Minister for Social Welfare Mr. Bali Bhagat has called upon the functionaries of the ICDS and Social Welfare Department to adopt pro-active approach in speedy implementation of various welfare schemes across the State so that the benefits of these programmes percolate down to the needy sections of the society.Chairing a meeting of officers of ICDS and Social Welfare Department which was convened here to get the first hand appraisal of the welfare schemes, particularly the newly launched schemes i.e. Laadli Beti and Aasra, the Minister directed for giving wide publicity to these schemes through different mediums so that maximum number of beneficiaries can avail their benefits.Minister of State for Social Welfare Ms. Asiea Naqash was also present in the meeting.
Mr. Bhagat also directed the District Programme Officers (DPOs) to speed-up the process for identifying the uncovered hamlets in consultation with the concerned MLAs for establishing new Anganwari Centres sanctioned by the Government of India strictly after adopting the norms set by the Government and submitting the report by November 20 to give further fillip to this flagship programme.Reviewing the status of implementation of welfare schemes, the Minsiter called for organizing special awareness camps in the rural areas to educate the masses about the benefits of the schemes, particularly the Laadli Beti and Aasra so that maximum beneficiaries come forward to avail the benefits. He said that the application forms for these schemes can be filled online as it has been uploaded on the departmental website. He also directed for identifying the poor and financially weaker citizens living within the limits of Municipal Corporations and Municipal Committees to cover them under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojan and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna recently launched by the Centre.
Receiving appraisal of procurement and distribution of nutrition in the Anganwari Centres, the Minister directed for displaying the details of nutrition and enrolments of children prominently outside the Centres for the information of the people and ensuring the transparency in the distribution of nutrition. He directed District Programme Officers of ICDS to conduct frequent visits of Anganwari Centres under their jurisdiction to ensure quality of nutrition and proper attendance of children. He also directed for stern action against the erring officials.
Ms. Asiea said, in order to give wide publicity and reach out to targeted populace, the aspects of welfare schemes should be published and telecast in the print and electronic media, besides fixing of hoardings at important places for the information of common man. She said that the people have given mandate for change and they have high hopes from the present Government, saying that the officers have to work hard to fulfill their expectations. She asked the officers to work with dedication and missionary zeal to provide best service to the people, adding that performance would be reflected in their Annual Performance Reports.
The issues relating to Juvenile Home, Sick Home, Beggar Home, Juvenile Justice Act and Integrated Protection of Children were also discussed threadbare in the meeting.Secretary Social Welfare Mr. Sanjeev Verma gave an overview of the activities and steps taken for further fine-tuning the working of the Department. He said the Department has also made operational an exclusive website portal for on-line benefits of various welfare schemes. The beneficiaries can access the status of their applications by visiting to the website link national scholarships portal www.scholarships.gov.in.Among others, Mission Director ICDS Mr. Hashmat Ali Yautoo, Joint Director ICDS, Mr. Pran Singh, Joint Director Planning, Social Welfare Deptt and DPOs of all districts of the Valley attended the meeting.