Make waqf board land free from encroachment; Min Arya

The transport, social welfare and minority welfare Minister Yashpal Arya has ordered removal of all position holders and nominated members in social, minority and tribal welfare departments appointed in previous Congress regime. The minister gave these orders while taking review meeting of the social welfare department on Sunday at Vidhan Sabha auditorium.  Taking stern note of the encroachment of Waqf board properties in the state, the Minister asked the officials to take concrete and time bound action on these encroachers.  He also ordered effective advocacy in all property related disputes of Waqf board in courts.  Arya also directed the district magistrates to prepare a detailed note of the encroachments on the properties of Waqf board. Taking exception of the non receipt of scholarships to some students, the minister asked the officials to remove the officers responsible. He ordered setting up of a grievance cells for complaints related with scholarships at Dehradun and Haldwani. These cells would have a toll free number and would clear complaints within 15 days of their receipt. Arya said that multipurpose welfare camps should be organized at block levels.  The minister expressed concern on proportionately less number of students receiving scholarships of Minority welfare department, Arya directed the officials to ensure that all eligible students belonging to minority communities get the scholarships. He also called for transparency in selection process for Haj. The minister directed the Secretary Minority welfare Bhupender Kaur Olakh to start the process of recruitment on the vacant posts in the minority welfare directorate and ensure speeding of slow pace of the activities of minority welfare. He said that effective and personal advocacy is needed at Public Service Commission and Subordinate service selection commission for filling all vacant positions in minority welfare department.  The minister took a detailed review of the various schemes of the minority welfare. On the issue of government recognition to the Madarsas, Arya said that these recognitions should only be granted after ensuring that all norms are fulfilled the madarsas concerned. He said that basic amenities like toilet and potable water should be available in all Madarsas. The minister directed the officials to forward schemes worth Rs 150 crores for projects like Kabristan, community halls, polytechnics, potable water, technical education and health to the central government for financial year 2017-2018. The minister also took a detailed note of the progress of various schemes of social welfare department.