Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, May, 20
The Social Welfare schemes, being implemented by the Social Welfare Department, have helped lakhs of beneficiaries to steer through the difficult times of global Covid-19 pandemic.
The Pension under Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS)/National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) have particularly saved the most needy from the economic fallout of the pandemic.
As per the Department, it is providing pension to 3,66,326 citizens under the two Schemes.
The pensioners have been paid the pension upto April, 2020, while for the month of May it would be released in the first week of June, 2020.
In addition to the regular two Pension Schemes, the Department has disbursed an additional sum of Rs. 500/ each to around 4503 pensioners – as an ex-gratia relief under Pradan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY). The second installment of another Rs.500/- under the Scheme would be disbursed soon.
The department also continues to help the students by providing Scholarships without interruption. During the last financial year which has just ended, the Department has disbursed Scholarships to over one Lakh students under different Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and UT Government Schemes. Under the Scholarship Schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) (Pre-Matric/Post-Matric and Merit-Cum-Means), the Department recorded 250% achievement over the last year’s achievement.
As regards Scholarship Schemes on the State Portal for SCs, OBCs, EBCs etc, the Covid-19 situation slowed the process slightly, as few cases were still pending disposal at the end of the financial year i.e. on 31st of March, 2020.
However, the process of disposing them off has been initiated as residual cases and the same would be cleared in the current financial year.
The department also paid special attention towards the Welfare of the inmates of Residential Institutions of Social Welfare amid Covid-19 situation.
The Residential Institutions both in the Government and the NGO Sector are being supervised and monitored to ensure the protection of the inmates from Covid-19 Virus.
The Department conducts regular inspections of the Residential Institutions in the Government Sector like Bal Ashrams/Nari Niketans and also such institutions in the NGO Sector.
While Institutions like Bal Ashrams/Nari Niketans in the Government Sector are comfortable with regard to supply of essential commodities like food stocks, sanitizers and masks etc, those run by the NGOs have also been provided food stocks, sanitizers and masks after they raised the demand.
Meanwhile, Grant-in-aid of Rs. 21.87 Lakh has been given to NGOs working for the Old & aged, distressed women and children from the weaker sections.
