Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Wednesday urged the Social Welfare Department to reach out to all the specially-abled persons and provide them the assistance they need.
In a meeting with the Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare Department (SWD), Sheetal Nanda, to review the progress in the implementation of deliverables set for the department, Dr. Mehta observed that this section of the population (Specially-abled people) is an inseparable part of our society and deserves all sort of facilitation from each of us.
According to an official press release, Dr. Mehta also underscored the need of continuing their efforts regarding drug de-addiction and asked them to hold events related to ‘Nasha Mukht Abhiyan’, especially in schools and colleges. He maintained that the addicts need our sympathy and handholding to bring them back into the mainstream of society to enable them to live their lives in a dignified manner.
He also enquired about the establishment of Old Age Home, One Stop Centres and Narineketans in the districts of UT. He made out that these Old Age Homes should be centres for recreation and socialization besides a point of contact for any kind of aid under a single roof.
He also stressed on bringing every woman in distress to these facilities meant for them. He advised them to provide them legal and other aid there besides giving them the necessary protection. The Chief Secretary told the Commissioner Secretary to give all their helpline numbers widest possible publicity and host these even on e-UNNAT and other websites.
The Commissioner Secretary informed the CS that the department has made each of its services online for the ease of the public. It was further given out that there is a Drug de-addiction center, Narineketan, and One Stop Centres in each district and four Model Narineketans in each division.
She also revealed that the department is shortly going to provide 700 more tricycles to the needy and saturate the scheme for them. Moreover, the department has saturated all its pension schemes whether provided to old age persons, widows, transgenders or specially-abled persons, the meeting was informed.
Pertinent to mention here that the decision to assign deliverables to all departments is a first-of-its-kind and innovative initiative of the government aimed at propelling growth and development in the Union Territory by prioritizing transformative action in all areas.
These deliverables broadly define the priority areas towards ensuring greater efficiency in the overall governance of Jammu and Kashmir, and lay down monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and yearly targets for all departments. The list of deliverables broadly includes approximately 1250 tangible targets relevant for improving the public service.
