A review meeting of Women and Child Development schemes sponsored by Central and State Government was organized by the Department of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Specially-abled. This meeting was organized under the chairmanship of the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal.The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister congratulated Women and Child Development Department for securing first position in successful implementation of Prime Minister Matri Vandana Yojna in the year 2018-19. He said that nutrition campaign has been started recently in five districts i.e. Solan, Shimla, Hamirpur, Una and Chamba. He urged the officers to implement this campaign as a mission. He expressed his satisfaction over the activities being undertaken by the department under the Nutrition Campaign. He directed the officers to organize district and block level meetings to review schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Anganwadi Services and other schemes that are being run by Central and State Government.Dr. Saizal while presiding over a review meeting of Department of Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Classes, Minority and Specially-abled, congratulated the department for securing second position under the National Social Assistance Program for the year 2017-2018. He said that many programs and schemes have been started by the department for social economic upliftment and empowerment of the Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Minority and Specially-abled persons and of the Department.
He said that in the very first meeting of the Cabinet, old age pension age have been reduced from 80 years to 70 years without any income limit by the State Government. He said that this decision has benefited one lakh eligible beneficiaries of this age group. He said that with this decision, old persons instead of getting Rs. 700 are now getting increased Social security pension of Rs. 1250 per month and this is also benefitting all those who were not able to get any pension due to income limit. He said that new cases of 32808 pensions have been approved by the department till April 1, 2018, out of which more than 10 thousand pensioners are above 70 years of age. He said that presently, 4,46,805 persons in the State are being provided Social Security Pension under different categories.Dr. Saizal said that the government have increased the pension amount to Rs. 750 rupees per month from April 1, 2018, whereas pension for people who are above 70 years of age has been increased to Rs.1300 rupees per month. He said that State government is encouraging scholarship schemes for handicapped students of all government, recognized schools/colleges and universities and financial assistance is being provided to them. He said that the amount of scholarship and hostel scholarship have been increased from April 1, 2018. He said that State government was providing day scholarship varying from Rs. 625 per month to Rs. 3750 per month and Hostel scholarship varying from Rs. 1875 rupees per month to Rs. 5000 per month. He said that under 100 days target, 25 disabled were trained by giving free Hospitality training at IHM Kufri. Similarly, 100 candidates are being provided vocational training in different institutes under the SUJOP Scheme. He said that under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, 22 departmental buildings of the State government have been selected and would be made convenient for specially-abled persons. Principal Secretary Social Justice and Empowerment Manoj Kumar, Director Women Welfare and Child Development Department Hans Raj Sharma, Director Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Minority and Specially-abled Department, Hans Raj Chauhan, Special Secretary Social Justice and Empowerment Raghuvir and other senior officials of the department were also present in the meeting.