Social welfare grants: 98,963 pension cases to be cleared soon

Social welfare minister Bali Bhagat on Wednesday said the government will take innovative steps to bring more transparency and accountability in the department to ensure that people benefitted from welfare schemes.

Social welfare minister Bali Bhagat on Wednesday said the government will take innovative steps to bring more transparency and accountability in the department to ensure that people benefitted from welfare schemes.

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Replying to questions over the grants of social welfare department in the assembly, the minister said it is the government's endeavour to uplift the poor and help the destitute and physically challenged people.

Referring to the initiatives proposed for the next fiscal, the minister said presently there are 98,963 registered cases under the NSAP scheme and 9,133 cases under National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) scheme pending with the department.

He said to clear these, an amount of Rs 74.27 crore is required which includes Rs 24 crore as the state share. He said he has already made a request to the Union rural development minister for providing the central share to clear the liability.

The previous rate of pension was Rs 200 and Rs 500 for widows under central and state schemes, and a lump sum of `40,000 under the NFBS scheme, said the minister. He added that the government has already announced the enhancement of rates and now these categories will get Rs 1,000 per month.

The minister said the government will introduce e-governance system to ensure complete transparency.

He added that the government has started on pilot basis in six districts the payment of pension through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) under Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme.

Under a major initiative to improve the sex-ratio, government has extended 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme initially in six districts of the state viz; Jammu, Kathua, Pulwama, Budgam and Anantang on pilot basis, Bhagat added.

Earlier, the minister moved a demand for grant of a sum of Rs 68,953.98 lakh to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2016, for the departments under his charge.

Later, the members, who moved the cut motions on the grants, withdrew after the satisfactory reply from the minister. The House passed the grants by a voice vote.