Public grudge against SW due to fund shortage: Mirabai
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 27 2013:
Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai has stated that Social Welfare Department is an important Government Department that deals with people from birth to death, but people often have grudges against the Department due to shortfall in fund allocation.
She was speaking in the State Legislative Assembly during the discussion for demand grant of Rs.275,69,74,000 for Social Welfare and Rs.16,21,00,000 for Demand No.16 Cooperation today.
Mirabai further said that the issue of child trafficking remains unabated in the State.
However, the State Government has set up Child Rights Protection Committee in every district to tackle the menace of child trafficking.
Offices would be opened up at the Old High Court complex by acquiring some rooms, she noted.
Dwelling on the problems of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Social Welfare Minister stated that Centre used to provide 100 percent assistance for the scheme, but since 2008, the State Government has to provide 10 percent share in the scheme.
Rs.26 crores has been sanctioned for the scheme and so the pending honorariums of 14 months for Anganwadi workers and helpers would be disbursed soon.
Incentives would also be given to various Anganwadi Centres within a short time.
9607 Anganwadi Centres have been opened up in the State while 451 Centres are yet to be established, Mirabai stated.
She also mentioned that there are provisions for construction of children homes in all nine districts of the State for which Rs.12 crores has been earmarked in the current financial year.
Mirabai further pledged to revive the cooperative movement in the State.
MLAs L Ibomcha, Dr I Ibohalbi, Th Bishwajit, Samuel Risom, Th Shyamkumar and P Brojen participated in the demand discussion.
Both the demands for Social Welfare and Cooperation were passed by the State Assembly.
Meanwhile, another demand of Rs.11,17,89,000 for Relief and Disaster Management was also passed by the State Assembly today.