Leh, July 5: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Sunday reviewed the implementation of key social welfare programmes in Ladakh and directed officials to strengthen welfare delivery, institutional infrastructure and outreach to vulnerable communities.
Athawale, who arrived in Ladakh on an official visit, was received by senior officials of the Social and Tribal Welfare Department, including Nidhi Malik. He later chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of centrally sponsored schemes and the overall social welfare framework in the Union Territory.
Officials briefed the Minister on the implementation of major schemes, including the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), SMILE Scheme, NAMASTE, ALIMCO initiatives, and the enforcement of the Protection of Civil Rights Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
During the meeting, Athawale reviewed the functioning of old-age homes in Leh and Kargil, pension coverage, the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and the distribution of assistive devices for persons with disabilities. He also assessed the functioning of District De-Addiction Centres in Leh and Kargil, focusing on staffing, infrastructure and measures to strengthen drug de-addiction services.
The Union Minister stressed the need for efficient implementation of welfare schemes, improved manpower, stronger institutional mechanisms and timely delivery of benefits, particularly in the newly created districts. He directed the department to closely monitor programme outcomes and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive government support without delay.
The review meeting was attended by senior officers of the Social and Tribal Welfare Department, who discussed measures to further strengthen Ladakh’s social welfare network and improve service delivery across the Union Territory.
