Tummala Nageshwar Rao, Minister for Roads & Buildings, Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens, conducted a review meeting with senior officials here today at NAC.
On Arogya Lakshmi Scheme, the minister asked the officials to provide one hot cooked full meal to pregnant and lactating women launched on January 1, 2015 in all Anganwadi Centres with full commitment. All infrastructure and items should be put in place for carrying out the program successfully. It should be ensured that fine rice and good quality milk is supplied.
The Minister advised the officials to seek due Central funds for schemes sponsored by the Government of India like and ICDS & ICPS and also aim to expand the schemes like “’SABLA” and “Kishori shakti yojana” targeted to improve the health and awareness of adolescent girls, to all districts of the State, as presently these schemes are restricted only to Hyderabad, Warangal and Nalgonda districts. One Stop Resource Centers should be started in all districts as already instructed to District Collectors. These OSRCs will be preferably established in hospitals and will provide medical attention, legal counselling and police protection to victims of atrocities, domestic violence and so on. He also instructed that repairs should be taken up in all dilapidated buildings and an action plan should be drawn for improving the infrastructure of Anganwadi centers, buildings and Mahila Pranganams.
The schemes of the Department of Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens were also reviewed. The minister instructed that as far as possible all eligible disabled should be covered 100% under all welfare schemes like distribution of aids and providing of housing and other such benefits. Priority should be given to those having highest percentage of disability under different categories i.e. blind, hearing impaired and orthopedically handicapped persons.
On being informed about the need to have old age homes in all districts, the Minister responded that the Government would consider taking up establishment of old age homes in all districts in a phased manner. He instructed that there should be coordinated efforts by all Departments to ensure that no beggar is on the roads in Hyderabad and other districts. Not only food and rehabilitation, but life skills should be extended to beggars so that they become self employed and are deterred from continuing begging as a profession. Tummala reiterated that the schemes of Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens Department should be implemented with utmost care and dedication to markedly improve the status of women, children, disabled and senior citizens in society. He also said he would conduct one more detailed review within 10 days.
Sridhar, IAS, Director, Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens and M. Prashanti, IAS, Deputy Secretary to Government, Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens among other officials attended the Review Meeting. (NSS)