<span style="color: #222222;">As part of measures to mitigate sufferings of economically weaker and down trodden sections during Covid-19 lockdown, Social Welfare department has been working round the clock to ensure that basic necessities, essential commodities and other help is available to the poor and destitute living in the Union Territory. <br />''<br />''Director Social Welfare, Jammu Renu Bhatwal said, with a large number of pensioners dependent on the Government including old age, widows, physically disabled pensioners, as part of instant relief, Administration has provided two month advance payment  to the 3,16,451 existing beneficiaries in Jammu Division. <br />''<br />''Besides, new pensions in favour of about 90,000 cases in the Division have been approved by the government for which verification have almost been completed and pensions in all verified cases to be disbursed within 4-5 days. She also ensured disbursement of scholarships up to 31st March 2020 to over one lakh students despite the lockdown. These scholarships are being provided to SC, OBC, Economically-backward students under various centrally and UT sponsored schemes. <br />''<br />''She further said the department is undertaking regular weekly inspections of Bal Ashrams, Nari Niketans, Residential Schools for Visually Impaired, Halfway Homes and other residential institutions to ensure that these places are complying with guidelines to combat COVID-19. The department is providing masks, sanitizers and other protection equipment to these institutions besides ensuring adequate and good quality ration is being supplied to these homes.</span><br />