The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Transport Subsidy Scheme’ for replacement of 500 old diesel vehicles operated by private transporters – including buses, matadors and mini buses. The scheme has been conceived in light of the budget-2019-20 announcements with Rs 25 crore earmarked for the purpose.
To begin with, the scheme will be implemented in Srinagarand Jammu cities with replacement of 250 old diesel vehicles each in Srinagarand Jammu by modern buses which are eco friendly, comfortable, fuel efficientand fitted with modern safety gadgets i.e compliant to BS-IV and above norms.
The Transport Department in consultation with the FinanceDepartment will propose a standardized procedure to be followed for replacementof the vehicles.
The applicant after approval shall be allowed a three monthstime to purchase the new vehicle after entering into a loan agreement with theconcerned bank and the subsidy component shall be given on capital investmentafter purchase of vehicle and its subsequent registration.
The scheme of extending subsidy to the transporters shallhave many consequential benefits in terms of curtailing air pollution in thetwin capital cities amidst rising car ownership and in reducing trafficcongestion by providing impetus to the public transport system.
DEVOLUTION OF POWERS TO PANCHAYATS – PAYMENT OF HONORARIUM TO ANGANWADI WORKERS, HELPERS:
The State Administrative Council approved decentralizationof disbursement of honorarium to Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers underthe Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and its disbursementthrough Gram Panchayats.
The disbursement of honorarium will be through DirectBenefit Transfer (DBT) using Public Financial Management System (PFMS). TheSupervisor in the ICDS being the grass root level worker shall be the nodalcoordinator for the purpose. The Gram Panchayats shall monitor and supervisethe functioning of the AnganwadiCentres (AWCs) and release the honorarium aftersatisfying themselves about the functioning of the said centres.
The entire amount of honorarium drawn as advance by MissionDirector under proper authorization of Finance Department as advance drawalwill be transferred into the account opened in the name of Sarpanch/Administrator/ Counsellor (Chairperson, Panchayat Counsel) of the ICDS fordisbursement to AWWs/AWHs through DBT Mode.
The change in the mode of disbursement of honorarium is inaccordance with devolution of powers to Panchayati Raj Institutions under theJammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (4th Amendment) Act, 2018.
It is noteworthy to point out that the Jammu and KashmirPanchayati Raj Act, 2018 provides for devolution of functions, funds andfunctionaries to the Gram Panchayats. Government has already decentralized thepolicy for procurement of supplementary Nutrition under Government Order No.44SW of 2019 dated 29.01.2019.
Funds to the tune of Rs 24.43 crore every month shall bedisbursed to the Anganwadi Workers/Anganwadi Helpers as Honorarium by the GramPanchayats in a DBT mode. Similarly anamount of Rs 243.53 crore annually shall be utilized by the Gram Panchayats toprocure supplementary nutrition to the children in the age group of 0-6 yearslactating and pregnant mothers through a network of Anganwadicentres.
The mode of disbursement of the honorarium in favour of theAnganwadi Workers/Anganwadi Helpers will not only ensure proper supervision ofthe Anganwadi centers but also facilitate timely disbursement of honorarium tothem so as to motivate them for efficient and improved functioning and servicedelivery.
ASSURED PENSION TO OLD AGED, WIDOWS AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED:
In order to ensure transparency and avoid delays in thedisbursement of pension to the eligible old aged, widows and physicallychallenged persons, the State Administrative Council approved Aadhaar linkedpayment mode for disbursement of pension to the beneficiaries under variousCentrally / State sponsored schemes.
SAC directed that Deputy Commissioners shall undertakerigorous re-scrutinization of all the pending pension cases in the district sothat no eligible beneficiary viz old aged, widow or differently-abled person isleft out and denied the benefit of the pension schemes. All eligible cases dulysupported by Aadhaar numbers will be forwarded by the DCs to the respectiveDirectorates of Social Welfare by July 31, 2019.
The respective Directorates of Social Welfare shall ensurethat the process of Aadhaar Seeding and consequent de-duplication and weedingout of in-eligible cases is expedited and the process concluded by September 30, 2019.
SAC also directed the Social Welfare Department to compile,in addition, a list of all widows below 40 years of age, not covered under theongoing schemes.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Social WelfareDepartment is providing monthly pension to the beneficiaries in the State undertwo schemes i.e. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) which is blend ofCentre Share and State Share and Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS).
A large number of pending pension cases, non-coverage ofeligible persons/widows and delay in disbursement of monthly pension are someof the issues that have been reported from time to time in particular duringthe recently concluded Back to Village Programme.It would be the endeavor of the Government tocover all eligible persons under the various social security schemes includingNational Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Integrated Social SecurityScheme (ISSS).