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BUDGAM: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat today chaired a detailed review meeting of the Social Welfare department at the New Conference Hall, DC office Budgam. The meeting was convened to assess the performance, implementation status, and impact of key welfare schemes being run across the district.
The meeting was attended by the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Budgam, Tehsil Social Welfare Officers, and the District Women Welfare Officer (Mission Shakti). A comprehensive presentation was delivered by the DSWO, highlighting the district’s performance under various centrally sponsored and UT-level welfare schemes.
The key schemes and initiatives reviewed included Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) with increased digitization and online processing, Marriage Assistance Scheme, which has processed 6,644 applications online and 1,519 offline, support for persons with disabilities, including distribution of 22 crutches, 3 smartphones for the visually impaired, and 21 walking sticks.
DC was also briefed on sponsorship of children and supporting 289 cases, Government-run Child Care Institutions (CCIs), including Palaash, Pareesha, and Phulwari offering classrooms, boarding and lodging, computer labs, libraries, open gyms, and recreational facilities. Adoption Services through State Adoption Agency, with Palaash and Pareesha homes maintaining healthy enrolments, Child Protection Services, including Child Help Line (1098) and Child Help Desk at Ompora Railway Station.
Besides the support by One Stop Centre (OSC) which has provided shelter to 63 beneficiaries, counseling to 398 women, legal aid to 32, and medical assistance to 5, Mission Shakti Initiatives including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) and upcoming institutions like Shakti Sadan, Observation Home and Vatsalya Sadan.
During the review, DC stressed the need to move beyond access and infrastructure towards measurable impact, transparent service delivery, and data-driven monitoring. He emphasized inter-departmental convergence, particularly with health, education, and legal aid sectors.
To ensure equitable and inclusive outreach, DC issued various directions such as analysis of data across all 21 benchmark special abilities ensuring complete saturation of all eligible beneficiaries under welfare schemes, regular inspections of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and strengthening institutional care for orphans through existing government orphanages like Palaash (Boys) and Pareesha (Girls).
He directed the formation of a proposal for establishing a school for special needs in Budgam district for children with hearing, visual, intellectual, and developmental issues, including those with autism and cerebral palsy. DC called for framing a detailed proposal for the establishment of a Drug De-addiction Centre in Budgam to provide counseling, rehabilitation, and recovery support services for individuals battling substance use.
He said, for Implementation of the SMILE Scheme (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise), focus should be laid on rehabilitation of homeless individuals and those engaged in begging, by offering shelter, dignity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
DC directed the Social Welfare department to prepare a roadmap for 100% Aadhaar seeding of all scheme beneficiaries, address pendency in pension disbursement and ensure prompt grievance redressal, enhance grassroots awareness through community outreach camps, focused IEC (Information, Education and Communication), and door-to-door sensitization campaigns, digitise and monitor all welfare schemes using real-time dashboards, with citizen feedback loops for improved transparency.
DC also directed the department to adopt proactive approach in digitizing welfare delivery and ensuring grassroots outreach. He said district administration is committed towards making Budgam a model district in terms of inclusive growth, social protection, and dignity for all marginalized populations of the district.
