Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting of the Social Welfare Department to review the impact and reach of several beneficiary oriented schemes being run by the department across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting besides Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department was attended by all the HoDs of the department and other concerned officers.
During comprehensive review of the schemes, the Chief Secretary took stock of the achievements and ongoing initiatives aimed at bolstering child development, nutrition and welfare of marginal sections of the society. He had specific review of schemes tailored for empowerment of specially-abled, widows, old-aged persons and reserved categories of the society.
Dulloo also took appraisal of efficiency of the legal framework aimed at ensuring social justice, protection and welfare of vulnerable groups. These included Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Transgender Persons Act, 2019 and other crucial acts like POCSO (2012), Child Marriage Prohibition Act (2006) and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act (1989), etc.
The Chief Secretary impressed upon the department to enhance the capacity of the staff to impart quality education to the children enrolled in Anganwadi Centers as envisaged under NEP-2020. He also enjoined upon them to extend different pre/post-matric scholarships to the students of marginalized communities to give them access to modern education thereby empowering the communities in the real sense.
The Chief Secretary asked the concerned department to monitor the growth indicators of both the young children and adolescent girls in all the AWCs. He directed them to make special intervention to provide them supplementary nutrition on the recommendations of medical practitioners.
Presenting an overview of functioning of the department, Commissioner Secretary, SWD, Sanjeev Verma, laid out that during 2024–25, funds to the tune of Rs 2,496.25 crore were available under different schemes against which an expenditure of Rs 2,147.24 crore (86% utilization) was made. For the year 2025–26, a budget allocation of Rs 4,361.14 crore (68% increase from 2024–25) was made in favour of the department, he added.
As far as the welfare schemes run by the department are concerned, he informed the meeting that Mission Vatsalya caters to child protection and welfare, Mission Shakti ensures empowerment and safety of women while PM-AJAY aims at holistic development of the SC communities.
Verma informed the meeting that scholarships for minorities, SCs and OBCs are being given by the department besides providing prosthetic aids (ALIMCO) as a support for persons with disabilities.
It was given out that financial support for girl children and marriage assistance for economically weaker sections is being given by the department under the Ladli Beti Scheme. Besides, the department ensures pensions and scholarships for the militancy affected families.
The meeting was informed that the department runs Pahari hostels for the tribal communities along with proactive enforcement of more than 14 social justice laws in the length and breadth of J&K. It was revealed that the department manages 28,183 Anganwadi Centers, of these, the department had upgraded 136 AWCs into "Saksham Anganwadis" with modern facilities during 2023-24. These Saksham Anganwadis have special features in the shape of Poshan Vatikas, Rainwater Harvesting units, LED Screens, RO Water Purifier, WIFI/Pen Drive and RO maintenance and provision for ECCE activities.
Regarding the beneficiaries for supplementary nutrition, it was added that a total of 914,031 persons are being covered in the UT. The Aadhar verification of 909,762 (99% of total beneficiaries) has been achieved thereby plugging any chances of pilferage or malpractice.
About the specialized interventions taken by the department, the meeting was apprised that 22,76,067 home visits were conducted (96% of 23,64,938 targeted) to reach out the beneficiaries. These efforts lead to identification of malnutrition cases including 24,261 children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition, 69,177 Moderate Acute Malnutrition and 20,978 anaemic cases for making special interventions to improve their situation.
As far as the child welfare is concerned, it was divulged that 116 Homes and Child Care Institutions have been established under Mission Vatsalya, ensuring care for vulnerable children.
With respect to pension coverage, it was said that social security is being provided to 955,958 beneficiaries under different schemes. In addition, marriage assistance to the tune of Rs. 130 crore was utilized to support 26,000 marriages during the year 2024-25.
While highlighting the future roadmap, the meeting was informed that 11 Shakti Sadans (women’s shelter homes) would be fully operationalized. Besides, 5 additional Shakti Sadans are going to commence operations, providing safety, skill development and legal aid to women in distress.
The Department also envisages upgrading 500 more AWCs to Saksham AWCs by 2025-26, enhancing service quality for 50,000+ beneficiaries. Besides, two residential schools as Abhinanda Home (a rehabilitation and education center) are also going to be established in both the divisions for marginalised children, the meeting was informed.