Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: Minister for Social Welfare, ARI & Trainings and Science and Technology Sajad Gani Lone today said that as part of the efforts to establish a comprehensive and responsive social welfare program in the State, various proposals have been formulated for amelioration of underprivileged and downtrodden, backward and vulnerable sections of the society.
The Minister was replying on Demand for Grants of the departments under his charge in the Legislative Assembly, today.
“Several proposals have been formulated to ensure social inclusion, empowerment of marginalized sections by way of stimulating the potential of these people,” he said adding that adequate measures are in place besides being constantly upgraded to ensure that benefits of welfare schemes reach genuine beneficiaries.
Sajad said that education is paramount for development of any society and therefore several schemes are under implementation in the State to promote education among the students of weaker sections like SCs, OBCs & Physically Challenged Persons, DNTs and EBCs.
The Minister informed that Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is being systematically implemented in the State through its 28926 Anganwari Centres currently functional in the State. He informed about 10 lakh beneficiaries, comprising children from 6 months to 6 years of age, pregnant & lactating mothers and adolescent girls are being provided supplementary nutrition. Further, these Anganwaris are being repositioned as health and nutrition centres, semi-formal hospitals and centres of early childhood learning, he added.
He informed that State Rehabilitation Council for Militancy Victims is providing assistance to the affected victims under its various schemes, besides, this it has also undertaken various projects including Providing of Motorized Tricycles to the Handicapped People and ‘Watan Ko Jano’ Youth Exchange Programme.
“Under these schemes of State Rehabilitation Council, 7243 beneficiaries were covered and an amount of Rs 4.80 crore was utilized during 2017-18 up to ending December 2017”, he added.
Elaborating on activities of the Women’s Development Corporation, the Minister said that WDC is working consistently for upliftment of Socio-economic condition of women with a special focus on BPL families and for qualified women entrepreneurs by way of forming self help groups, finance for income generating activities and providing skill upgradation training, awareness camps.
About Science and Technology Department, Sajad said that Government’s endeavor is to harness the potential of science and technology as an instrument of socio-economic change and to shift dependence for our energy needs to renewable energy sources.
The department aims to, through its endeavors increase reach, use of renewable means by making it accessible, efficient so as to integrate its use in every household. For this, the department is working on multiple fronts viz, providing subsidized products consuming renewable energy including solar cooker, stoves, lamps, geysers and promotion of these gadgets by way of creating awareness among people.
He informed the House that earlier the JAKEDA was mandated to execute hydel projects upto 2 MW only but with the Government intervention, it is now enhanced from 2 MW to 10 MW for implementation in EPC & IPP mode.
With a view to provide more technical hands to JAKEDA and to make it a purely skilled manpower driven organization, organizational restructuring has been done in the year 2017, he said adding that the new structure which is relevant and robust shall be in place shortly.
He further informed the House that department is in the process of creating Renewable Energy Corporation which would catalyze the development of renewable energy resources besides providing easy access to capital which is the fundamental requirement for Project development.
Elaborating on the development of Solar Sector in the State, the Minister informed that JAKEDA has been allocated a collective target of 1150 MW of Solar Power by the MNRE, to be achieved by the end of year 2022.
He said that for Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Power, JAKEDA is offering a subsidy of 70% and 60% to set-up grid connected power plants for domestic/institutions and Government building respectively. About 5 MW aggregate capacity is expected to be achieved during the current financial year.
He informed that the Department proposes to install about 50MWs Solar Rooftop on Government building during the next financial year for which the Finance Department has agreed to provide Beneficiary Share through a solar fund dedicated for the purpose.
He informed that in order to develop mega size solar power plants in the state, JAKEDA is in the process of identifying parcels of land, adding that meanwhile the agency is inviting tariff based bidding for development of the mega plant on land either identified by the department or by the developer as per the land laws existing in the State.
While informing the House about the achievements in Science Technology & Innovation Council (ST&IC), the Minister said that Rs 84.62 crore has been approved by the Ministry of S&T, GoI for establishment of 2 Industrial Biotechnology Parks to be established one each in Kashmir and Jammu.
“These 2 Biotechnology Projects will be fully established and made operational in two years’ time period”, he informed.
For establishment of Sub-Regional Science Centre, he informed that expert team from GoI has recommended site at Lalmandi in Srinagar and under the revised guidelines, a fresh DPR at a cost of Rs 30 crore has been submitted to the Ministry of Culture, GoI for approval. It is also proposed to establish Science Centre at Jammu as well for which land is being identified, he added.
Earlier, while initiating debate Javid Hussain Beigh urged the Government to focus on the rehabilitation of abandoned children and establish a special home at all district headquarters for them. He also demanded inclusion of sweeper community in Scheduled Caste and steps for uplift of Gujjar community.
Mian Altaf urged the Government to disburse old age pension and other monthly honorariums on time to save the beneficiaries from hardships. He urged the Government to enforce transparency and accountability in the system.
Pawan Gupta urged the Government to have a uniform financial security for the girl child born after April 2015 and strict enforcement of Aasra and other central and state-sponsored insurance schemes. He also urged the Government to provide more Scotties to the disabled persons in his constituency under National Social Assistance Programme and integrated Social Security Scheme.
Deenanath Bhagat called upon the government to include more deserving people in welfare schemes and open more Anganwari centres in his constituency. G M Saroori stressed on providing quality nutrition to the children of the Anganwari Centres, enhancement of the honorarium of Anganwari Workers and Anganwari Helpers, opening of Orphanage Home at Chatroo and fair process for selection of new Anganwari Workers and Anganwari Helpers.
Abdul Rahim Rather demanded establishment of Tehsil Social Welfare Office in his constituency and enhancement of honorarium of Anganwari Workers and Anganwari Helpers. Mohammad Akbar Lone demanded adequate funding under Social Welfare sector, early clearance of pending cases under different schemes including NSAP, ISSS and NFBS in Sonawari constituency.
Rajesh Gupta urged the Government to provide timely pension to the deserved persons and clearance of pending cases in a time bound manner. He suggested for reducing the qualifying service of Anganwari Workers to improve their promotion prospects.
Aijaz Ahmad Khan suggested for framing an effective policy for tapping solar energy, distribution of solar lights in un-electrified areas especially to nomadic people in Gool Gulabgarh.
Bashir Ahmad Dar said the Department of Social Welfare deals with the poor strata of people who need help from the Government. Chowdhary Qamar Hussain urged the Government to provide the alternate source of energy to the un-electrified areas of his constituency including solar lights.
Ali Mohammad Sagar urged the Government to clear the pending old age pension cases, other honorariums pending in the department and inclusion of people from all sections of society in the old age pension scheme.
Krishen Lal also demanded solar lights for un-electrified areas and establishment of more Anganwari centres in his constituency. He also urged the Government to fill all vacant posts in the Social Welfare Department.
Vikar Rasool urged the Government to establish more Anganwari centres in far-flung areas of Banihal constituency, clearance of pending cases, related old age, handicapped, widow pension, NFBS, SFBS and other categories.
Shah Mohammad Tantray urged the Government to include more far-flung areas of his constituency under RBA category. He also sought establishment of ‘Bal Ashram’ in Mandi area, compensation to the victims of landmines and enhancement in the honorarium of the Anganwari workers
Abdul Majid Larmi sought establishment of new and improvement of existing Anganwari centres, enhancement of honorarium of Anganwari workers and their regularization. He also sought the creation of new ICDS blocks at Yaripora and Frisal Tehsils of Homshalibugh constituency.
Davinder Kumar Maniyal demanded establishment of new Anganwari centres and completion of under-construction infrastructure in his constituency. He also urged the Government to fill the vacant posts in the Social Welfare Department in his constituency and establish a Solar Park there.
Mohammad Ashraf Mir urged the Government to reach out to poor people of old city area of Srinagar who deserve to be covered under welfare schemes, establishment of more Anganwari centres, Bal Ashrams and clearance of pension case pendency and proper utilization of funds.
Mohammad Amin sought subsidized mini solar plants and solar water heaters for the people of far-flung areas of his constituency to minimize the burden on traditional heating of electricity. Syed Farooq Andrabi urged the Government to fill vacant posts in the SW department in his constituency to increase efficiency in the department and clearance of pending pension cases under various schemes.
Mubarak Gul asked the Government to establish schools for the visually impaired students in Srinagar and enhance the old age, widow and other pensions.
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