The social welfare officers were directed to organise vocational training for youths under skill development programme. Such training would motivate the youth towards self employment and better their chances of securing a job, said the State Social Welfare minister SS Negi on Thursday.
The minister had convened a review meeting with the department officers at his office in the Vidhan Sabha during which it was pointed out that a large number of students belonging to Scheduled Caste and other beneficiaries are not receiving their scholarship due to inadequate release of funds under various scholarship schemes by the central government for the state. Under various scholarship schemes, state has only received Rs 17.28 crore out of Rs 100.50 crores from the centre.
Taking note of this issue, Negi directed the social welfare secretary to write a letter regarding this issue to the central government with utilisation certificate so that funds could be received without delay from the central government.
While reviewing progress report of execution of the Chief Minister’s announcements at various places of the state, the social welfare minister has directed the officers to ensure that problems faced by the officers while executing the CM’s announcements are sorted out without delay.
He expressed disappointment at poor coordination among the various department officers over welfare schemes - Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribe Sub Plan (TSP) and beneficiaries might have been benefited had the officers established coordination themselves to execute the scheme for the welfare of the families of SC/ST.
To aid electricity conservation, lED bulbs should be installed in schools and hostels made especially for SC/ST students and for this the officers were directed to draft a proposal and sent it to the department concerned without delay.
This bulb is cost- effective and environment- friendly. Moreover lED bulb will not break easily if it falls, he added. Multipurpose Finance Development Corporation has distributed loan to around 1065 beneficiaries who had applied for doing business.
The Social welfare minister Negi also directed the officers of social welfare, health and ICDS to jointly organise welfare camps for the beneficiaries. It was decided that next camp will be held in Chamoli, Karnprayag and Pauri districts on February 26. He said that welfare schemes launched by the central and state government for the families belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes should be executed in such way that all the beneficiaries are benefited.
Other present on the occasion were additional Chief Secretary Social Welfare S Raju, secretary Bhupendra Kaur, additional secretary Kishan Nath , joint director Geeta Ram Nautiyal and others.