Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 31: Minister for Social Welfare, Tribal Affairs and Public Grievances Sakina Itoo today said that the socio-economic development of the weaker sections of State is priority of the Government, adding that for this purpose innovative schemes have been launched to cater the special needs of the under privileged communities like Gujjar and Bakerwal, Pahari Speaking people, SC, ST and Other Backward Classes.
The Minister was speaking in a meeting attended by various District Development Commissioners of Kashmir Division and concerned officers of Social Welfare Department, convened today to discuss the Action Plan for Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for the current fiscal. The Action Plan will be submitted to the Union Government for appraisal.
The centre provides special grants for development and upliftment of tribal population areas under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and Article 275.
It was disclosed in the meeting that Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has conveyed provisional allocation of Rs 37 crore under Tribal Sub Plan and Article 275 to the Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2012-13.
The meeting was informed that during last financial year, an amount of Rs 40 crore was allocated under these schemes for the State, but most of the funds remained unspent due to late approval at the fag end of last fiscal which need to be revalidated after the respective DDCs submit the details of unspent amount.
The Minister took a review of the works taken up by various District Development Commissioners in their respective districts. She stressed upon the DDCs to prepare the requisite Action Plan in consultation with the concerned public representatives and Gujjar and Bakerwal Board members as per the guidelines of Union Government with main focus on cluster approach and directed them to submit action plans as early as possible so that the funds are released accordingly. She also enjoined upon the concerned DDCs to furnish Utilization Certificates (UCs) at the earliest.
She expressed her displeasure over the absence of some Deputy Commissioners in the meeting, adding that non attending of meetings becomes cause of late execution of plans. She asked the DCs and concerned officers to be punctual in future.
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