Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: The Government today ordered constitution of a Departmental Committee to suggest measures for mobilization of resources for enhancement of monthly financial assistance to old aged, widows and disabled persons under Social Welfare Scheme.
This assurance was given in the State Assembly today by Minister of Higher Education, Mohamed Akbar Lone while replying to a private member’s resolution moved by CPI Legislator, M Y Tarigami in the House.
The Minister said when House is unanimous on the issue, the Government will constitute a Committee of Social Welfare Department to find out the ways and means that how the resources can be mobilized for enhancing the monthly financial assistance to old aged people, widows and disabled.
He also assured the House that the Committee report will be presented in the House within six months during the next session at Srinagar. On the Minister’s assurance Tarigami withdrew his resolution.
Lone said that when the opposition and coalition members are unanimous on the issue the Government also has no hesitation in enhancement of assistance to these people but due to lack of resources the Government is unable to do so. He said it was the dream of the leaders who took part in freedom struggle to keep some provisions for the welfare of these people and Government is also committed to that.
He said the members should have thought it at that time when their perks were hiked. When some members pointed out that they have raised the issue at that time, the Minister said the Government has no hesitation in case the members are ready for 50 percent reduction in their perks which will be diverted for mobilization of resources for hiking the financial assistance to the under privileged people.
Choudhary Zulfkar of PDP who moved an amendment to the resolution earlier and strongly advocated that it should be adopted, said the members are ready for that too. The Minister, while referring to suggestion of M S Niaz of Congress that Government should consider reduction in other sectors also to mobilize resources for welfare of underprivileged people, said that when House is unanimous over the issue Government will consider this also.
On the demand of Aijaz Jan of NC that handicapped and old aged persons were facing problems in receiving the financial assistance from banks as there is no separate counter for the same, Akbar Lone appealed the Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather who was also present in the House to issue instructions to banks to open separate counters for such people.
He also assured Shamima Firdose that the Government will consider deletion of qualification bar for providing financial assistance to girls from BPL families for their marriage.
Earlier supporting the resolution Tarigami said that the underprivileged people of the society are deprived of basic facilities in this progressive time while Constitution of India as well as Constitution of J&K have given thrust for the welfare of these people. But this word “welfare’’ is being used as a token and all these sections of society are being deprived of the facilities.
He said the House advocated for hike in perks of Legislators which he is not opposed to but what about these people whose population is huge and a meager amount in plan has been kept for their social security. He demanded that these people be given adequate social security.
He accused the Government of doing injustice with these people by not enhancing social security for them and the quota earmarked for handicapped is not being implemented in letter and spirit.
He said when the House adopted the resolutions on autonomy and Pahari people what problem it will have in adopting this resolution.
Ch Zulfikar, Syed Bashir Ahmed and Abdul Haq Khan who moved amendments to the resolution also strongly demanded that the House should adopt the same.
They were supported by Jugal Kishore Sharma of BJP, Ashok Kumar of Congress, Aijaz Dar, Shamima Firdos and Aijaz Jan of NC, Harshdev Singh of NPP, Engineer Rashid, independent, Syed Basher of PDP, Prof Garu Ram of BJP, M S Niaz and G M Saroori of Congress and Ashwani Sharma of JSM.
Saroori said if Singpora to Vailoo tunnel was not constructed but this resolution should be considered. He also passed some remarks which were expunged by Speaker.
Harshdev Singh and Ashwani Sharma who strongly supported the resolution said that the financial assistance be enhanced in between Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 for the under privileged people.
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