Srinagar: In order to review the implementation of welfare measures for under privileged, vulnerable, down trodden and weaker sections of society and process of extension of benefits of various Government schemes by the Social Welfare Department, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Srinagar, Mohammad AijazAsad Saturday chaired an Officers meeting here at Meeting Hall of the DC Office Complex.
Additional District Development Commissioner Srinagar, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Chief planning Officer, Mohammad Yaseen Lone, District Social Welfare Officer, Mukhtar Ahmad, besides other senior Officers and Officials of Social Welfare Department were present in the meeting.
At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner took a comprehensive review of beneficiary oriented schemes. On the occasion, the District Social Welfare Officer gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation and apprised the Deputy Commissioner about the functioning of the Department and implementation of schemes including providing of Scholarships, National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS), Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS), Saksham/SASCM, Prosthetic Aid, progress of survey for identification of eligible beneficiaries under ISSS/NSAP/NFBS/RMV, Bal Ashram &NariNiketan, besides disbursement of pension through different Social Welfare schemes also came into discussion.
On the occasion, the DC was apprised that the amount to the tune of over Rs 70 crore disbursed among 61300 beneficiaries (pension cases) in Srinagar District under Integrated Social Assistance Scheme(ISSS) and National Social Assistance Programme(NASP).
Giving details the DC was informed that under Integrated Social Security Scheme(ISSS), a total of 55296 beneficiaries are covered in the District and monthly pension of Rs 1000 is given to beneficiaries of three categories viz OAP for old age BPL persons, having age of 60 years for men and 55 years for women, PCP for disabled persons having disability 40% or more, WID for widows, divorcees and destitute having meagre source of income.it was given out that payments have been made up to December 2022 and case pendency is Nil and all new beneficiaries can apply online on “Jansugam Portal” with no waiting period.
Similarly, as many as 6091 beneficiaries are registered under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) who are given monthly pension of Rs 1000 under three Components viz, IGNOAPS for old age BPL Persons for 60 years or more age, IGNDPS for disabled persons having 80% or more disability and IGNWPS for poor widows having age 40 years or more.
With regard to implementation of State Marriage Assistance Scheme under which, every household girl of marriageable age belonging to PHH/AAY category is eligible to receive marriage assistance of RS 50000/= after fulfilling eligibility conditions, the DC was informed that a total of 1023 applications were received by the Department and after proper scrutiny and verification of cases an amount to the tune of Rs 3.90 crore has been disbursed in favour 780 unmarried household eligible girls while 233 cases/applications were rejected as found fake cases.
While reviewing the status and implementation of different Scholarship schemes, the DC was informed that under Post Matric Scholarship to Minority Students 7815 cases have been verified in addition to 1253 cases under Merit Cum Means Scholarship to Minority Students.
Likewise, under Pre Matric Scholarship (9th & 10 Class) 5061 cases stands verified and under Begum HazratMahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girl Students (9th to 12th) 96 cases have been verified.
The DC was also apprised about distribution of Prosthetic Aids and was informed that as many as 70 Motorized Tricycles were distributed in Srinagar District, besides 48 Hearing aid machines and 17 wheelchairs were also provided to needy and eligible beneficiaries.
With regard to SACSM (SAKSHAM) scheme the DC was informed that 65 cases have been sanctioned under Pension scheme and 50 cases under scholarships.
During the meeting, the DC also took stock of the functioning of Bal Ashram and NariNiketan at Shalimar.
The DC was informed that 22 boy students are presently registered at the Bal Ashram while 11 girl students in NariNiketan being provided free Boarding, Lodging, Education, Nutrition and Health care facilities to Orphans enrolled in Primary, Middle and Higher classes. The DC was also given brief about the recent measures taken for strengthening both the centres including infrastructure upgradation, face lifting and creating facilities for the students at a cost of Rs 37 lakh.
The Deputy Commissioner also assessed the Data of Juvenile Justice Board(JJB) and was informed that as many as 795 cases were instituted before JJB, Srinagar out of which 432 cases were disposed off. It was also given out that 60 beneficiaries are receiving benefits under SACSM (Covid Orphaned children) and PM Care scheme.
The DC also took stock of the District Hub for Empowerment of Women(DHEW) and One Stop Centre(OSC), Women Helpline, in District Srinagar intended to support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace.
On the occasion, the DC stressed on providing round the clock help/assistance to the women in distress and receiving periodical feedback from the affected/distressed women. The DC instructed for maintaining a proper database of each case with the interventions and impact of interventions.
Regarding Rehabilitation of Militant Victims (RMV) under which monthly pension of Rs 1000 is given to Old persons, widows, physically challenged persons of BPL families, if primary bread earner is killed in militancy related violence, the DC was informed that as on date 306 beneficiaries are being provided benefits.Under National Foundation for Communal Harmony(NFCH), 65 destitute/orphan child(students), whose parents or main bread earner is killed or permanently incapacitated in communal, caste, ethnic and violence are registered with the Department and are entitled for Assistance in shape of scholarships vizRs 1250 up to class 12th, Rs 1500 for Graduation and Rs 1750 PG Professional courses.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC called upon the Officers and other functionaries of the Social Welfare Department to work in a holistic and pro-active approach with utmost coordination among all wings of the Department to ensure efficient and effective implementation of all Social Security and Beneficiary-Oriented schemes in the District. He also asked the Officers for laying a special focus on cent per cent coverage under all Social Welfare schemes.
The DC said this is a collective responsibility of all of us to make sure that no eligible beneficiary is left behind. He stressed upon the Officers to take comprehensive measures to reach out to all eligible beneficiaries, besides making the welfare schemes easily accessible to the people so that all eligible beneficiaries of the District can reap the benefits of Government’s welfare schemes.
