Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo on Thursday distributed motorized tricycles among physically disabled persons at a specially held camp, organized by State Rehabilitation Council in conjunction with Social Welfare Department here this afternoon.
The motorized tricycles worth Rs.7.50 lakh were provided to the beneficiaries belonging to all the districts of the Jammu region. Similar camps have already been sponsored by the Rehabilitation Council at Rajouri Poonch, Srinagar and Jammu benefiting a large chunk of disabled persons.
Lauding the efforts of Rehabilitation Council, Ms Sakina noted with satisfaction that earnest measures are being taken for providing assistance to militancy victims for which Rs. 8.22 crore have been spent. This covers pensions, scholarships and assistance for solemnizing marriages of the targeted segment of the population.
The Minister said that the functioning of the the Rehabilitation Council has been further galvanized under the stewardship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as a result of which the identified section of people have benefited immensely. Besides, various other sections of the society have also been brought under social sector schemes in order to enhance the quality of their life.
As regards the schemes undertaken by the Rehabilitation Council, Ms Itoo made a special reference of ‘Watan Ko Jano’, a tour programme for the youth to provide them exposure on a wider canvas. Such visits, she said, provide opportunity to the designated segment of society to interact with people of other parts of the country and to have a feel of development taking place in various sectors. She said these visits also promote cultural interaction between the youngsters.
Reaffirming her determination to further intensify such initiatives for differently abled persons, the Minister emphasized the need of a strong coordination among SWD, Rehablitation Council and Composite Rehabilitation Centre. She exhorted upon the officers to generate adequate awareness about the programmes for achieving the objective of covering larger segment of the society.
The Minister asked Director SWD, M.H.Bhatti, and Director Rehablitation Council, Hafiza Muzaffar to ensure that only deserving persons, who cannot afford such services, are covered under such programmes in a transparent manner.
Later, the Minister interacted with the beneficiaries and asked them to make proper use of the facility for their better living.
Among others present were Director Tribal Affairs, Ali Raza, HoDs of various wings of the department, Boards Secretaries besides beneficiaries.
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