Menu Toggle
More
Close

Social Welfare Department

The term Social Welfare in the public domain encompasses Welfare in the conventional sense, as well as providing legal remedies and Direct Benefit Transfers. Here we may briefly highlight a few activities that have gained importance over the years and have the necessary delivery mechanisms in place

Direct Benefit Transfer schemes:-

Pensions and scholarships are paid monthly in this mode as delineated below.

    • Name of the scheme: Widow Pension
      • District Quota: 2003
      • Amount (Rs.): 750
  • Name of the scheme: Old Age Pension
    • District Quota: 2764
    • Amount (Rs.): 750
  • Name of the scheme: Disability Pension
    • District Quota: 2136
    • Amount (Rs.): 750
  • Name of the scheme: Manabik Pension (> 50% disability)
    • District Quota: Unlimited
    • Amount (Rs.): 750
  • Name of the scheme: Disability Scholarships
    • District Quota: 200
    • Amount (Rs.): 300
  • Name of the scheme: Economic Rehabilitation Grant
    • District Quota: 125
    • Amount (Rs.): 10000
  • Name of the scheme: Disability Identity Cards
    • District Quota: Unlimited
    • Amount (Rs.):  ………….

Child Protection Schemes:-

This is administered by the Juvenile Justice Act 2001 and has the following forms.

  • Type of Protection: Institutional Care
    • Place of stay: Govt. and NGO-run Homes
    • Benefit: Full maintenance
  • Type of Protection: Non – Institutional Care
    • Place of stay: Govt. Hostels (Kastuba)
    • Benefit: Full maintenance
  • Type of Protection: Sponsorship (individual child)
    • Place of stay: Family or next of kin
    • Benefit: Rs.2,500/- per month*
  • Type of Protection: Foster Care
    • Place of stay: Foster Parents
    • Benefit: Rs. 2,000/- per month
  • Type of Protection: Adoption
    • Place of stay: SAA Homes (Govt / NGO)
    • Benefit: Full maintenance
  • Type of Protection: Victim Compensation
    • Place of stay: Family reintegration
    • Benefit: Rs. 3 – 5 lakhs**

      * fixed by Child Welfare Committee for a maximum period of 4 years

      ** awarded by State Legal Services Authority against the Acid attack and Rape

Maintenance and Protection of Senior Citizens Tribunal:-

The Tribunal functions at the Sub-division level under the Chairmanship of the SDO concerned with the District Magistrate being the Appellate Authority. In 2019-20 a total of 31 cases have so far been disposed of by the Tribunal. However, the absence of Conciliation Officers and the pace of inquiry by the police in cases of complaint and in the execution of the orders by the Magistrate needs to improve. Most Senior Citizens do not have medical coverage, as well as knowledge of property rules. This might be facilitated by the Govt. (in camp mode) which can make the scheme more effective.

Protection of women who are victims of Domestic Violence:-

The scheme grants interim relief to women who are victims of marital violence. Besides, it also has penal provisions other than those in section 498A of IPC. In 2019-20 a total of 31 complaints have been registered and are lying in different stages of inquiry and adjudication. However, advocates engaged by DLSA to provide legal aid to victims have mostly failed to cause hearing (at regular intervals) as a result of which the victims have not always gotten the benefit. District Authority should take this up with DLSA.

Disability Management Sector:-

  1. The Disability Relief and Rehabilitation Center caters to a host of services for persons with disability. It acts as the extension arm of the State Commissioner of Disabilities and the National Trust Act.
  2. Manufacturing Prosthetic Aids and Appliances for People with various types of disabilities.
  3. Organizing monthly screening camps for identifying beneficiaries of Govt. schemes.
  4. Carrying out extensive IEC at Block and Samsad levels on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  5. Helping District Authority to screen and grant Legal Guardianship of mentally disabled persons.

One Stop Center, Swadhar Griha and Widows Cell:-

One Stop Center has been envisaged as an emergency response to women in distress where they will be given temporary shelter, medical aid, and legal and psychological counseling as needed thereafter. District Authority has installed the necessary physical infrastructure for this and formal approval from State is awaited. Two proposals from NGOs in Kaliachak – III and Old Malda Blocks for setting up Swadhar Griha (home for adult women) have been sent for approval. The preparation of an exhaustive database of widows by the Labour Department and by Awws is in the final stages.

Children Home for Girls (Shaishali):-

This is the only Govt run JJ Home in the district having its own building, where CNCP girl children (who have been placed by the CWC) stay and get a full range of basic services, education, and recreational facility. In the last year, 436 girls have been rescued and 422 girls have been restored back to their families. Foreign (illegal) inmate girls are also staying here without discrimination and the process of repatriation is underway using consular procedures and guidelines. A regular post-restoration follow-up visit is conducted by personnel of the Home and DCPU to gauge if family integration has happened in the true sense and if Kanyashree and other entitlements are reaching them.