Jammu, Jan 30: As many as  3,43,180  beneficiaries,  including  old age widows and physically handicapped persons have been covered under Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS) during the  current year, providing them  Rs. 73 crores   as financial assistance.
 Similarly Rs. 17.67 crore were provided to 1.29 lakh old aged persons Below Poverty Line (BPL) under National Social Assistance programme (NSAP)- IGNOAPS.
 This was stated at the review meeting of Social Welfare Department held under the Chairmanship of Minister for social Welfare Ms. Sakina  Itoo.
 The meeting was informed that Rs. 2.49 crore and Rs.1.05 crore were provided as pre-matric and post-matric scholarships to 12000 and 2156 students respectively, belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.  Likewise, 28400 students belonging to Other Backward Class (OBC) category were covered under pre-matric scholarship by providing over Rs. 1.83 Crore, while Post matric scholarship, amounting to Rs. 65 lakh was distributed among 655 OBC students.
 Two lakh Gujjar and Bakarwal students are getting pre-matric scholarship,  while  1425 youth of these communities are enrolled in 16 Gujjar and Bakarwal Hostels of the State. About 80,000 Pahari speaking students are also being provided scholarship under the same category , while as 500 students of the community are being covered under post-matric scholarship  scheme. . About 250 students of the Paharai community are putting up in three Community Hostels in the State where they are being provided free boarding and lodging facilities, besides education.
 The meeting was further told that rehabilitation council for militancy victims have covered 7610 victims under pension and Rs.2.79 Crore were distributed among them during this year.
 Over 7 lakhs beneficiaries, including children up to the age of 6 years, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers are being provided supplementary nutrition through 25,483 Anganwari Centres, the meeting was informed. Similarly, pre- school education was given to   about 2.64 lakh children falling in 3 to 6 years age group.
 Addressing the meeting, the Minister stressed upon the officers to further improve their   working to ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes, launched by the Union and the State Governments reach the targeted people. Ms. Ittoo said that the Government was committed to provide all possible assistance to the weaker    and backward sections of the society. She asked the youth of the weaker sections to come forward and avail the benefits of welfare schemes launched by the Government for their betterment.  She asked the officers to work with missionary spirit for the welfare of the unprivileged persons and instructed them to ensure speedy disposal of financial assistance cases.
 The meeting was attended by the officers of the Social Welfare Department and Council for Rehabilitation attended the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST