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| HC issues directions in PIL on old age home | | | Et Report
Jammu, Feb 11 : In a Public Interest Litigation filed by Viklang Chattra Trust regarding better care of old age home, Division Bench of State High Court Comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur directed the Secretary to government, Social Welfare Department to furnish the details of allocation of funds, utilization of funds, number of beneficiaries under the various schemes and mechanism to ensure that the funds are utilized for those for whom allocation has been made. When this PIL was taken-up for hearing Division Bench observed that in pursuance of earlier orders, three status reports with regard to release of grant in aid, identification of land at Jammu and Srinagar for establishment of old age homes and publicizing various welfare schemes have been filed. These reports were taken on record vide order dated December 12, 2013 and time was granted for filing counter, if any.
Division Bench further observed that Sr. Adv Sunil Sethi argued that no substantive steps have been taken to comply with the directions issued by this Court. The Compliance report dated December 11, 2013 filed by the Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department shows that in the meeting held on November 27, 2013 directions were issued with regard to establishing Composite Homes for providing facilities to old aged persons, physically challenged persons, deaf and dumb and orphans beginning with one in each division of the State.
The directions have also been issued to both the Directors to pursue the cases with respective Divisional Commissioners and submit the DPRs to the administrative department for projecting the cases to the Planning & Development Department/Finance Department for release of requisite funds. In respect of directions for establishing old age homes to provide facilities to old aged persons beginning with one in each division of the State, similar instructions have also been issued to both the Directors to take up the matter with Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority and Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority for identification of land respectively at Jammu and Srinagar for old age homes. After identifying the land they are to get the DPRs prepared through Public Works Department and submit the same to the administrative department for according approval after taking up the matter with Planning & Development Department for release of agreed amount. It has also been stated that grant in favour of old age homes at Kathua and Udhampur has been released for an amount of Rs.10.00 lakh by placing the said amount at the disposal of the Director, Social Welfare, Jammu exclusively and directions have also been issued for wide publicity of all the schemes of social welfare department floated either by the State or by the Central Government, so that awareness is created among the masses and benefits of the scheme are availed by the needy people. Sr. Adv Sunil Sethi has pointed out that directions are required to be issued to the respondents for furnishing details in respect of beneficiaries of the schemes, total funds allocated to the scheme and the total fund utilized under each schemes. Highlighting the fate of Bal Ashram and Nari Niketans, it has been pointed out that they are virtually dependent on alms being paid by the residents of the area and they hardly get their meals. In respect of proper utilization of grant-in-aid released to NGOs no mechanism is in place to ensure that the benefit of grants reaches to those, who deserve it. Upon this Division Bench directed direct the Secretary to government, Social Welfare Department to furnish the details of allocation of funds, utilization of funds, number of beneficiaries under the various schemes and mechanism to ensure that the funds are utilized for those for whom allocation has been made.
Division Bench also observed that it is evident that no steps have been taken to identify the land for establishing composite homes and old age homes in either of the provinces of Jammu and Kashmir State. The government land which is retrieved from the encroachers may also be considered for establishing composite homes and old age homes instead of putting it back in the hands of encroachers. The matter is required to be attended with great urgency and directed that immediate steps be taken to do the needful. JNF |
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