Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: The State High Court today summoned all Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir division and Commissioner/Secretary Social Welfare Department and all district Social Welfare Officers before the court on Monday for their failure to provide benefits and assistance to poor, destitute and unmarried girls under the schemes of Social Welfare Department.
Court while going through the status report of the Social Welfare Department said the report revealed that the purpose sought to be achieved by launching two schemes namely State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SAMS) and HUNNAR Scheme, instead of being accomplished, is rather defeated.
“It appears that most of the Deputy Commissioners and District Social Welfare Officers are not alive to the sensitivities of these two schemes”, Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said and directed all the Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir Division and Commissioner/Secretary SWD including all District Social welfare Officers to remain present on Monday before the court.
Court has been informed by the amicus to the PIL, Senior Advocate Bashir Ahmad Bashir, that thousands of girls have been identified who attained the age of marriage but as per the status report of Government, a small number of girls have been provided with the assistance.
Court has also been informed by the amicus that about 22,700 such girls have been identified in district Kulgam alone who have attained the age of marriage but few of them have been provided with the assistance leaving thousands of girls apart.
Court had been earlier informed by three District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) that there are 7000 poor girls in district Srinagar, 7500 poor girls in district Ganderbal and 53 poor and destitute girls in district Budgam.
Court with this shocking number of destitute and poor girls and in view of social importance of the matter directed listing of the case on Monday 13 with the permission of Chief Justice as the day falls in vacation period. “In view of the social importance attached to this PIL, we would like to hear it in the ensuing vacations on Monday 13 to ensure that the benefit, likely to accrue from the two schemes reaches to all the identified girls at the earliest”, said the Division Bench of Justice Attar and Justice Magrey.
Court while summoning all DCs and Commissioner/Secretary said these officers are being summoned to sensitize them about the social importance of these two schemes and their immediate implementation at ground level. “The compliance reports filed so far, would show that the officers concerned are either unaware of the sensitivity of the schemes or are lacking the requisite will to implement the same”, the DB said.
Court in light of SWD report said that as compared to Kashmir division, these poor and destitute girls are being assisted in Jammu Division by the SWD in good numbers.
Court has already made it clear that while providing financial assistance to these poor girls, the officers shall not insist from them for production of ‘invitation card’ instead they (officials) can ask from these girls for an affidavit duly sworn before any Judicial Magistrate.
It is after the indulgence and efforts of court the SWD has identified the poor girls throughout the State and which according to the department are in lakhs, these girls are supposed to be provided with an amount of Rs. 25000 each and 5 gms of gold for living a dignified life by the department of SWD.
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