Minister Sakina Itoo Reviews Impact of Social Welfare Schemes Across Jammu and Kashmir![]() Jammu, 29 April 2025: The Honourable Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Ms Sakina Itoo, today chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the impact and progress of various social welfare schemes implemented across Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, the Minister urged the leadership of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) to adopt a 'citizen-first' approach in the delivery of public services and the effective execution of welfare initiatives at the grassroots level. The session was attended by Commissioner Secretary SWD, Mr Sanjeev Verma; Directors of Social Welfare for Jammu and Kashmir; Mission Directors of POSHAN, Vatsalya/Shakti, Women Development Corporation and SC/ST Corporation; Secretaries of the Advisory Boards for SC, OBC and Pahari-speaking people; Executive Director of the Rehabilitation Council; and other senior officials of the department. The Minister reviewed departmental achievements for the financial year 2024–25 and led discussions on strategies and actionable plans for 2025–26. Emphasising the need for enhanced inter-agency cooperation, she called for a collaborative and integrated approach to ensure the effective execution of welfare schemes. Ms Itoo stressed the importance of community engagement in scheme implementation, noting that “maximising community involvement ensures greater ownership and meaningful participation from the public.” She called for the streamlining of procedural workflows to enhance service delivery, instructing officials to minimise delays and facilitate beneficiaries at all levels. “Beneficiaries must not face avoidable delays or procedural hurdles. Our systems should reflect the spirit of compassion and efficiency that these welfare schemes are founded upon,” she stated. The Minister further directed the establishment of robust monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of schemes and identify implementation challenges. She also encouraged the adoption of innovative methods and data-driven decision-making to better serve the most vulnerable segments of society. While reviewing key programmes such as the Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), pension schemes for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, as well as the Ladli Beti and PMMVY schemes aimed at supporting girl children and pregnant women, Ms Itoo called for regular audits, strengthened inter-departmental coordination, and increased use of technology to enhance transparency and accountability. In a move to ensure responsive governance, the Minister directed field offices to organise monthly grievance redressal camps, allowing beneficiaries to voice concerns and seek timely resolution. She also underscored the necessity of public awareness campaigns to ensure eligible citizens are informed of their entitlements. Each departmental head presented performance reports via detailed PowerPoint presentations, highlighting progress made and outlining strategic plans for the upcoming year. |