SRINAGAR, MAY 7-(KMW): To further strengthen the network of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), the Government will shortly set up 3361 new Anganwari Centres in the uncovered areas of the State.
This was revealed by the Minister for Social Welfare, Bali Bhagat at a meeting of officers which was convened here to review the functioning of the Department.
Minister of State for Social Welfare, Ms. Asiya Naqash was also present in the meeting.
While reviewing the status of setting up of newly sanctioned Anganwari Centres, the Minister called upon the officers to speed up the process so that the benefits of this flagship programme percolate down to the designated beneficiaries. He stressed the need for following transparent procedure for establishing these Centres strictly as per the norms of the Government of India.
The Minister received detailed resume of the functioning of the Department and stressed the need for evolving complete transparency, accountability in the functioning at all levels to achieve the tangible results. He called for streamlining the process of pensions, clearance of all pending cases under various welfare schemes after proper verification so that the deserving beneficiaries get the benefits. He said the Government has recently taken several reformative measures to facilitate the beneficiaries and these must be followed strictly.
He issued specific instructions to promote the concept of e-governance and Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (DBTS) in the Department to ensure cent percent transparency in the system of disbursement. He called upon the officers to adopt a pro-active approach in implementing the schemes so that the benefits of all welfare schemes reach to the needy. He said the Department has the mandate to help the poorest of the poor and destitute and everyone has to work with missionary spirit to provide succor to these needy sections of the society. He directed the officers to launch an effective awareness campaign to educate the rural population about the benefits of various welfare schemes. He called for organizing camps at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries to facilitate them to fill up forms for availing benefits.
On the functioning of Anganwari Centres, Bhagat directed for strengthening the monitoring mechanism to ensure further improvement in the system. He laid stress on regular inspection of the Anganwari Centres by the senior officers in order to ensure quality of nutrition supply, sanitation and maintaining attendance of children. He also directed for displaying sign boards in the Centres with the details of nutritional items bring provided to the children. He also called for early implementation of decisions taken in previous meetings which were aimed at to streamlining the overall functioning of the Department.
Ms. Asiya maintained that people have high hopes from the present Government and officers should work hard to fulfill the expectations of the people. She laid stress on improving the quality of delivery system on ground so that the people feel the impact on ground. She asked the officers to work with extra zeal and dedication to provide best services to the people.
Earlier, the Secretary Social Welfare, Sanjeev Verma gave a resume of the activities of the Department in Kashmir. He apprised about the innovative measures initiated to further improve the functioning of the Department and to ensure speedy and transparent disbursement of pension assistance to the beneficiaries through on-line system (DBTS). He said the process of introducing on-line filling up of forms for availing benefits of various schemes, setting up of websites of various wings is in progress and shortly these services will be available in the Department. He also apprised that the process of new procurement policy for nutritional items is also at the final stage.
State Mission Director, Mukhtar-ul-Aziz, all District Programme Officers, ICDS and District Social Welfare Officers of Kashmir Valley and other senior officers of the Department were present in the meeting.
