Rs. 197.38 crore being spent on various welfare schemes in Himachal

Smt. Sarveen Chaudhary, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said that Government was spending Rs. 197.38 crore on various welfare schemes of Social Justice and Empowerment in the State and added about 15 percent of the total budget was being spent exclusively on women.
She said that social welfare had been accorded priority in the State 2,37, 250 persons were given pension thereby spending Rs. 60 crore on it in the State.
Smt. Chaudhary, said that self-help Groups would be strengthened in the State and added that necessary directions had been given to the departmental officers to make adequate arrangements for marketing of the goods and products prepared by the groups so that the socio-economic condition of the women could be improved. She was reviewing the activities undertaken by Social Justice and Empowerment department in a meeting held here today.
She said that 55% budget of the department was being spent on women and child development programmes in the State. She said that hostels for SC, ST & Other Backward Classes students were being constructed by the department and directed the officers of the department to complete the construction works at the earliest. She also directed for accelerating the construction work of Anganwari buildings in the State. She asked the officer for strict implementation of Dowry Act in the State ad added that departmental officers should visit those marriage ceremony for which Government was giving grant and ensure that dowry list etc. be prepared as per Dowry Act.
Smt. Chaudhary also directed the officers that pension cases of eligible persons would be considered on that day when he or she becomes eligible for it and added that financial burden sin lieu of it should be calculated at once. She said that Maintenance of Parents Act should be implemented strictly throughout the State and added that Rs. 161.62 lac had been spent under various grant in-aid scheme so far. She also asked the officers to have check on NGOs which were executing the same work under different name and taking two and more grants for the same work. She said that in future free school certificate would be given to every child of the anganwari.
Earlier, Shri Bhim Sen, Principal Secretary, Social Justice & Empowerment welcome the Chief Guest and detailed out the activities undertaken by the department Social Justice & Empowerment said that the works undertaken by the department on the occasion.
Subhashish Panda, Director, Social Justice & Empowerment said that the works undertaken by the department would be completed at stipulated period.
The meeting among others were attended by A.W. Khan, Joint Secretary, Social Justice & Empowerment Additional Director, Shri Lokender Chauhan, Joint Director Mrs. Prabha Rajiv, District Programme Officers, District Welfare officers and officers of the Directorate.