The Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil met Smt. Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi at New Delhi on Friday evening to highlight pressing welfare issues requiring immediate attention. The Minister sought the release of Rs.132.41 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund for the “Mukhya Mantri Aadarsh Gram Sukh Aashray Parisar”.
He apprised the Union Minister about this innovative project which was aimed at providing integrated residential, training, and recreational facilities for orphans, abandoned children, elderly citizens and women from Shakti Sadans at a single location. He requested the release of Rs. 3.68 crore towards pending liabilities of Child Care Institutions in the State for the financial year 2023-24, which was being run under the aegis of the Himachal Pradesh State Council for Child Welfare.
He raised the issue of pending dues under the National Creche Scheme/Palna Scheme, including Rs. 91.33 lakh for financial year 2020-21 and 2021-22, Rs.1.80 crore for 2022-23, and Rs. 2.22 crore for 2023-24. Health Minister also drew her attention to the fact that management costs under schemes such as One Stop Centre, Women Helpline, Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas and Hub for Empowerment remain below the minimum wage levels prescribed by the State Government and need to be revised accordingly.
The Minister also sought for the final installment of Rs. 27.85 lakh for the completed construction of Sakhi Niwas at Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district, for which all requisite documents have already been submitted. Health Minister informed the Union Minister that while Rs. 2799.79 lakh was recently released under Poshan Abhiyaan, an additional Rs. 804.68 lakh was required for smartphone procurement.
Furthermore, the State was facing pending liabilities of Rs. 18.31 crore under key components such as mobile recharge for Anganwadi Workers, Community-Based Events (CBEs) and incentive payments.The Minister expressed hope that the Union Government would address these matters urgently to ensure seamless delivery of welfare schemes in the State.
The Union Minister assured the Health Minister to consider the demands of the State on priority.
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