Jammu and Kashmir government to settle over 90,000 pending pension cases: Minister

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said it would clear over 90,000 pending pension cases under the National Family Benefit Scheme shortly.

"Currently there are 98,963 registered cases under NSAP scheme and 9,133 cases under National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) pending with the department," state minister for Social Welfare Bali Bhagat said while replying to the grants of Social Welfare department in the Legislative Assembly.

He said to clear these cases, an amount of Rs 74.27 crore was required which includes Rs 24 crore as state share.

He said, he has already made a request to the Union Minister for Rural Development for providing the Central share for clearing the liability and he has assured for the same.

Bhagat said the previous rate of pension was Rs 200 and Rs 500 for widows under Central and state schemes.

"The government has already announced the enhancement of rates and now these categories will get Rs 1,000 per month," he said.

He said that in order to ensure complete transparency in the system, the government will introduce e-governance (smart governance).

The government has also started on pilot basis in six districts the payment of pension through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme.

"The scheme will be rolled out in all the districts from the current fiscal," he said.

He said the online facility mechanism for filling up the applications for various schemes, programmes will also be started and status of the applications shall be updated after every 15 days on the departmental website to facilitate the beneficiaries.

"It is unfortunate that a lady whose husband dies has to go to the police station to get the death certificate of her husband, but now they will get the certificate from the Chowkidar of the village," the minister said.

Bhagat said the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) has been restructured and brought under Mission Mode.

"Under this, 100 ICDS centers are being converted into crèches and the existing Anganwadi Centers (ACs) are being upgraded. To ensure more transparency in the functioning of ACs, the package of services available under the ICDS programme will be displayed in the premises of the Centers and the same will also be highlighted through leading newspapers," he said.

Bhagat said that in order to streamline the process of quality and timely procurement of nutrition and other articles, the government has proposed to introduce e-tendering system.

"A new procurement policy will also be formulated soon which will also have provisions of testing the supplies in the labs and schedule for calendar," he said.

Giving details of the activities of the department, Bhagat said presently the government provides benefit to over 18 lakh beneficiaries under different target groups in the shape of pension, scholarships, hostel facilities, reimbursement of examination fees, soft loans, supplementary nutrition, insurance, prosthetic aids and rehabilitation.

"The department also provides free boarding and lodging in 36 bal-ashrams and nari-niketans across the state, besides takes care of over 29,599 Anganwadi Centers with over 10 lakh beneficiaries, including children and pregnant, lactating mothers and adolescent girls by providing them supplementary nutrition and allied services," he said.

He said under rehabilitation of victims of militancy, over 10,000 beneficiaries have been provided pension, scholarships and other assistances.

"The Women Development Corporation has also provided soft loan to 593 beneficiaries for setting up their livelihood units, besides imparted vocational trainings to 848 beneficiaries during the year 2014-15," he said.

Earlier, the minister moved a demand for grant of a sum of Rs 68,953.98 lakh to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2016 for the departments under his charge.