Quality of life improves through welfare services

28 December 2016

Department of Social Welfare has been giving special emphasis to welfare programmes of child, women and elderly persons in the state in the last 15 years. The department has been developing and planning to improve quality of life of the people through accelerated economic growth, equitable distribution and provision of welfare services, especially for the weaker sections of the society.

For the welfare of older persons in the State, the department has implemented National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme (MOAP). In the last 15 years 2,41,365 people were covered under NSAP and 1,03,717 persons were covered under MOAP scheme.

The department also implemented “Financial Assistance and Support services to the victims of Rape: A scheme for Restorative Justice” for the welfare of women in the state. The Scheme was implemented in 2011-12 and provides assistance to the rape victims and support services such as shelter, counseling, medical aid, legal assistance, education and vocational training depending on the needs of the victim. Since the launch of the scheme 60 rape victims has been given financial aid of Rs 47,90,000.

In 2011-12 the scheme Financial Assistance to Poor and Needy Widow Women was launched to provide social security by giving one time financial assistance. Widows in the age group of 18-40 years are given @ Rs 2000 each under the scheme. Since the launch of the scheme 8,264 widows have been given financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1,38, 28,000.

For the welfare of disabled students the Department is running two schools namely Government Ideal blind School and Government Deaf and Mute School in Takyel. The two schools provide education upto 10th Standard and have produced 145 matriculate students in the last 15 years.In 2011, one Braille Press was inaugurated at Government Ideal blind School.

Social Welfare Department has implemented 4 schemes for the welfare of persons of disabilities in the last 15 years. In 2006-07 Unemployment Allowance to the educated unemployed persons with disabilities was implemented. Since the implementation of the scheme 401 persons have been covered. In 2006-07 Financial Assistance to the persons with disabilities was implemented covering 4,135 people under the scheme. In 2011-12 Grant-in-aid to the Associations formed by the persons with disabilities or parents of persons with disabilities. Since the launch of the scheme 91 persons have benefitted. In 2012-13 Marriage Incentive Award was launched. 72 people were covered under the scheme.

Social Welfare Department has been providing platform for development and participation opportunities for children. The State Bal Bhavan at Khuman Lampak maintained by the department is affiliated to the National Bal Bhavan Society, New Delhi. In the last 15 years, 14 children from the state have received National Awards.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme launched on 2nd October, 1975 at ukhrul TD block has been expanded throughout the state covering 42 CD/TD Blocks along with Imphal City (urban) and one State ICDS cell and 8 District ICDS cells. 43 ICDS projects in Manipur sanctioned by Ministry of Women and Child Development are operational in full swing. These projects include 10 Rural Projects, 1 Urban Project and 32 Tribal Projects. The projects are functioning through Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in each Anganwadi centre and Mini-Anganwadi Workers in each Mini-Anganwadi Centre.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development combined its existing child protection scheme under one centrally sponsored scheme entitled “Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) to reach out to children in difficult circumstances. There are two Shelter Home for girls for temporary reception of children in need of care and protection (Thoubal and Imphal West). There are 4 NGOs run Open Shelter to provide services like Schooling and other alternative for the increasing number of Vulnerable Children in Urban areas to protect from abuse and neglect in the Street. There is one NGO run Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA) with a total capacity of 10 children in Imphal West District.

The State government has also established 5 Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA) in Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Ukhrul and Chandel district with a total capacity of 50 children who are orphan, surrendered and abandoned. So far, 80 children who come under the category of orphan, surrendered and abandoned have been given adoption to suitable parents. The Social Welfare Department on 3rd October, 2015 inaugurated Government Children Home Takyel.

Social Welfare Department during the last few years took cognizance on an average of 500 cases per year. The cognizance was taken up by 9 Child Welfare Committee and Juvenile Justice Board. The District Child Protection Unit in co-ordination with Child Welfare Committees of the concerned districts successfully repatriated more than 470 children from outside the State, which is one of the significant success of the dept.