Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, arrived in Ladakh on an official visit on July 5 and was accorded a warm traditional welcome.

On his arrival at Zen Hotel, the Minister was received by Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare, Nidhi Malik, Director, Social and Tribal Affairs, and other senior officials of the department.

As part of his visit, Athawale chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Department of Social and Tribal Affairs to assess the implementation, progress, and impact of various social welfare programmes and flagship initiatives across the Union Territory. The meeting focused on strengthening welfare delivery mechanisms, ensuring effective implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, and addressing key challenges in the social welfare sector.

During the meeting, the Director, Social and Tribal Affairs, gave a detailed presentation on the status of major schemes and programmes, including the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), SMILE Scheme, NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem), initiatives of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The presentation also covered the department's action plan, fund utilisation, and the progress of welfare interventions for vulnerable sections of society.

Reviewing the implementation of these initiatives, the Minister sought updates on the functioning of old-age homes in Leh and Kargil under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana and emphasised the need to ensure quality care and dignity for senior citizens. He also reviewed the demographic profile of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Ladakh, the number of pension beneficiaries, and the overall outreach of social security schemes across the Union Territory.

Athawale further reviewed the progress of assistive device distribution through ALIMCO and stressed the importance of ensuring the timely availability of wheelchairs and other assistive aids for persons with disabilities. He also examined the functioning of the District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) in Leh and Kargil, including issues relating to staff salaries, operational requirements, and measures to strengthen drug demand reduction programmes in the region.

Emphasising the need for a robust and responsive social welfare system, the Minister directed the department to strengthen institutional infrastructure, enhance manpower, ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes in the newly created districts, and maintain close monitoring of programme outcomes. He underscored the importance of delivering welfare benefits efficiently so that every eligible beneficiary, particularly those belonging to vulnerable and marginalised communities, receives timely support.

The meeting was attended by Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare, Nidhi Malik; the Director, Social and Tribal Affairs; the Chief Welfare and Probation Officer; and other senior officers and officials of the department, who deliberated on strategies to further strengthen the social welfare framework in the Union Territory.