Minister for Social Welfare, Bali Bhagat has called upon functionaries of the department to adopt a pro-active and transparent approach in implementing all welfare schemes.While taking a joint review of functioning of the department at a meeting of officers held at Van Bhawan here today, Mr. Bali and Minister of State for Social Welfare, Ms. Asiea Naqash maintained that Social Welfare Department has been mandated to address issues relating to poorest of poor in the society and it is desirable that every functionary must give his/her hundred percent to provide succour to the needy. They said people, especially the poor and destitute have high expectations from the department and best efforts must be put in to address their problems.Laying stress on highlighting schemes through different mediums like newspapers, electronic media, hoardings, social media and special awareness camps in far-flung areas, the Ministers said that publicity is a vital part to create awareness among masses about such social schemes and their benefits, so that maximum beneficiaries are covered under the said programmes. They directed for designating two officers, one each at Jammu and Kashmir divisions to exclusively look after publicity work of the department in a dedicated and modern way to create an impact in the society about activities being undertaken by the Government for the poor.
During the meeting extensive discussion was held on issues including status of weeded out cases of pensions under different categories, digitization of pension records and other social schemes, status of under construction OBC/SC hostels at different places, identification of colleges, universities where OBC hostels are to be constructed, liberalizing formalities for completion of application forms by beneficiaries, number of beneficiaries registered under Aasra scheme, status of newly launched schemes viz Hunar, Ladli Beti, State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS), online status of services under NFBS & IGNOAPS, status of procurement of nutritive items by ICDS centres, monitoring of ICDS centres, identification of new Anganwadi Centres in left out areas, construction/upgradation of Anganwadi Centres, position of availability of quality nutritional items and and display menu in each Anganwadi Centre across the State, to ensure transparency.
Directing officers to simplify the procedural formalities for poor beneficiaries to avail benefit under various schemes, the Ministers called for reaching out to individual beneficiary at the doorstep through organization of special camps to facilitate filling of forms and issuance of handicapped certificates, income forms etc. They directed officers to increase field visits to get regular feedback about implementation of schemes and removal of bottlenecks, if any, faced by field functionaries.The field staff also apprised the Ministers about difficulties faced by them on ground, mainly related to shortage of staff, funds for administrative operations and mobility. The Ministers assured to examine their genuine issues on priority.Secretary Social Welfare, Sanjeev Verma gave an overview of the performance and schemes being implemented by the Department. Mission Director, ICDS/Director Social Welfare, Kashmir, Mr. Hashmat Ali Yattoo, all District Social Welfare Officers, District Programme Officers, ICDS from both divisions attended the meeting.