Manipur will distribute Rs 104 crore in social welfare benefits to over 1.2 lakh beneficiaries on July 20, the Social Welfare Department announced.
Imphal, July 10: The Manipur Social Welfare Department will distribute welfare assistance worth approximately Rs 104 crore to more than 1.2 lakh beneficiaries under various social security schemes on July 20, Director of Social Welfare Sheikh Abdul Hakim announced on Friday.
The announcement was made during the second session of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) Government of Manipur's "Meet the Press" programme held at the DIPR Auditorium in Imphal. The session highlighted the department's major welfare initiatives, ongoing centrally sponsored schemes and upcoming programmes aimed at women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
The department was represented by Director Sheikh Abdul Hakim, Joint Directors Jiteshwar Keisham and N. Binobala, and Deputy Directors K. Saroja and L. Dhaneshwar.
Hakim said the Social Welfare Department is one of the state's principal implementing agencies for Centrally Sponsored Schemes and currently administers around 22 sub-schemes with financial support from different Central ministries.
Rs 104 crore welfare package
Highlighting the upcoming welfare distribution programme, Hakim said Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh will distribute benefits worth around Rs 104 crore on July 20 under multiple social welfare schemes.
To ensure that all eligible beneficiaries receive assistance without delay, the department has launched a 15-day intensive documentation campaign to help applicants complete formalities such as obtaining Aadhaar cards, income certificates and ration cards. According to the Director, the campaign has achieved nearly 99.9 per cent coverage.
He said 1,07,082 beneficiaries will receive financial assistance under the Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme.
In addition, 13,599 beneficiaries will be covered under the Chief Minister Widow Pension Scheme, which provides a monthly pension of Rs 500 to eligible widows aged 40 years and above, as well as HIV-positive widows aged 18 years and above.
Hakim added that the Ima Nungthang Leima Scheme also provides assistance to widows, divorced women, separated women, single women, transgender women and other economically vulnerable women.
Major programmes for women and children
The Director said the department continues to implement several flagship schemes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
He informed that around 11,585 Anganwadi Centres are functioning across Manipur, providing supplementary nutrition, healthcare services and pre-school education for children while also supporting pregnant and lactating mothers.
The department is also implementing Mission Shakti, a flagship programme for women's empowerment, and Mission Vatsalya, which focuses on child protection under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Under Mission Vatsalya, the department supports the functioning of Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, Children's Homes, Observation Homes and other Child Care Institutions across the state.
Support for women in distress
Hakim highlighted the Shakti Sadan scheme, implemented under Mission Shakti, which provides temporary shelter, food, clothing, counselling, legal support and rehabilitation assistance for women facing difficult circumstances.
According to the department, the scheme supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, physical assault, mental abuse and other forms of violence for a period of up to three years.
At present, 47 Shakti Sadan centres are operating across Manipur.
The Director also urged women facing violence or distress to make use of the 181 Women Helpline, a toll-free emergency service that provides immediate assistance and facilitates access to various support services.
Accommodation for working women
Hakim said the department is implementing Sakhi Niwas (Working Women's Hostel) to provide safe and affordable accommodation for working women and women pursuing higher education.
The scheme is funded in the ratio of 90 per cent by the Central Government and 10 per cent by the State Government.
Currently, 51 Sakhi Niwas hostels are operational across Manipur.
Welfare measures for persons with disabilities
The Director said the department also implements several schemes for persons with disabilities, including scholarships for students, unemployment allowances for educated unemployed persons with disabilities and maintenance grants for individuals with severe disabilities.
He appealed to eligible persons to obtain the Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, which serves as a single identity document for accessing government welfare schemes and services.
To facilitate the process, the Social Welfare Department, in collaboration with the Health Department, is conducting disability surveys and medical certification camps across all Assembly constituencies for issuing disability certificates and UDID cards to eligible beneficiaries.
De-addiction and elderly care
Hakim further informed that under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the department manages homes for persons with intellectual and other disabilities, operates 25 de-addiction rehabilitation centres with full Central funding, and oversees 41 old age homes, including 25-bed and 50-bed facilities funded by the Union Government.
He said these initiatives are aimed at expanding social protection while ensuring that vulnerable sections of society have access to institutional care, rehabilitation and welfare services across the state.
