Health, Social Justice & Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil who presided over a review meeting of the various schemes run by the Directorate of Women and Child Development (WCD), stated that that the State Government was taking all measures to empower women folk so that they could live with dignity and contribute as equal partners in development of the State.
He added that the focus was also on nurturing children with full opportunities for growth and development. The Minister said that the District Programme Officers (DPOs) and Child Development & Protection Officers (CDPOs) were ensuring that both the child and the expectant women get nutritious diet and get proper health check-ups and other facilities.
He asked the DPOs and CDPOs to make certain that the children coming to Aanganwaadi centres get all the facilities as being provided and assured that the State Government would provide all possible help in this cause. He stated the department officials were taking care of expectant women and newborns.
He added that children at a very tender age visit the Aanganwaadi centres and it was the responsibility of the concerned staff to nurse and nurture their delicate minds and give them healthy food. On Mukhya Mantri Sukh Aashraya Yojana, (MMSAY) the minister stated that the orphans have been adopted as 'Children of the State' by the State Government and added that such children would be given best education, skill development training and other state-of-the-art facilities.
He added that an amount of Rs. 2,15,37,000 has been disbursed to 1,084 children of the Child Care Institutions (CCI) as social security. Apart from this, an amount of Rs. 4,34,88,000 has been disbursed to 2,718 orphans of the state in the form of pocket money in this fiscal.
Separately, Rs. 5,000 per child as apparel allowance amounting to Rs. 54,20,000 has been disbursed to 1,084 children of the CCI. Festival allowance of Rs. 59,81,500 has also been provided to 1,084 inmates of the CCI, stated the minister. The minister said that Rs. 32,52,000 each, have been disbursed for diet and for the books to 1,084 children of the CCI adding that 30 laptops have also been distributed to the meritorious students of these institutions.
Furthermore, Rs. 28,30,707 have been distributed to 48 beneficiaries for pursuing higher education, and Rs. 26,95,994 have been distributed to 17 beneficiaries undertaking vocational training. The Minister also reviewed progress of various other schemes as Beti Hai Anmol Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Kanya Daan Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Shagun Yojana, Mother Teresa Asahay Matri Sambal Yojana, Assistance to Women for Self Employment Scheme, Widow Remarriage Scheme, Mission Vatsalya, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti etc.
Secretary Social Justice & Empowerment, Health & Family Welfare M. Sudha Devi, Director WCD Rupali Thakur, Additional Director Mohan Dutt, Joint Director Vandana Chauhan were also present at the meeting amongst the other officers of the department.