as one-stop-centre for effective implementation of all social welfare schemes at grassroots level.The Minister was responding to issues raised by various Members during the discussion held in Upper House today to discuss the activities of Social Welfare Department.Underlining the Government’s commitment to empowerment of vulnerable sections of the society, the Minister said it is the responsibility of the Government to provide equal opportunity to its people by empowering them.Giving details about the proposed SWCs, the Minister said the Government will constitute these committees having 15 members from the villages who will identify the beneficiaries after proper verification and forward the list for final approval.
"These committees will help the government in effective implementation of schemes on ground level and also decide the priority of cases to be considered under various welfare schemes. These committees will further aid in eliminating ghost beneficiaries and duplication thereby creating avenues for the deserving", the Minister said.In order to provide social security net to the BPL families of the State, the Minister said the Government will be introducing Cashless Health Insurance scheme for which the department will facilitate and fund an institutionalized arrangement, besides ensuring effective implementation of various welfare programmes already initiated in the state.He further said to impart quality education to the orphans, the Government is working on a proposal for setting up boarding schools which would serve as better alternative to Bal Ashrams. He said for the purpose the Government is exploring options of funding from Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme.
The Minister said the department is also pursuing the issue of ST status for the Pahari speaking population. He further said the department is working on evolving mechanism to provide hassle-free delivery of services to the people under various social welfare schemes.Earlier, several legislators participated in the discussion on working of the Social Welfare Department.Zafar Iqbal Manhas said steps should be taken to check the leakages of ration in Anganwadi centres. He also stressed that mechanism should be evolved to facilitate disbursement of pension to old-age and widows.Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri demanded effective and efficient implementation of welfare schemes for women empowerment besides enhanced pension for old-age and widows.Ghulam Nabi Monga urged for hike in honorarium of Anganwari workers and helpers at par with other states and proper implementation of schemes for infants, adolescents and pregnant women.
Ashok Khajuria called for change mindset of the people for better implementation of girl child initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and Laadli Beti.Saif-ud-Din Bhat pleaded for Aadhar card seeded direct benefit transfer of pensions in favour of old age and widows. He also demanded checks and balances mechanism to be put in place for tracking food grain leakages at various levels.Showkat Hussain Ganai called for streamlining selection process of beneficiaries under various welfare schemes through ICT interventions. He also asked for revision of backward areas besides seeking greater involvement of members in monitoring of Government welfare schemes.Sham Lal Bhagat demanded increase in honorarium of Anganwadi employees in addition to allocation of funds to cover freight charges incurred in food grains transportation.Ramesh Arora demanded for greater role of members in identifying beneficiaries along with timely release of funds for better coverage under various schemes.Khursheed Alam called for providing motorized cycles for physically handicapped. He also insisted on early clearance of pending cases in favour of destitute and widows.Surinder Kumar Choudhary stressed adopting measures for monitoring and vigilance on the functioning of NGOs in the state.