Sakina distributes scholarship cheques worth Rs 20 Lakh, wheel chairs, tricycles among beneficiaries

JAMMU: Minister for Social Welfare, Ms Sakina Itoo today distributed post-matric and minority scholarship cheques worth Rs 20 lakh, besides wheel chairs and tricycles under National Family Benefit (NFB) scheme among the beneficiaries at an awareness camp organized by social welfare department Jammu here today.
MLA, Mrs. Bimla Luthra, Director Social Welfare, Jammu, Mr. Mehmood Rana and other senior officers of social welfare department were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that purpose of holding such camps is to make people aware about the welfare schemes being run by social welfare department. She said all out efforts are being made to reach out to remote areas to bring maximum number of deserving persons under various welfare schemes.
Sakina said that about 18000 ICDS Centres are functioning across the State to address the problems of the people registered with the department under different welfare schemes. “It is our social responsibility to reach out to those who deserve the benefit of these schemes” said the Minister, adding that Centre is liberal in approving and funding our proposals. “About 5 lakh beneficiaries are registered and getting benefit under different welfare schemes in the State, said the minister, adding that more 80000 cases are pending for approval.
The Minister said that the historical decision of holding panchayat elections, taken by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, paved the way for transferring the power to the grass-root level. She said Sarpanches and Punches can play a vital role in the effective implementation of the welfare schemes in a transparent manner by ensuring that only genuine persons are registered with the department. He said they would help the department in identifying the deserving persons for the benefits of these schemes.
Elaborating the role Panchayat institutions can play in the emancipation of the weaker sections, she said by giving them representation in the panchayat elections woman have been provided an opportunity to be a part of decision making process.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA, Bimla Luthra, appreciated the efforts of the department made to reach out to the deserving people for the benefits of various schemes. She said the achievements registered by the department during the past three years bears testimony to the measures taken by the present government to evolve a responsive system of governance.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Director Social Welfare Jammu Mr. Rana said that the department has disbursed Rs. 89 lakh assistance among 1500 students belonging to Schedule Cast (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Physically Handicapped (PH) categories. He said Rs. 1.14 crore have been disbursed among 2775 students under pre-matric and post matric minority scholarship schemes. He said under ISSS scheme, Rs. 6 crore were disbursed among 36292 beneficiaries during current fiscal, while an assistance of Rs. 3.40 crore was disbursed among 13142 beneficiaries under IGNOAPS, IGNWPS and NFBS schemes.