SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday chaired the 12th Executive Council Meeting of the J&K Rehabilitation Council for Orphans, Women and Disabled Persons, reviewing its functioning, achievements and action plan for 2026-27.
The meeting focused on welfare interventions aimed at improving mobility and self-reliance among specially-abled persons and providing greater exposure and opportunities to children from vulnerable and economically weaker sections.
A major proposal approved during the meeting was the procurement of around 1,500 retrofitted motorised tricycles for eligible orthopaedically disabled persons in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of Rs 12.95 crore for 2026-27.
The initiative prioritises students, girl students, artisans and small vendors who possess Priority Household ration cards and have at least 40 per cent locomotor disability.
Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sarmad Hafeez informed the meeting that during 2025-26, the department had released Rs 11.05 crore under the CAPEX budget to the State Motor Garages Department for procurement of around 1,284 motorised tricycles through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), at an approximate cost of Rs 86,000 per unit.
For 2026-27, Rs 4 crore has already been released following completion of the mandatory codal formalities, the meeting was informed.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the implementation of the ‘Watan Ko Jano’ Youth Exchange Programme, which has been fully funded and supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs since 2012.
The programme provides children and youth from vulnerable sections, including children of militancy-hit victims, specially-abled children and those belonging to economically weaker families, an opportunity to experience the cultural diversity and developmental progress of different parts of the country.
The Executive Director of the Rehabilitation Council informed the meeting that around 250 children from economically weaker families, studying in government schools and residing in Palash and Parisha Homes managed by the Social Welfare Department, visited Lucknow and New Delhi in April 2026.
The children, accompanied by 23 coordinators, also met and interacted with the President and Vice President of India during the visit.
Building on the initiative, the Council will take another 400 children on national exposure visits in two phases during 2026-27. The visits will cover the Mumbai-New Delhi and Jaipur-New Delhi circuits, with funding already secured from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Dulloo directed the concerned departments to fast-track procurement and implementation processes while ensuring transparency and adherence to prescribed procedures.
He also stressed the need to maximise outreach and ensure that welfare schemes translate into tangible benefits for eligible beneficiaries at the grassroots level, with particular focus on empowerment and social inclusion of vulnerable sections.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Director General, Budget; and Executive Director, Rehabilitation Council.
