Jammu, March 27(Scoop News) – J&K Lone woman Minister for Social Welfare,Sakina Itoo today said that the State Government intends to launch an Integrated Child Protection Services Scheme (ICPS) in J&K for the protection and well being of children in distress. She said, 3094 Anganwari Centres will be set up in the State, besides two new pension schemes, including Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme(IGNOAPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) will also be introduced to provide succor to the old age and physically challenged persons.
Replying to the discussion on Demand for Grants of the departments under her charge, in the Legislative Assembly, said that the upliftment of weaker sections of the society, besides empowerment of women and integrated child development have been prioritized to serve the deserving people of the State.
She emphasized the need for creation and up-gradation of infrastructure under Integrated Child Development Scheme to explore the possibility of assessing the resources, besides digitalization of the records at tehsil and district levels. She said that the construction of 193 Model Anganwari Centre building has also been completed.
The Minister said that under various pre-Matric scholarship schemes about 6 lakh students were benefited, including 6,748 physically handicapped and about 37190 students under post-Matric scholarship scheme were covered, including 290 physically handicapped as well. She said that 5 lakh persons were benefitted by providing old age pension and 7 lakh children were given supplementary nutrition.
Ms Itoo said that nearly 6467 militancy hit victims were brought under purview of the pension scheme adding that the monthly pension for physically challenged persons was increased from Rs.500 to Rs.750.
She said the monthly honorarium of Anganwari Workers and Helpers has been enhanced by Rs.300/- and Rs.200/- per month respectively. The Minister said that the Women development Corporation (WDC) has extended Rs.745.80 lakh soft loan in favour of skilled young women for establishing their own income generating units.
Regarding the facilities being provided to SCs/STs/OBCs students, the Minister said that free boarding and lodging facilities are being provided to these categories for which Rs. 17.11 crore have been spent on construction of Hostel Buildings at Udhampur, Rajouri, Reasi, Handwara, Kargil, Kathua, Pulwama, Srinagar and Baramulla districts.
She added that chairperson was appointed for the State Commission for Women, besides Vice Chairmen for Gujjar and Bakerwall, Pahari Speaking and SC Advisory Boards were also appointed. Besides, a separate Advisory Board has been set up for OBCS, she added. She said that for proper functioning of orphanages, Bal-Ashrams and Nari-Niketans, quality control norms have been framed.
Regarding the empowerment of women in the State, Ms Itoo said Mahila Mandals in the Anganwari Centres were setup and scheme for skilled young women was launched besides conducting of Gender Budgeting Workshops in Srinagar and Jammu.
Ms. Itoo informed that 170 awareness camps were conducted across the State, in which 44,500 women were made aware about their rights and duties.
The Minister said that financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 27.27 lakhs was provided as subsidy among 377 beneficiaries of SC, ST, BC and BPL categories under Bank Tie-up scheme besides Rs. 10.13 crore loan sanctioned for 650 beneficiaries under Direct Financing Scheme.