By Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo has underscored need for providing benefits of welfare schemes to the needy persons across the state. She said a purposeful strategy would be evolved for uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the destitutes and asked the concerned authorities to initiate a vigorous campaign for registering all deserving persons for financial assistance through Social Welfare Department.
The minister for Social Welfare was reviewing the progress registered under social welfare sector in Baramulla district at a high level meeting.
Commissioner/Secretary Social Welfare Department, Pramod Jain, Director Social Welfare, Kashmir, District Social Welfare Officer, Baramulla besides other senior officers attended the meeting.
The Minister was appraised that during first quarter of current fiscal, 5467 destitute and 7695 old age persons have been provided Rs 2.45 crore as financial assistance in Baramula district. She was informed that the Department has fixed a target to cover 13162 destitute and old age persons under the financial benefit of ISSS and IGNAP schemes during the current financial year.
The meeting was informed that Rs 3.46 crore have been released by the Government under ISSS and IGNAP as financial aid, out of which Rs 2.45 crore have been distributed among deserving persons.
As many as, 621 families of militancy victims would be brought under the benefit of National Foundation for Communal Harmony Scheme. For the purpose, Rs 12.86 lakh stand released and during last three months 384 such families have been provided Rs 17.81 lakh as scholarship for continuing studies of their wards in the district. The department is imparting training of various crafts to 275 youth through its craft centers and during current financial year a stipend of Rs 21.42 lakh is being provided to the trainees of the district.
The Minister called upon the officers to work with missionary spirit and dedication for the welfare of destitute and other weaker sections of the society. She said any lapses in this regard would not be tolerated and compliant should be viewed seriously. She also directed for early disposal of welfare cases of deserving ones. She exorted upon the officers to publicize the welfare schemes for awareness of general people so that they take full benefit of these schemes.