SHILLONG, DEC 4: The state cabinet on Friday approved the amendment of the guidelines of the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Social Assistance which seeks to also cover ‘single-mothers’ in the state under its purview.
Earlier, single mothers were not included as beneficiaries as the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Social Assistance as it only benefitted infirm, widows and persons with disabilities.
“We have approved the amendment of the guidelines in respect of the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Social Assistance to infirm, widows and the persons with disabilities,” Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Friday.
According to him, the department has come up with a proposal to amend this guideline so that few of the obstacles which the department came across at the time of implementation of this very important inclusive social assistance can be overcome.
“We have come across number of challenges which includes the issue of single mothers who do not come under the definition of widow,” he said.
Therefore, Sangma said, “Rather than the nomenclature which was referred to earlier in the scheme as ‘widow’, the department has come with an amendment that from now onwards be referred to as single-mothers.”
“The sole intention is to actually provide the kind of social assistance from the government so that single mothers who are confronted by challenges and responsibilities of upbringing of their children, education of their children also can be covered,” he said adding “By virtue of the definition of widow single mothers cannot be oeligible for the scheme.”
When asked on the population of single-mothers in the state, Sangma said, “We have set a target for Social Welfare department to reach out to such targeted population of the society.” He said this is a continuous process and in order to ensure that more people with this background come and register and apply for this benefit, the department has been embarking upon number of social mobilization camps.
Sangma said the state government is still trying to activate this process of social mobilization so that besides those who comes under definition of widows, women who are single mothers can be brought under the purview of this social assistance of the state government.
Sangma said that the government would like to ensure that it is committed to reach out to this particular section of the society so that they can avail the benefit of the programme and will also help the department in knowing as to how many single mothers do really exit in the state.
Meanwhile, the social welfare department has also amended the eligibility criteria for available of the scheme in respect of income.
According to the CM, earlier it was indicated that the eligible persons belonging to the different category of infirm should belong to marginalize family and income was indicated that it should not exceed Rs 12, 000 per annum.
However stating it is not possible to justify this figure, he said, “The department was ask to amend this and it has come up with a proposal that marginalize family’s income should not exceed Rs 36,000 per annum,” adding “We have also amended the rules related to persons with disabilities.”
Reacting to instance where beneficiaries are being deprived of this scheme just because they fail to support a particular political party, Sangma said, “Such incidents should be brought to the notice of the government to ensure nobody should be denied of their rights and if any such eligible people are being deprived then necessary action will be taken.”- By Our Reporter
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