Social Welfare

The Welfare of SC/ST and OBC, includes Post Delivery Financial Assistance to Women for Nutrition; Stitching Charges of School uniform for S.C. Children, Free Education for Meritorious SC and OBC students; Apni Beti Apna Dhan; Holiday Camps for Scheduled Caste; Encouragement to inter-caste Marriage; Development of Skills amongst SC children living in Jhugies and Slum Areas; Seminar on Life, Mission & Work of Baba Saheb Dr.B.R. Ambedkar, Monetary Relief/ Rehabilitation of Victims of Atrocities; Strengthening of Machinery for the enforcement of PCR Act, Housing Scheme for Scheduled Castes (Dr.Ambedkar Awas Yojana) etc..

For Social Security and Welfare of Women and Children, there are schemes like Creches for the Children of Working Mothers; Construction of Anganwari Centre; Home for Delinquent/Neglected Children; Children in need of care and protection; Financial Assistance to Widows/Destitute Women; Nari Niketan etc.

For the disabled, schemes of Scholarship, Subsidy on Petrol/Diesel; Prosthetic aid, Unemployment Allowance; Free Vocational Training in Computer and Beauty Culture etc. are being implemented. For the aged, scheme of Old Age Pension is being implemented and Identity Cards to Senior Citizens are also being issued. An ex-gratia payment to the family of deceased Govt. servants is being released by this department. The following institutions are functioning in the Union Territory of Chandigarh for providing shelter to the aged:-

• A Senior Citizens Home has been set up Sector 43, Chandigarh which is being managed by Chandigarh Child & Women Development Corporation.
• A Home for Old & Destitute People is functioning in Sector 15, Chandigarh in the Govt. building which is being managed by the Lions Club Chandigarh (Central).

WELFARE OF SCHEDULED CASTES

• ENCOURAGEMENT TO INTER-CASTE MARRIAGE

A sum of Rs.5000/- is granted to the married couples provided that one of the spouse belongs to S.C. Community. The applicant shall apply on plain paper alongwith SC certificate, marriage Registration Certificate and proof of their residence in Chandigarh with photographs of their marriage.

• POST NATAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR SCHEDULED CASTES WOMEN.

(i) Family income should not exceeds Rs.24,000/-

(ii) Applicant should be resident of Chandigarh for the last 3 years.

• STITCHING CHARGES OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS FOR S.C. CHILDREN.

• APNI BETI APNA DHAN

1. Either of the parents of the girl should not a Govt. employee or of any Govt. Board or Corporation or any Public Sector Undertaking or organization having Class I or Class II status.
2. Either of parents is not income tax payee.
3. The total income of family does not exceed Rs.40,000 p.a. if either of the parents is not covered under above two clauses.
4. The girl child is either the first or second child of the family. Family having more than two children will not be eligible.

• SCHEME OF FREE EDUCATION FOR MERITORIOUS SCHEDULED CASTES AND OTHER BACKWARD STUDENTS.

1. A lumpsum annual allowance of Rs.5,000/- payable in one instalment in the start of the academic session.
2. Full reimbursement of tuition fees upto a maximum of Rs.30,000/- per annum and other non refundable charges payable to the institution.
3. A monthly pocket allowance of Rs.500/- for day students.
4. A monthly allowance of Rs.1000/- for hostellers.
5. For students taking admission in cities other than Chandigarh, reimbursement of actual journey fare will be admissible thrice in one academic year provided fare for to and fro journey by ordinary bus or ordinary class rail does not exceed Rs.150/-.
6. Minimum essential books and stationery.
7. Any other allowance considered necessary by Administration from time to time.

• FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE MARRIAGE OF DAUGHTERS OF WIDOWS/ DESTITUTE WOMEN.

• DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS AMONGST SC CHILDREN LIVING IN JHUGIES AND SLUM AREAS.

• WELFARE OF CHILDREN

1. Balika Samridhi Yojana
   Under this scheme Rs.500/- is given to the newly born girl child in the families whose monthly income is below the poverty line.
   
    
2. Bal Niketan Society
   This society is running a Home for the Destitute Children in a Govt. building in Sector 15, Chandigarh under the Govt. of India's Scheme Welfare of Children in need of Care and Protection. The Social Welfare Department bears the 90% cost of expenditure on the maintenance of inmates.
   

• WELFARE OF WOMEN

This is a U.T. budget scheme and each beneficiaries is given Rs.200/- p.m. The eligibility criteria for the grant of this benefit is as under:-

1. The applicant (women) in the age group of 18-59 years who have been left without sufficient means of subsistence after the demise of her husband or has been deprived of financial support from her husband because of his continues absence or because of physical/mental incapacity or desertion by her husband or any other reasons.
2. The applicant must have been resided in UT, Chandigarh for more than 3 years at the time of making an application.
3. The women who belong to the family wherein their family income does not exceed Rs.1000/- p.m excluding the income of sons who are living separately.

44 creches for children of working mothers are being run through various voluntary organizations as per approved norms.

III. National Family Benefit Scheme

The family of the household below the poverty line get an assistance of Rs.10,000/- on the death of its primary bread winner if the age of deceased exceeds 18 years and is less than 65 years.

IV. Nari Niketan

Nari Niketan at Sector 26 Chandigarh has been set up to provide shelter and protection to destitute, deprived, socially marginalized women in difficult circumstances for motivation of better life by way of earning income. Mathii making project are being carried out in the institution by the Chandigarh Child & Women Development Corporation. A vocational Training Centre has also been constructed in the premises of Nari Niketan.

• WELFARE OF HANDICAPPED

Persons who are blind, deaf, orthopaedically handicapped who suffer from 40% disability and more are given financial assistance of Rs.200 p.m. The eligibility criteria for availing this benefit is as under:-

(i) The applicant should be resident of Chandigarh for the last three years.

(ii) Income limit for getting Handicapped Pension is:-

(a) Rs.1000 of the person concerned

(b) If married, total income of both husband and wife should not exceed Rs.1500/- p.m.

(c) If not earning, then income of his/her parents, in case of one child should not exceed Rs.500/- p.m. and if two or more children, then Rs.3000/- p.m.

II. Petrol Subsidy

Handicapped persons who are owner of motorized vehicles are entitled to 50% subsidy on actual expenditure on purchase of petrol/ diesel. The physically handicapped persons having an income upto Rs.2500/- per month from all sources are eligible for subsidy. Those physically handicapped persons who are already in receipt of the conveyance allowance either from any voluntary or State source shall not be eligible for grant of subsidy on purchase of petrol/ diesel.

III. Assistance to handicapped persons purchase of AIDS/Appliances

The financial assistance is provided to physically handicapped persons for purchase of Aids/ Appliances to increase their mobility in their day to day working. The quantum of assistance is determined in proportion to the income of the applicant. Monthly income of the applicant from all sources should not exceed Rs.8,000/-. The applicant is entitled for the 100% cost on purchase of artificial limbs/ aids/ appliances subject to maximum of Rs.20,000/-

IV. State Resource Centre

A State Resource Centre-cum-District Rehabilitation Centre has been set up in Government Medical College, Sector 32, Chandigarh under the Government of India Scheme, National Programme for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (NPRPD). The main objective behind setting up of the center is to deliver medical, social vocational and educational rehabilitative services to the physically and mentally challenged by providing access to these services through community based functionaries.

The coordinating agencies other than Government Medical College are Government Institute of Mentally Retarded Children, Sector 32, Chandigarh, Nevedic prosthetic Centre, Zirakpur, Institute for the Blind, Sector 26 and PRAYAAS Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped Children.

V. Unemployment allowance to the disabled persons

The Social Welfare department is providing Unemployment Allowance to the disabled persons. Rates of unemployment allowance are given below:

Rates of Unemployment Allowance

VI. Scholarship to disabled persons

The Social Welfare Department is providing Scholarship to the disabled students. From Class-I to VIII, the scholarship is provided by the Education Department and from Class 9th onwards, by the Social Welfare Department in the range of Rs.50/- to Rs.500/- depending upon the class of study.

• WELFARE OF AGED

Old Age Pension @ Rs.200/- p.m. is being given to the eligible old age persons in U.T. Chandigarh, whose minimum age is 60 in case of both male and female. The eligibility criteria for grant of old age pension is as under:-

(i) Monthly income should not exceeds Rs.1000/- if spouse is not living and Rs.1,500/- if spouse is living excluding the income of sons who are living separately.

(ii) Domicile in U.T, Chandigarh and have resided in Chandigarh for more than three years.

(II) Senior Citizens Home

Senior Citizens Home is situated in Sector 43-A, Chandigarh. The main objective behind setting up this home was to give secure and homely atmosphere to the well off citizens who have paying capacity but living alone in Chandigarh. There are 24 rooms with attached toilets, a health center, Multi-purpose hall and a Day Club. In case of emergency, there is medical tie up and ambulance arrangement with the Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. This home is being managed by the Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation.

(III) Old Age Home

Grant in aid is being given by the Social Welfare Department for running the Management of Old Age Home in Sector 15, Chandigarh. At present, the Home is being managed by the Lions Club Chandigarh Central. All the needs of the Old & Destitute People are being looked after well in this Home.

CHANDIGARH SCHEDULED CASTES, BACKWARD CLASSES AND MINORITIES FINANCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED.

Chandigarh Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Minorities Financial & Development Corporation Limited is providing loans for self-employment ventures to poor eligible applicants i.e. Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Minorities and dependents of Safai Karamcharis and free training in various field with stipend such as Computer, Community Health Workers, Driving, Stenography, Tailoring, Dress Designing, Beauty Culture etc.

CHANDIGARH CHILD & WOMEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, CHANDIGARH.

The Chandigarh Child & Women Development Corporation is engaged in the economic development and welfare of women and children in U.T., Chandigarh. This Corporation is also the channelising agency of National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation for Welfare of Handicapped persons. The corporation has provided loan for self employment, It provides training in tailoring courses Dress Designing course, Computer course, Beauty Culture and Stenography course. This Corporation has a Tailoring Production Centre, which undertakes sewing work from general public Govt. Institutions and other organization. This Corporation is also running a working women hostel in Sector 24 which can accommodate 72 inmates.

THE APPLICATION FORMS FOR AVAILING BENEFITS UNDER THE SCHEMES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF COST AT THE GIVEN ADDRESS:-

INFORMATION ON THE NON-GOVERNMENT VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

About 50 Non-Government Voluntary Organisations are working in the Chandigarh and are engaged in various welfare activities and getting grant-in-aid of Rs.20,000/- from the Social Welfare Department, Chandigarh Administration. Some of these NGOs are detailed as under:-

• List of Beneficiaries identified under the Government of India's Scheme "Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme" in the UT of Chandigarh
  • Consolidated Monthly Progress Report: Year 2008-09 National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
  • Old Age Pension (Period 07/09 to 10/09)
  • Disabled Pension above 18 and 80% (Period 07/09 to 10/09)
  • Widow above 40 (Pension Period 07/09 to 10/09)