Minister for Social Welfare, Mr Sajad Lone informed the House that the centre has sanctioned 3361 additional Anganwari centres for uncovered areas of the state.Replying to a question raised by Mr Rajiv Jasrotia, the Minister said that a proposal of 9826 additional Anganwari Centres was submitted under ‘Anganwari Centres on Demand’ against which the Union Government has sanctioned 3361 centres and locations are being finalized as per feasibility. He added that the Anganwari Workers and Helpers are being engaged as per norms after following due procedure. He said that the demand for increase of honorarium by Rs.500 each in favour of Anganwari Workers and Helpers is under examination of the Department.Meanwhile replying to a question of Rambir Singh Pathania, the Minister said the Government has taken appropriate measures to make corrections in the record pertaining to the 44 villages of Ramnagar and Majalta Tehsils declared under the RBA category.The Minister said that to overcome the difficulties being faced by people of the areas, the department has taken up the issue with the concerned Deputy Commissioner for taking corrective measures and setting the record straight. He said the notification to this effect will be issued within a few days.
Earlier, Sajad Lone informed the House about the mandate of Social Welfare Department adding that it administers J&K State Advisory Board for the Development of Scheduled Castes; J&K State Social Welfare Board; J&K State Advisory Board for the Development of Other Backward Classes; J&K State Advisory Board for the Development of Pahari Speaking People; J&K State Women Development Corporation; and J&K State Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Corporation.The Minister said that various schemes run by the Social Welfare Department include Pension Schemes under ISSS and NSAP programmes; Scholarship Schemes; Residential Schemes; Other Financial/Development Schemes; and Soft Loan Schemes.Responding to supplementary part of the main question, the Minister said that there are 50263(NSAP) and 84517(ISSS) pension cases pending in Jammu Division till ending December 2017 and 157918 and 93768 in Kashmir division.Mr Altaf Ahmad Wani, Legislators M. Y. Tarigami, Vikar Rasool and G. M. Saroori also raised their supplementaries to the main question.