A meeting of the Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) of Jammu and Kashmir, Legislative Assembly was held here today under the Chairmanship of MLA, Mohammad Akbar Lone to examined the CAGs audit paras pertaining to Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs Department.Legislators, Mohammad Yusuf Bhat and Ravinder Raina attended the meeting and gave their suggestions regarding the observations raised by the CAGs and to the issues of department.Threadbare discussions were held on CAGs audit paras pertaining to the Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs Departments regarding award of work without ensuring encumbrances free land implementation of schemes of post-matric scholarship to ST students, integrated audit of Social Welfare Department, Tribal Affairs Department, and payment of post-matric scholarship.The committee asked the concerned authorities to take up the matter with Finance Department to clear all pending old age pension cases besides regularisation of promotion of Anganwadi Workers.The committee also discussed the issues of criteria of engagement of Anganwadi Workers and helpers, besides opening of Anganwadi Centre in the Department.
The committee also asked the concerned authorities to remain careful to clear all bottlenecks before start up any construction work on any project so that the works would be completed as per the stipulated time frame.While discussing the award of work without ensuring encumbrances free land regarding constructing of ST boys hostel at Basantgarh Udhampur, the committee asked the concerned to submit a detailed status report on the project before the committee within two days.Commissioner Secretary Tribal Affairs, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi and Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare, Sajad Ahmed Khan briefed the Committee about the CAG observations pertaining to the concerned departments, besides overall functioning of the departments.The Committee was also briefed about the steps taken by the departments to improve the work culture and achievements made by the department.Director Social Welfare, Jammu and Director Social Welfare, Kashmir, Director Finance, Social Welfare Department, Director Finance Tribal Affairs Department, Executive Director, State Rehabilitation Council, MD, JKWDC,MD, SC,ST&OBC Development Corporation, DPOs, Pos, Special Secretary, Legislative Assembly, R.L. Sharma, Dy. Secretary, Legislative Assembly Farooq Ahmed Khan, besides senior officers of concerned department and Assembly Secretariat were present in the meeting.