SRINAGAR: Minister for Social Welfare, Education and Health & Medical, Sakeena Itoo, chaired the 45th Board of Directors (BoDs) meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes (JKSCSTBC) Development Corporation at Civil Secretariat here.
During the Board meeting, Minister Sakeena, who is also Chairman of the BoDs, minutely assessed the Corporation’s progress in promoting social and economic upliftment of the SC, ST, BC and Specially abled communities across Jammu and Kashmir. She emphasized on the need to enhance outreach programs, streamline the loan disbursal process and ensure transparent implementation of welfare schemes.
Underlining the importance of inclusive growth, Minister Sakeena called for coordinated efforts among various stakeholders to empower marginalized sections through skill development, financial assistance and entrepreneurship support.
The Minister further reaffirmed the Government’s commitment towards driving equitable development and reiterated that proactive governance, community engagement and sustained financial inclusion remain central to the Omar Abdullah-led Government.
During the meeting, the BoDs took some significant decisions for improving the Corporation’s efficiency for providing services to remote and underserved areas, including the introduction of digital platforms for beneficiary support and real-time monitoring of schemes.
In a landmark decision, the Board extended the benefits of the Direct Financing scheme (DFS) and Education loan scheme (ELS) of the corporation to the Pahari Ethnic Group, including the Paddari Tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmin communities.
The BoDs also allowed the Corporation to fill up some urgently required positions on an outsourcing basis in consultation with the Finance department by following the proper procedure laid down by the Government.
The Board also approved the draft Annual Accounts of the Financial year 2023-24 for onward submission to the Statutory Auditor/CAG, besides Budget Estimates for the F.Y 2025-26 and Actuals for F.Y 2024-25 were also approved by the Board.
During the meeting, the BoDs also took some significant decisions in the interest of the human resource welfare of the corporation.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare department, Sanjeev Verma; Secretary Tribal Affairs department, Prassanna Ramaswamy; Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring department, Talat Parvez Rohella; DG, Development Expenditure, Sajad Hussain Ganie; MD JKSCSTBC, Ranjeet Singh; representatives of National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC), National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC), National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) and other concerned officers, either in person or through video conferencing.
