Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Social Welfare Department, where the Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, presented a detailed overview of the department’s performance, implementation of flagship schemes, financial status, infrastructure development, and future priorities. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Secretary, Mission Directors of Mission Poshan, Mission Shakti, and Mission Vatsalya, Director Social Welfare Jammu and Kashmir, Chairperson of Advisory Board, and other concerned officials. The review covered the functioning of the Directorates, Mission Directorates, Advisory Boards, Corporations, and statutory bodies under the Social Welfare Department, emphasizing continued efforts for inclusive development, women empowerment, child welfare, nutrition security, and social protection of vulnerable sections. Sarmad Hafeez, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, stated that the department is working for the welfare of marginalized communities through its Directorate, three Mission Directorates, Advisory Boards for Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and Pahari-speaking people, and dedicated corporations such as the J&K Women Development Corporation and the J&K SC/ST & BC Development Corporation.
Reviewing the implementation of Mission Poshan and strengthening nutrition and early childhood care and education (ECCE), MD Sajad Hussain Ganai stated that 99% of Anganwadi centers have functional infrastructure with the necessary facilities. He further stated that capable Anganwadis equipped with modern facilities are being launched across the UT, and over 24,933 Anganwadi workers have been trained under the Nutrition and Education Programme. Regarding the implementation of Mission Shakti, MD Mohammad Akbar stated that the mission is playing a vital role in women’s empowerment and protection. More than 2,500 awareness workshops have been conducted through the District Hub for women’s empowerment, while 11 new Shakti Sadans and five Sakhi Niwas (working women’s hostels) have been approved and are about to become operational. Furthermore, One Stop Centres have assisted 2,727 women, Women Helpline 181 has handled over 22,000 calls during FY 2025-26, and Nari Adalats have been launched in 50 panchayats to resolve disputes at the grassroots level, the meeting was informed.
Reviewing Mission Vatsalya, MD Nazim Zia Khan stated that significant progress has been made in child protection and rehabilitation. Twenty-three child care institutions, including observation homes, special adoption agencies, and open shelters, have been established or approved. Emphasizing on the future roadmap, the Chief Secretary emphasized on convergence across the government, digital welfare governance, livelihood support, and universal social protection, with special focus on mother and child care, aspirational Anganwadis, skill development, self-employment, and institutional strengthening to achieve the vision of a developed India @ 2047. Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary reviewed several proposals submitted by the Agriculture Production Department aimed at increasing wool, milk, and meat production in Jammu and Kashmir by strengthening the value chain, genetic upgradation, and enhancing processing infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by the ACS, APD, besides the VC, SKUAST Jammu; Commissioner Secretary, I&C; Commissioner Secretary, Cooperatives; Commissioner Secretary, S&T; Commissioner Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department; MD, HADP; Director, Animal Husbandry/Sheep Husbandry; The Director, Handicrafts and Handlooms, Kashmir/Jammu, and other HoDs of APD attended. The meeting first reviewed the PAAVAN (Processing, Aggregation, and Value Addition Network for Wool) project, which aims to revitalize and modernize the wool sector in J&K through a federation-led institutional framework. Under the proposed model, a three-tier cooperative structure consisting of a Block Cooperative Society, a District Cooperative Society, and a UT-level Wool Federation will be created to facilitate wool aggregation, grading, processing, and marketing. The project also plans to establish two wool processing and value-addition units in Jammu and Srinagar, create a revolving fund for firm purchase of wool from farmers, and utilize infrastructure created under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) to promote this sector in J&K. The Chief Secretary was also briefed about the J&K Elite Sheep Mission based on Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT/MOET), which aims to accelerate genetic improvement of sheep and goats.
JAMMU: Chief Secretary reviews progress of social welfare schemes
