Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 15: Five lakh aged and infirm people in the State are beneficiaries of pension given by Social Welfare Department and the total sum spent annually on it is Rs 95 crore. This was stated by Minister of Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo while replying the debate on annual grants of his Ministry in State Assembly during second sitting here today.
The Minister said that during last four years of coalition rule various steps were taken to put the Social Welfare Department back on track.
She assured the members that all efforts will be made to give pension to the beneficiaries in time.
Miss Itoo said to make the purchase of nutrition transparent the department has started the procedure of e-tendering. The e-tendering has been started from Jammu and Srinagar districts first and now other districts will also brought under the same process.
She said earlier the department had involved the respective Deputy Commissioners and given them powers for the purchase of the same. The money was transferred to them and they were made accountable for the same.
She said that providing of quality nutrition to children is the endeavor of the Ministry and no compromise will be made on the same.
She said 28,000 ICDS centres are working in the State at present and there are still many uncovered areas which will also be covered soon.
Miss Itoo further said over six lakh students were given scholarships in the State by her Ministry. Some scholarships are given from Central schemes while some are given through State schemes, she added.
The Minister said 1600 awareness camps have been held in far flung areas by the Social Welfare Department.
She said the Backward Commission which was defunct earlier has been made fully functional with appointment of chairman and four members and soon the uncovered areas will be covered by the Commission.
She said Rs 12 crore loan was provided under Sher-e-Kashmir employment scheme so far.
The Minister moved a Sum of Rs 477.96 crore be granted to the department to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014 which was later passed by the House.
Earlier participating in the debate NPP’s Harshdev Singh demanded enhancement of pension for widows, destitutes and handicapped, He also demanded same be paid in time and more eligible areas needed to be taken into the category of rural backward areas.
Prof Garu Ram said that J&K is a more backward State and the schemes needed to be brought to remove backwardness. He demanded BPL category be removed for widows in providing financial aid and SC and ST Corporations be strengthened.
Aijaz Jan of NC demanded Anganwari centres in his Constituency, Bal Ashram for Poonch and hostels in Poonch blocks.
Charanjit Singh also demanded Gujjar hostels and Bal Ashram in his constituency while BJP’s Ch. Sukhnandan alleged that particular kind of pulses is given in Anganwari centres for full week. He demanded that Gujjars putting up in his Constituency be also given benefit.
Ashok Kumar of Congress said Anganwari centres are not functioning properly at various places in the State and stressed on conducting of surprise checks for the same. He also demanded that a model Anganwari centre be created in every Panchayat of the State.
NPP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia said the way the sex ratio is declining is a threat to female population. He stressed that the women be made self dependent. Constant check be made on functioning of Anganwari Centres and new centres be set up at those places where they are most needed, he added.
G M Saroori of Congress demanded bringing the crash centres at par with Anganwari centres in paying emoluments.
M S Niaz of Congress said that pension was not paid in time by the Social Welfare Department and norms be framed for providing BPL certificates. He demanded that Social Welfare Department should create job avenues for poor women.
Irfan Shah of NC demanded Anganwari centres for his Constituency and welfare schemes be also launched for the people living above BPL category.
Ashwani Sharma of JSM said if Government fulfills its promise of clearing backlog pension cases this year it will be a great service to the poor. He said Jammu is biggest district in the State and it needs more attention. Besides, attention be paid to blind home and Nari Niketan. He demanded reservation for people living on border and benefit of 27 percent reservations as given in other states to OBCs.
Bimla Luthra, Indu Pawar, Krishan Chander and Yashpal Kundal also participated in the debate.
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