Funds for beneficiaries of CMST released
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, December 08 2020:
Minister for Social Welfare Henry Okram today announced that the funds allocated for Care Giver Allowance to the persons with disabilities under Chief Ministergi Shotharabasingi Tengbang (CMST) have been released through Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) to their respective bank accounts.
The Minister stated that the Social Welfare Department has disbursed a sum of Rs 7,500 each to 4,717 beneficiaries for five months ie from April, 2020 to August, 2020 under CMST today.
He further informed that a sum of Rs 3,000 each to 4,866 beneficiaries for the period of two months ie February and March, 2020 for Care Giver Allowance/Maintenance Grant to persons with disabilities with high support needs under CMST and 3,33 beneficiaries for the month of July and August, 2020 had been disbursed last month.
Stating that the present Government under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh is committed to bring positive change and inclusive development in the State, Henry mentioned that applications for other schemes like Unemployment Allowance and Scholarship under CMST are being invited and the amount for these schemes will be released soon.
For Marriage Incentive Award, there are 64 pending applications recommended by the previous Committee.
The amount of the award will be given to the beneficiaries selected by committee in this current financial year and new applications will be invited when all the pending applications are cleared, he added.
The Minister appreciated the efforts and dedication of Director (Social Welfare) Ng Uttam and other officials for disbursing the funds to the needy and poor people at this juncture.
The CMST scheme is designed with five sub-schemes.
The scheme includes Care-Giver allowances/Maintenance Grant to Persons with disability having a disability of 80% or more and they are provided with Rs 1,500/- per month.
The beneficiaries are also covered under "Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme for PwD" which will provide a health insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh to four members of a family and OPD charges.
The State Government provides a mandatory beneficiary contribution of Rs 366 per annum.
Further, persons with disabilities in the age group of 19-59 years who can work are provided with soft loans to take up economically viable employment opportunities and self-employment through Manipur Society for Skill Development (MSSD) .
The CMST includes a scholarship scheme to students with disabilities.
The rate of scholarships are: Rs 3,000 per annum for Class I-V, Rs 4,000 per annum for Class VI-VIII, Rs 6,000 per annum for Class IX-XII, Rs 8,000 per annum for Graduate & above.
Under the scheme, a free travel and concession to persons with disabilities is given for travelling in public transport under Manipur State Transport (MST) .
The scheme also includes a maintenance grant with monetary support of Rs 1,000 per month to the older persons in the age group of 60 years and above who are homeless or sheltered in old age homes recognized by the Department.
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