Srinagar, Aug 11: Jammu and Kashmir Government has given up the idea of contacting the Japan delegation which had offered the State’s Social Welfare Department its experience and technology linked to the field of social welfare for the proper implementation of schemes.
 On June 13 this year, the two-member Japanese delegation comprising Takeshi Osuga and Rytotaro Fujita visited the Valley and discussed their country’s willingness to cooperate in "sharing experience and technology" in social welfare schemes with various officials of the state government.
 During the deliberations, the delegation had told JK Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo that Japan was keen to offer technology and experience to specially focus on rehabilitation of militancy victims, orphans, destitute and women empowerment vis-à-vis implementation of social welfare schemes.
 The two-member Japan delegation, according to a source, had given alternatives to the department as to how the schemes could be implemented via cyberspace. One of the members had asked the minister how many impoverished people had access to the internet in the state. “The minister had told the delegation that the survey is going on,” the source added.
 However, the department has abandoned the idea of contacting the delegation and sending of necessary inputs, the source said. “During the meeting the two sides discussed wide range of issues related to social welfare schemes launched in the state and other welfare programmes. The delegates told the minister that they were ready to offer the services to overhaul the implementation of schemes but till date the department has not communicated to the delegates about the status of the implementation of schemes,” the official source said.
 The delegation had also recommended “reconstitution” of Welfare Advisory Boards including Schedule Caste Development Advisory Board, Pahari Speaking People Development State Advisory Board, Social Welfare Board, Gujjar & Bakarwals Board, Other Backward Classes Advisory Board, State Commission for Back Classes and State Commission for Women. “To reach out to these people the delegation had asked the department to not just remain limited to offices but a powerful ground work is necessary for identifying the deserving people for granting of schemes,” the source added.
 The delegation had also recommended the department to redesign its website and upload the details of beneficiaries of schemes to ensure transparency.  “The department was asked to recommend names of beneficiaries of scholarship schemes on its website to ensure transparency.”
 The delegation had also given consent to the department that it would take up the matter of providing aid for welfare schemes with the Japan authorities and other non-governmental organizations, the source said. “But the department has failed to link to the delegates that it has even forgotten to entertain their quick recommendations.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST