Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 16 Apr: Reviewing various public welfare schemes under the Social Welfare Department, Minister Khajan Das today urged all department employees to work to the best of their abilities, with mutual coordination and responsibility, to improve the department’s progress. Under pension schemes, he announced a 25 percent increase in widow and disabled pensions from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,875. He also directed officials to prepare necessary proposals to increase the Tilu Rauteli pension from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500, and to increase the disability maintenance grant from Rs 700 to Rs 1,000.
The Social Welfare Minister directed the strengthening of verification procedures related to scholarship schemes, stating that no errors in scholarship schemes would be tolerated. He stressed the need to ensure that needy beneficiaries are not deprived of scholarships. He also reviewed the grant schemes run by the department.
The Minister reviewed functioning of the Government Ashram Schools and Government Industrial Estates. He said that new trades should be introduced in government industrial establishments and experienced teachers and trainers should be appointed. Regarding the Dr BR Ambedkar Scheduled Caste Hostels, the Minister stated that 14 such hostels are currently operating in the state. The Minister directed that the reconstruction of the hostel building at the Girls’ Inter College, Mussoorie, be completed within three months and that the hostel be made operational by September 2026. He also directed that a proposal be prepared to increase the income limit for pension and other welfare schemes from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. The Minister also directed that the time limit for government assistance to general caste widows and SC/ST families for inter-caste marriages be extended from a financial year to a 365-day period (date-to-date period).
Reviewing the Adarsh Gram Yojana, operated under the Pradhan Mantri Scheduled Caste Abhyudaya Yojana, the Minister stated that the department should promote such schemes to fulfill our public welfare efforts. The Minister directed the promotion of free assistive devices such as canes, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and spectacles provided to economically disadvantaged senior citizens under the National Vayo Shree Scheme under the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana.
The Minister discussed in detail the six old-age homes operating in the state, financial assistance under the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, free pre-examination coaching for SC-ST students, and development of facilities under the SC Sub-Component Scheme, and directed officials to take appropriate action.
Instructing officials on the work being undertaken under the Disabled Welfare Scheme, the Minister said that proposals should be prepared based on 13 districts and action plans should be developed keeping in mind SC-ST-dominated areas. He urged that work should be of high quality and completed on time.
The Minister, while reviewing the Smile Project, Shilpi Gram Yojana, Namaste Yojana, etc., run by the Multipurpose Finance Department Corporation under the Social Welfare Department, said that rural areas should also be equally benefited from these schemes. He also reviewed tribal welfare.
On this occasion, Social Welfare Secretary Sridhar Babu, Additional Secretary Prakash Chandra, Director Sandeep Tiwari, Director, Tribal Welfare, Sanjay Tolia, District Social Welfare Officers of all the districts and other departmental officers were among those present.
