'Focus should be on
efficient delivery of welfare programs'
SRINAGAR, AUGUST
07: Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, today
emphasized close coordination between Government and Civil Society
Organizations (CSO) for better delivery of welfare programs meant to provide
benefits to the general masses particularly the lesser privileged classes.
The Advisor was
addressing a one-day Conference of NITI Aayog, J&K Government and CSOs from
the State. The Conference was organized by Social Welfare Department and was
coordinated by Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).
Officials from
Central Government who attended the Conference included Special Secretary NITI
Aayog Yudwender Mathur, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Women &
Child Development, Ajay Tirkey, National Coordinator, CSO, PRAYAS JAC, Amodh K
Kant, DDG (Evaluation), NITI Aayog, Rakesh Ranjan and Director, National
Rural Health Mission, Vidisha.
Addressing the
select gathering, the Advisor called for institutionalizing a mechanism within
the Government that would enable the CSOs to work in close tandem with various
government departments and play their part in successful implementation of
schemes for the disadvantaged sections of the society. “Better synergy between
Civil Society Organizations and Government agencies will provide fillip to
better delivery of welfare schemes to the people in the state,” he added.
The Advisor
expressed satisfaction over the positive health indicators in the State and
added that good work is being done in the sector, especially in maternity and
child-care segments despite huge challenges on this front.
Speaking at length
over the literacy rate in the state, Ganai said in upper primary segment and
high-end higher secondary level, there is a need to make further improvement.
He said the Government will ensure that quality education is imparted to every
child, especially girls, so that they are able to perform and compete at the
cutting-edge level, both within the State and
nationally.
Referring to
pending cases/sanctions pertaining to differently-abled, poor senior citizens,
widows and destitute in the Social Welfare Department, the Advisor assured that
the same will be cleared in phases.
The Advisor said he
was confident that the exchange of ideas between participants would provide a
workable roadmap to improve the delivery of welfare programmes.
The conference was
organized to review the activities and implementation of Centrally-sponsored
schemes and to know about the difficulties faced by CSOs in creating awareness
about these schemes.
During the
session, delegates of NITI Aayog made a presentation which
indicated that J&K has done exceptionally well in the implementation
of schemes, particularly in health and primary education sectors. It was
revealed that the J&K matches the best performing States in the entire
country and attained one of the top ranks in health sector at national level
last year.
Principal
Secretary Health and Medical Education Dr Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary
Planning Development and Monitoring Department Rohit Kansal, Special DGP VK
Singh, Commissioner Secretary Roads and Buildings Khurshid Ahmad Shah,
Secretary Social Welfare Farooq A Lone, Secretary Rural Development Department
Sheetal Nanda, Secretary Information Technology Saugat Biswas, Secretary
Tourism and School Education Rigzian Samphael, Secretary Social Welfare Board
Khalid Hussain Malik, Director General Health Kashmir Dr Saleem ur Rehman,
Principal Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Samia Rashid, Commissioner for
Persons for Disabilities M I Lone, Mission Director ICDS Veer Ji
Hanglu, Mission Director Women Empowerment Rifat Arif, Director
School Education Kashmir GN Yatoo, Director Technical Education, Executive
Director Rehabilitation Council Zahoor Mir, Managing Director, JK Women’s
Development Corporation, Nahid Soz, Mission Director SRLM, CEO Himayat Abdul
Rashid War, Mission Director ICPS Shafat Sultan and other dignitaries attended
the conference.