Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Minister of State for Social Welfare & Health, Asiya Naqash reviewed the functioning of Social Welfare & Health Departments at a meeting of officers held in her office chamber, here today.
State Mission Director ICDS, Dr. G.N. Ittoo, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director Social Welfare, Kashmir, Gazanfer Ali, Director Social Welfare, Jammu, M. S. Choudhary, Director Health Services, Jammu and other concerned officers of the departments were present in the meeting.
While reviewing the progress of implementation of various Centrally sponsored schemes, the Minister called upon the officers to put in strenuous efforts to achieve tangible results so that the benefits of these social welfare schemes percolate down to the needy. She said the department has been tasked with the responsibility for the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society, hence it is the duty of every functionary of the department to work with a missionary zeal to provide succor to the deprived sections. She said Central as well as State Governments are spending huge funds on the welfare schemes meant to change the socio-economic profile of the weaker sections, adding that every care must be taken that the benefits go to the deserving beneficiaries.
Stressing the need for streamlining the functioning of the department, the Minister called for adopting innovative measures to ensure transparency and accountability at various levels. She directed for taking steps to clear the pendency of cases related the social security. She asked for working out the details of funds for clearing the liabilities. She also stressed the need for speedy disbursement of scholarship amount to the beneficiaries, adding that the system should be simplified to avoid delay in providing benefits to the poor.
Referring to the pilferage of nutritional items at the ICDS Centres, she said a well-knit supervisory mechanism needs to be evolved so that the proper distribution of nutrition is ensured to the beneficiaries. She also called for proper storage of the nutrition at the ICDS Centres and computerization of records of the distribution of nutritional items.
The meeting was apprised that an amount of Rs. 170 crore is spent annually on the nutrition of the children and women in the State. For clearing the pendency of cases under pension and other social security schemes, an amount of Rs. 85 crore (one time) was required.
While reviewing the status of health infrastructure in the State, issues related to upgradation of SKIMS Medical College and Hospital, Bemina and other city hospitals also came up for discussion.
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