Pulwama-Kashmir, January 20 (Vijay Kumar) – Jammu & Kashmir lone woman Minister for Social Welfare Ms. Sakina Itoo Wednesday said that the government led by Chief minister Omar Abdullah recognizes and acknowledges the needs of people and as such government has undertaken several welfare measures and appropriate programmes to provide special assistance to the poor, destitute women, orphan children, widows, disabled persons, elderly people and other socially and economically disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society.
The Minister was addressing a large gathering at a function organized by the district social welfare department Pulwama at Town Hall Pulwama today on Wednesday.
District Development Commissioner Pulwama Mr. Mohammad Afzal Bhat, Director social welfare Kashmir Mr. Hilal Ahmad Parray and other District officers were also present on the occasion
On this occasion, Ms. Sakina Itoo under the scheme rehabilitation of militancy victims, distributed cheques worth Rs 3.60 lakhs among 40 orphan children, belonging to families of slain militants of District Pulwama.
Under the Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS) Rs.4.70 crore and under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) Rs.1.26 crore have been provided to the sanctioned beneficiaries during this financial year by ending December, the Minister said.
The Minister, on this occasion, emphasized the need to speed up the process of registration and disposal of cases for assistance so that deserving people get benefitted. The Minister called upon the officers to play their role in the overall effort to attain these objectives.
Earlier, the Minister laid the foundation stone of OBC Hostel at degree college Pulwama. The construction funded by the social welfare department will be constructed by the R&B department at an estimated cost of Rs.134lakhs.The OBC hostel will on completion accommodate more than 100 students.
The Minister also visited the five day employment fair currently underway at degree college Pulwama and inspected several stalls set up to showcase government schemes for the educated unemployed youth. The fair is witnessing by a large gathering of unemployed youth.