Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: Initiating welfare measures for the poor, handicapped and downtrodden people, Minister for Social Welfare, Bali Bhagat distributed cheques amounting to over Rs. 40 lakh among the beneficiaries of different categories under social security schemes at a function organized by the Social Welfare Department at Nagbani here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that it is endeavour of the present Coalition Government to uplift and transform the socio-economic profile of poor, backward, destitute and downtrodden people and to provide them equal opportunities to progress in the society. In this direction, the Government has initiated various welfare schemes. The distribution of financial assistance is part of implementation of these schemes. He called upon the people to maintain close liaison with the Department of Social Welfare to avail the benefits of these schemes.
Listing the measures initiated by the present Government to provide hassle-free assistance to the poor beneficiaries at their doorsteps, the Minister said that immediately after taking over the reign of the Department of Social Welfare, he issued specific instructions to the officers to simplify and streamline the process of formalities so that the poor beneficiaries can avail the benefits of various welfare schemes without any difficulty.
Under the reformative measures, the officers of the Department have been asked to organize camps in the rural areas and collect forms of the beneficiaries and facilitate in completing the formalities at the doorstep of the beneficiaries. The formalities like issuance of death certificates, age certificates, and income certificates have also been simplified and the officers of the Social Welfare Department will complete these formalities in the special camps in local areas.
Regarding the status of pendency of pension cases under different categories, the Minister said that the present Government has taken up the matter with the Centre and it will be cleared soon.
The new Government has also revised the rates of pension, and all new pensions will be paid as per revised rates, said the Minister.
District Social Welfare Officer, Kulraj Singh gave resume of the activities of the Department and educated the masses about the schemes being implemented by it.
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