Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Social Welfare Department and the Agriculture Production Department, assessing the performance of key welfare missions and major sectoral initiatives aimed at inclusive development and rural economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the review of the Social Welfare Department, the Commissioner Secretary presented a detailed overview of the department’s performance, implementation of flagship schemes, financial status, infrastructure development and future priorities. The meeting was attended by senior officers, including Secretaries, Mission Directors of Mission Poshan, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya, Directors of Social Welfare Jammu and Kashmir, Chairpersons of Advisory Boards and other concerned officials.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the functioning of Directorates, Mission Directorates, Advisory Boards, Corporations and statutory bodies under the department, underscoring sustained efforts towards inclusive development, women empowerment, child welfare, nutrition security and social protection of vulnerable sections.
Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sarmad Hafeez informed that the department is working to uplift underserved sections through its Directorates, three Mission Directorates, Advisory Boards for Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Pahari-speaking people, and dedicated corporations including the J&K Women Development Corporation and the J&K SC/ST & BC Development Corporation.
Reviewing Mission Poshan and the strengthening of Nutrition and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Mission Director Sajad Hussain Ganai said that 99 per cent Anganwadi Centres in the Union Territory now have functional infrastructure with essential amenities. He added that Saksham Anganwadis equipped with modern facilities are being operationalised across J&K, while over 24,933 Anganwadi Workers have been trained under the ‘Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi’ initiative.
On Mission Shakti, Mission Director Mohammad Akber said the Mission continues to play a pivotal role in women empowerment and safety. He informed that more than 2,500 awareness workshops have been conducted through District Hubs for Empowerment of Women. As many as 11 new Shakti Sadans and five Sakhi Niwas (Working Women Hostels) have been approved and are nearing operationalisation. He further said that One Stop Centres have assisted 2,727 women, Women Helpline-181 has handled over 22,000 calls during FY 2025–26, and Nari Adalats have been operationalised in 50 Panchayats to resolve disputes at the grassroots level.
Reviewing Mission Vatsalya, Mission Director Nazim Zia Khan said significant progress has been achieved in child protection and rehabilitation. He informed that 23 Child Care Institutions, including observation homes, special adoption agencies and open shelters, have been established or approved across the Union Territory.
Emphasising the future roadmap, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for whole-of-government convergence, digital welfare governance, livelihood-linked assistance and universal social protection, with special focus on mother-and-child care, aspirational Anganwadis, skill development, self-employment and institutional strengthening to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary also reviewed a series of proposals presented by the Agriculture Production Department aimed at enhancing the production of wool, milk and meat in Jammu and Kashmir through value chain strengthening, genetic upgradation and expansion of processing infrastructure.
The meeting first reviewed the PAAVAN (Processing, Aggregation and Value Addition Network for Wool) project, which seeks to revive and modernise the wool sector in J&K through a federation-driven institutional framework. The project envisages establishment of two wool processing and value addition units at Jammu and Srinagar, creation of a revolving fund for assured procurement of wool from farmers and a three-tier cooperative structure up to UT level.
The Chief Secretary was also briefed on the J&K Elite Sheep Mission based on Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT/MOET) to accelerate genetic improvement in sheep and goats through establishment of 20 ETT laboratories with support from SKUAST Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting further reviewed the J&K Dairy Value Chain Infrastructure Expansion Programme under PMFME, aiming to establish 1,000 new milk value addition units over five years, expand organised processing capacity and improve farmers’ income.
