Srinagar, Aug 17: Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo chaired the 46th meeting of Board of Directors (BoDs) of the Jammu & Kashmir Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe & Backward Classes (JKSCSTBC) Development Corporation Limited at Civil Secretariat here on Monday.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Planning Development & Monitoring, R. Alice Vaz; Commissioner Secretary, Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Achal Sethi, Director General, Budget; Sultan Malik, MD JKSCSTBC Development Corporation; Ranjeet Singh; Director Finance SWD, Seema Bhasin and other members of the Board, besides senior officers of Social Welfare department and JKSCSTBC Development Corporation.
During the meeting, the Board deliberated upon various important administrative, financial and policy matters concerning the functioning of the Corporation and took several key decisions.
Speaking during the meeting, the Minister emphasised on the need for the Corporation to function with greater efficiency, transparency and responsiveness, with a focused approach towards ensuring that the intended benefits of welfare and development schemes reach eligible beneficiaries in a timely manner.
She called for strengthening institutional mechanisms, streamlining procedures and improving coordination among the concerned stakeholders to facilitate easier access to financial assistance, self-employment opportunities and other support measures for the targeted communities.
“Welfare interventions should translate into tangible improvements in the socio-economic conditions of beneficiaries, particularly through initiatives that encourage entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods and economic self-reliance”, she observed.
The Minister directed the Corporation to maintain close engagement with beneficiaries and community representatives, identify emerging requirements and take necessary measures to address genuine concerns within the prescribed framework.
She also appreciated the efforts of the Corporation and stressed upon all concerned officers to ensure transparency, accountability, efficiency and timely implementation of the decisions taken by the Board in the larger public interest.
During the meeting, the Board directed the Corporation to intensify and expedite the recovery of outstanding loans, particularly long-pending dues, and adopt all permissible measures for effective follow-up and timely recovery. They asked the Corporation to establish online system for recovery and disbursement of various schemes.
The Board further approved the Budget Estimates for the financial year 2026–27, covering the revenue and capital requirements of the Corporation and providing for effective implementation of its developmental and welfare-oriented programmes.
The Board emphasized the need for greater financial discipline, improved recovery of outstanding loans, timely implementation of approved programmes and effective delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes communities.
