Poonch : To review the implementation of welfare Schemes for underprivileged, vulnerable, down trodden and weaker sections of society and process of extension of benefits of different Government schemes by the Social Welfare Department, the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Yasin M. Chowdhary chaired a meeting here in the Meeting Hall of the DC Office Complex.
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, Nari Niketan, OSC, Mission Vatsalya and other schemes, besides disbursement of pension through different Social Welfare schemes also came into discussion.
The DC was informed that under Integrated Social Security Scheme(ISSS), a total of 9547 beneficiaries are covered in the District and monthly pension of Rs 1000 is given to beneficiaries of three categories viz OLD AGE PENSION for having age of 60 years for men and 55 years for women, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSON for disabled persons having disability 40% or more, WOMEN IN DISTRESS for widows, divorcees and destitute having meagre source of income.
Similarly, as many as 6929 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 ( SMAS) 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 1297 applications were received by the Department and after proper scrutiny and verification of cases the same amount shall be disbursed to the genuine beneficiaries.
While reviewing the status and implementation of different Scholarship schemes, the DC was informed that under Post Matric Scholarship to Minority Students 711 cases have been verified in FY 2022-23 in addition to Post Matric Scholarship ST Students 2495 cases have been verified in the same financial year.
Likewise, under Pre Matric Scholarship Minorities 1702, Pre Matric Scholarship Merit cum means 63 and Pre Matric SC 33 cases have been verified in Financial year 2022-23.
Under National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), PHH/AAY households are entitled to one time Rs. 20000 amount of money on the death of primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 64 years, 326 applications have been received.
Under Mission Vatsalya, 14 Nos. of COVID Orphan Chidren have been benefited under SASCM and 210 have been rescued from Child Labour.
The DC also took stock of the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW) and One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline, in District Poonch intended to support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace.
It was informed that Total 52 cases have been registered under OSC in the district.
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.
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.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Dev. Commissioner Poonch, Malikzada Sheraz Ul Haq, DSWO Mohinder Paul, Distt. Chairperson Distt. Child Protection Poonch, Rajesh Khajuria, Mohd Azam TSWO Mandi, Shakeel Manhas TSWO Mendhar, TSWO Haveli, District Hub for Empowerment of Female, District Coordinator and Gender Specialist and other officers/Officials of the Social Welfare Department.
