Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 13: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today expressed its displeasure over the act of Social Welfare Department for not extending the benefits of its two schemes for the assistance to downtrodden and poor girls in Kashmir and directed these authorities to inform these girls about the benefits of these schemes.
Court has been informed by three District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) who were present before the Court that as per the previous court directions there are 7000 poor girls in District Srinagar, 7500 poor girls in District Ganderbal and 53 poor and destitute girls in District Budgam.
After this information court asked these officers whether have they informed these identified poor girls about the schemes – ‘State Marriage Assistance Scheme’ and ‘HUNAR’ – and how many have been provided benefits of these Schemes. These officers could not give any satisfactory reply to the Court query and the counsel representing State Government advocate N A Beigh( Sr. AAG) assured the Court that these schemes will be implemented in letter and spirit.
As the court had directed personal appearance of all DSWOs but only three DSWOs representing district Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam were present in the court and State Counsel submitted before the court that due to disturbance in traffic movement, other officers may not be in a position to reach the court in time. Court asked these officers to inform ‘yourself’ to these poor girls otherwise how these girls come to know about these schemes.
Court asked the counsel representing the State to convene a meeting of all these officers (DSWOs) in his chamber and ensure implementation of aforesaid schemes at the ground level at the earliest. Senior AAG submitted before the court that Advocate General will be appearing himself in this case on next date of hearing.
Court directed to all the DSWOs to file their fresh compliance reports about the implementation of the two schemes. “In the compliance report it must be specifically mentioned how many identified girls have been provided assistance in terms of aforesaid Schemes”, directed the Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice J R Kotwal.
Court also made it clear that while providing financial assistance to these poor girls, the officers shall not insist from them for production of invitation card instead they (officials) can ask from these girls for an affidavit duly attested by any Judicial Magistrate.
Court earlier going through the compliance report of some of the District Social Welfare Officers (DSWO) had observed that these DSWOs have not understood the true spirit and purport of State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS) and HUNNAR scheme’ as such had directed all (DSWOs) to appear before the court.
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