SRINAGAR: Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo on Monday chaired the 46th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes (JKSCSTBC) Development Corporation at the Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting reviewed administrative, financial and policy matters related to the functioning of the Corporation and took several decisions aimed at improving delivery of welfare and development schemes.
Among those present were Commissioner Secretary, Planning Development and Monitoring, R. Alice Vaz; Commissioner Secretary, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Achal Sethi; Director General Budget; Managing Director JKSCSTBC Development Corporation Sultan Malik; Director Finance, Social Welfare Department, Seema Bhasin; and other board members and senior officials.
Addressing the meeting, Itoo stressed the need for greater efficiency, transparency and responsiveness in the Corporation’s functioning to ensure timely delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
She called for strengthening institutional mechanisms, streamlining procedures and improving coordination among stakeholders to facilitate access to financial assistance, self-employment opportunities and other welfare measures for targeted communities.
The minister said welfare initiatives should lead to tangible improvements in the socio-economic conditions of beneficiaries by promoting entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods and economic self-reliance.
She also directed the Corporation to maintain close engagement with beneficiaries and community representatives, identify emerging needs and address genuine concerns within the prescribed framework.
The Board instructed the Corporation to expedite recovery of outstanding loans, particularly long-pending dues, and adopt all permissible measures for effective follow-up. It also directed the establishment of an online system for loan recovery and disbursement under various schemes.
During the meeting, the Board approved the Corporation’s Budget Estimates for the financial year 2026-27, covering its revenue and capital requirements for implementation of welfare and development programmes.
The Board also emphasised the need for financial discipline, improved loan recovery, timely execution of approved programmes and effective delivery of benefits to members of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes communities.
