GUWAHATI, July 10 � The State government has decided to undertake a slew of welfare measures for women, children, senior citizens and the physically challenged.
The Department of Social Welfare, in keeping with the guidelines of the Central government, will extend Rs 4,000 to pregnant women above 19 years under the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana. However, to be entitled for the benefit, the women or her spouse should not be working in any government or private organizations.
The financial succour will come in three installments for the beneficiaries. Rs 1,500 would be provided as the first installment, another amount of Rs 1,500 would be given as the second installment and the third installment will carry Rs 1,000.
Social Welfare Minister Akon Bora, while addressing media persons here on Friday, said that the aid for pregnant women will definitely go a long way in ensuring the well being of the mother and child.
�First we will start this scheme as a pilot project in Kamrup and Goalpara districts,� informed Bora.
Another ambitious project that the department has finalised is to cover 3,85,276 adolescent girls in the State under the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls.
Bora said that girls between 11 to 18 years and from poor families would be beneficiaries of this scheme that has three components � nutrition, health and vocational training � to take care of the needs of a growing girl. �This scheme will ensure that the nutrition requirement of adolescent girls are met as well as it will provide them an opportunity to be self sufficient,� said Bora.
Initially eight districts � Kamrup, Hailakandi, Jorhat, Darrang, Dibrugarh, Karbi Anglong, Kokrajhar and Dhubri � would be covered under this scheme.
On the other hand, the department has decided to implement the legal provisions meant for ensuring the rights of the child in true spirit. It needs to be mentioned here that despite all the laws framed for protecting the rights of the child, a truly child friendly ambience is yet to be created in the State.
�We have set up Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees in all the districts,� said Bora adding that the department will take steps to set up observation home and children home in all the districts. This financial year, the department will set up children home at Tinsukia and Bongaigaon, and an observation home in Dibrugarh.
The department will continue with its monthly stipend of Rs 500 for the registered physically challenged unemployed, said Bora.
�Ensuring the physical, mental and emotional well being of the senior citizens would be the topmost priority of the government,� said Bora mentioning that the government is planning an old age home at Sonapur.
Bora also said that the department would generate 15,000 jobs in a short while.
