Social Welfare Dept implements schemes for weaker sections

IMPHAL, May 6: The Department of Social Welfare under the State government has taken up various welfare programmes in the social welfare sector especially for the weaker sections of the society, said Directorate of Information & Public Relation (DIPR) in a press release.

The department provides welfare programme and services towards realizing goals and objectives through social defence (prohibition and social security for the aged), welfare programmes for persons with disabilities, integrated child protection schemes, women and child development including supplementary nutrition programmes and other development schemes.

The release said the department is implementing National Social Assistance Programme and Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme under which old persons are given monthly pension.

Apart from the other programmes initiated by the department, the Women Welfare Programme implemented from the year 2011-12 provides, financial assistance and support services to victims of rape. A scheme for Restorative Justice provides financial assistance and services such as shelter, counselling, medical aid, legal assistance, education and vocational training to the victims, it informed.

The rate of assistance ranges from Rs.70, 000 to Rs.1, 20,000 per victim. Financial assistance for the Needy Widow Women Scheme provides security by way of giving one-time financial assistance of Rs. 2000 to widows in the age group of 18-40 years.

The Welfare Training Institute, Takyel provides capacity building for self employment for destitute women in trades like embroidery, tailoring and cutting. Sewing Machines are provided to trainees on subsidy.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 has been implemented in 2007.So far, 597 cases have been taken up by Protection Officers designated under the DAV Act, 2005, the release further informed.

The Department initiates to provide education to differently abled persons by running two Special Schools for providing education up Class X standard for the Blind and the Mute at Takyel. One Braille Press was commissioned and inaugurated in the year 2011.

It maintained that four schemes Unemployment Allowance to educated unemployed person with disabilities, financial assistance to the persons with disabilities, Grant-in- Aid to the associations formed by the persons with disabilities or parents of persons with disabilities and Marriage Incentive Award have also been implemented by the department.

Under Central Sector, the department had launched the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) at Ukhrul TD Block on October 2, 1975. The scheme has been expanded throughout the entire State covering 42 CD/TD Blocks. The 43 ICDS Projects sanctioned by Govt. of India are functioning in full swing through Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in each Anganwadi Centre.

Under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, two Shelter Homes for girls in need of care and protection are established at Imphal West and Thoubal. Four NGO run Open Shelter provides Schooling and other alternative for Vulnerable Children in Urban Areas to protect from abuse and negligence.

Under the provision of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act 2000, there are five State Government run Specialized Adoption Agency in Imphal East, Bishnupur, Ukhrul and Chandel with a total capacity of 50 children who are orphan, surrendered and abandoned children and one NGO run SAA with an intake of 10 children in Imphal West district, the release added.