Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 13: All deputy commissioners of Kashmir Valley appeared before high court which today issued four directions for effective implementation of State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS) for poor girls in Kashmir Valley.
Those who appeared before the court include Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam, Kupwara, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Bandipora, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Director Social Welfare Department (SWD), Special Secretary to SWD, and all District Social Welfare Officers were present in person in compliance to court's direction on last week.
However, Commissioner Secretary to Government, SWD could not come today as she was indisposed.
Hearing Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of the court comprising Justice MH Attar and A M Magrey also referred to the basic cause for issuance of directions for launching of SMAS as well as Hunar Scheme. The division bench also impressed upon all the officers about sensitivity of the matter and its social importance.
"The officers were requested to send printed forms in accordance with the scheme with the name of identified girls printed on it through Anganwari Workers in the village and Ward Officers in the urban areas to the concerned identified girls and handover the form to her and collect the same within two or three days," the division bench said.
In order to ensure effective implementation SMAS, the court directed that immediately after the application forms are received, the selection committee headed by District Development Commissioners shall consider them within week's time and made recommendations within that week to the Social Welfare Department.
"Commissioner Secretary (SWD) shall transmit the amount in to the account numbers of the beneficiaries in whose favour recommendations are received from the concerned District Development Commissioners. The amount shall be transmitted in the accounts of beneficiaries within one week," the division bench said.
In another direction, the court directed the Commissioner Secretary SWD to seek financial assistance from philanthropist. For the purpose, the court said, public shall be made aware about the SMAS scheme through print and electronic media.
"The Government shall ensure that required funds are released for implementation of the SMAS Scheme," the court said in last direction and directed all the authorities to file fresh compliance report on or before next date of hearing in the PIL in the week commencing July 18. |
