Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 20: Social Welfare Minister Sakina Ittoo today maintained that social welfare is the prime concern of the Government and several initiatives have been taken for the upliftment of deprived and under-privileged lot in the State.
Replying to the Demands of Grants of Social Welfare Department in the Legislative Assembly today, Ms Ittoo said that Government has sanctioned pension in favour of 70,000 beneficiaries under ISSS programme during the last five years. She said over 20,000 beneficiaries were also covered under Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme during the same period. Under NFBS programme over 10,000 beneficiaries have been covered. In total over 5.60 lakh persons have been extended the pensionary benefits under different programmes. An amount of Rs. 120 crore has been disbursed to the beneficiaries during the current financial year, said the Minister.
Under ICDS which is one of the main components being implemented by the Social Welfare Department, the Minister said that about 28,000 Anganwari Centres are functional in the state and over 10 lakh women and children are directly or indirectly covered under this programme. For this purpose, the funds to the tune of Rs. 81 crore are being spent on nutrition annually. Besides, 444 Crèche Centres are also run by the Social Welfare Board which benefit around 11,000 children of working mothers which involves an expenditure of Rs. 1.36 crore, said the Minister.
To further strengthen the network of Anganwari Centres, the State has approached the Central Government to sanction 10,000 more Centres for the uncovered areas. Out of this, 1000 Centres have been sanctioned so far. She clarified that the new Centres will be opened strictly as per the norms and merit, she added.
The Minister said that the Department has been also implementing various other programmes for the welfare and upliftment of women, destitute and orphan children. Under SABLA & IGMSY, over 3 lakh beneficiaries have been covered since its inception and over Rs. 13 crore have been utilized. Similarly, under Indira Gandhi Matritiva Sahyog Yojna, over 20,000 women have been provided cash incentives since 2011-12 with financial involvement of Rs. 9.32 crore.
For the welfare of Gujjar & Bakarwal and Pahari Speaking and OBC Community, over 1850 students are availing various benefits. The students are provided free diet, uniforms, books and medicines for which an amount of Rs. 2 crore has been spent during the current fiscal, said the Minister.
For the empowerment of women, the Department has launched a number of schemes. From the age group of 15 to 35 years the ladies are imparted trainings in various crafts through welfare centres. In additional, four Ladies Vocational Training Centres have been opened one each at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and Leh for imparting the advance training in various crafts. During the past four years, 5500 women have been provided financial support to the tune of Rs. 51 crore. During the current financial year 850 women have been given financial support of Rs. 12.03 crore, said the Minister.
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