Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Asiea Naqash reviewed the functioning of Social Welfare Department and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) at a high level officers meeting here today at Banquet Hall Srinagar. She also discussed in detail about Aasra, a new and comprehensive social security scheme launched by the State Government.The Minister said the service to humanity is best form of worship and coalition Government led by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is endeavoring to help the destitute and other underprivileged sections of the society.She said numerous schemes are being implemented across the State for the welfare and development of people. She said the Government has launched a comprehensive social security scheme for those destitute families whose income is less than Rs 75,000 per annum. She urged people to avail maximum benefit of the scheme.
The Minister said to curb the crimes and violence against women, the Government is setting up One-Stop Crisis Centre at Srinagar to provide all kinds of aid to women in distress including medical help, counseling, legal and police assistance, while protecting the privacy of the victim. She also said that the Government is also on the job to provide a special and dedicated helping 181 to the women in distress. The call can be made from any part of the state and the assistance will reach the victim in the shortest possible time.She also said Social Welfare Department is serving needy people and urged upon the officers of the Department and ICDS to strictly adhere to the guidelines while implementing state and centrally sponsored social welfare schemes including ICDS. She enjoined upon them to work honestly with more zeal, dedication and in missionary mode and maintain transparency so that only deserving and needy applicants are covered under these schemes.
She also directed the concerned officers to pay surprise visits the Anganwari Centres and check quantity and quality of the nutrition being provided to the children in these Centres.Asiea also suggested for holding awareness camps and display the details of schemes on the road sides regarding the Social Welfare Schemes in these areas so that the maximum deserving population is benefited.Earlier the Director Social Welfare, Kashmir Hashmat Ali Yatoo and Joint Director ICDS Pran Singh gave brief about various social welfare and ICDS schemes being implemented in the State.