Assesses implementation of welfare schemes
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday reviewed the relief measures for people affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and said it is the collective responsibility of the officers at various levels to ensure that no one goes hungry in Jammu and Kashmir.
In order to assess the effective implementation of various welfare schemes in J&K, the LG chaired a review meeting and sought the detailed status of relief measures being extended to different sections of the society affected due to the pandemic.
The LG said the mid-day meal supplies and supplementary nutrition must continue for the beneficiaries. “Take care of the families of daily-wage earners, migrant labourers and address the issues caused by the pandemic,” Sinha said.
“It is the collective responsibility of the officers at various levels to ensure that no one goes hungry. You all must reach out to every citizen in need,” he said in directive to officers here.
The LG had recently announced a slew of measures to mitigate the sufferings of various vulnerable sections due to COVID-19.
He asked the officers to work with compassion and empathy and take all required steps to enable people overcome their difficulties during this pandemic.
The LG also observed in the meeting that the pandemic has broad range of impact on different aspects of people’s lives.
“If required, specific interventions should be taken immediately to support the most vulnerable population, workers, women, children, small businesses, farmers, communities and senior citizens. Collaborative, consistent and continuous efforts are required to further strengthen the social protection,” the LG added.
While taking a comprehensive overview of the implementation of welfare schemes, the LG was briefed that the relief has been extended to around 40 lakh beneficiaries under different components.
It was informed that under Interest Subvention, about 3.50 lakh borrowers have received installments of 5 percent interest subvention worth Rs 200 crore.
On benefits extended to construction workers, the LG was informed that the first installment of more than Rs 34.50 crore has been provided to 3,49,303 active construction workers at the rate of Rs 1,000 per beneficiary.
Moreover, Rs 5.6 crore have been provided for around 28,000 shikarawalas, ponywalas, dandiwalas, palkiwalas, tourist guides at Rs 1,000 per month per beneficiary as two months’ relief. Of the total, 14,627 beneficiaries are from Kashmir division and 13,153 are from Jammu division, an official press release informed.
It said the LG was informed during the meeting that Rs 2,000 each was disbursed to 9.5 lakh farmers under PM-Kisan Yojna involving a total amount of Rs 190 crore.
Further, the Rural Development Department has provided employment to 26,673 households covering 35,484 individuals, involving Rs 8.21 crore under MGNREGA during April and May, 2021, he was told.
About 7.10 lakh pensioners have received their pension (through DBT mode) amounting to Rs 71 crore under ISSS Pension for the month of April. Under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme, Rs 25.68 crore for the month of March and April have been paid in favour of 1.28 lakh pensioners (through DBT), the press release informed.
Bank accounts of 83,617 beneficiaries of Ladli Beti scheme have been credited with a total of Rs 50 crore, he added. Another amount of Rs 25 crore is being credited to the individual bank accounts of the beneficiaries, it said.
Besides, 1,212 beneficiaries belonging to different districts of J&K have been given an amount of Rs 4.836 crore as financial assistance to poor marriageable girls (through DBT) under State Marriage Assistance scheme during the current financial year, it added.
It was informed that the School Education Department is providing dry ration (rice) to 8.46 lakh students under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Under Supplementary Nutrition Programme, a total of 7,89,586 beneficiaries including pregnant and lactating women, children under 6 years of age have been provided dry ration in the UT.
The LG also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for all the assistance to the Union Territory.
