Lucknow – Minister of State for Backward Class Welfare and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Independent Charge), Narendra Kashyap, conducted a departmental review meeting today at the Secretariat, Naveen Bhawan, Lucknow. The meeting focused on assessing the progress of schemes related to persons with disabilities, backward classes, and scholarships. The minister directed officials to ensure the swift and effective implementation of these schemes.
Minister Kashyap emphasized that eligible beneficiaries should receive the benefits of the Disability Pension Scheme on time, with proper monitoring at all levels. He also instructed officials to expedite the free distribution of prosthetic limbs and assistive devices to ensure that those in need are adequately supported. Furthermore, he warned divisional officers with unsatisfactory progress to take immediate corrective measures.
Regarding the Marriage Incentive Scheme, the minister directed that the application process be simplified, and financial assistance be disbursed promptly to beneficiaries. He stressed that welfare programs for persons with disabilities and backward classes should be organized with high standards to maintain transparency and effectiveness.
During the review of scholarship schemes, Minister Kashyap issued clear instructions to complete the scholarship allocation process within the stipulated timeframe, ensuring timely financial assistance to students. He also emphasized the need to ensure timely appointments of personnel to prevent any hindrance in the implementation of these schemes.
While assessing the Computer Training Scheme, the minister stated that youth should receive training benefits on time and that the scheme should be widely promoted at the district level. Under this initiative, approximately 34,000 students from the Other Backward Classes will receive ‘O’ Level and CCC (Course on Computer Concepts) training.
In reviewing the progress of the Marriage Grant Scheme, the minister instructed officials to enhance awareness of the application process through extensive outreach. A budget of Rs. 200 crore has been allocated for the scheme for the financial year 2024-25, of which Rs. 187.198 crore has already been disbursed to districts.
The meeting also included an evaluation of pre-matric (Classes 9-10) and post-matric (Classes 11-12 and beyond) scholarship schemes. The minister directed that all actions be carried out as per the prescribed schedule. For Class 9-10, a total of 12,30,819 students applied, of whom 10,11,871 applications were approved. For Class 11-12, all 9,65,322 applicants were approved. Additionally, for higher education (post-matric) scholarships, 19,20,458 applications were submitted and approved. Minister Kashyap mandated that scholarship and fee reimbursement processes remain transparent, with funds transferred directly to students’ bank accounts.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Kashyap emphasized the need for proactive efforts at all levels to ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes for persons with disabilities and backward classes reach the maximum number of eligible individuals. He instructed divisional and district officials to conduct continuous monitoring and inspections to effectively implement scholarship, marriage grant, and computer training schemes.
