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Social
Welfare
Social
Welfare
The approach
to Social Welfare, being distinct in the Ninth Plan from the
earlier plans, focuses on strategies for empowering persons
with disabilities, reforming social deviants and caring for
the other disadvantaged groups. In line with these strategies,
policies and programmes relating to the development of vulnerable
groups like the disabled; the social deviants and the other
disadvantaged, continued to receive priority attention during
the year under reference.
Review
of the Annual Plan 1998-99 & Annual Plan 1999-2000
A total outlay of Rs. 937.30 crore was provided for the Social
Welfare Sector in the Annual Plan 1998-99 which included Rs
212.04 crores of the Central Sector and Rs. 725.26 crores of
the State sector. Of the Rs. 212.04 crores, Rs. 201.04 crore
was meant for the M/Social Justice and Empowerment (M/SJ&E);
(Rs. 142.04 crores for the disabled and Rs. 59.00 crores for
social defence); Rs. 10 crores was meant for the modernization
of prison administration; and Rs. 1 crore of the Department
of Revenue was meant for the implementation of the Prevention
of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotrophic Substances
Act of 1988. Against this, the revised estimates for the year
were Rs. 173.33 crores in the Central Sector and Rs. 621.72
crores in the State sector, making a total of Rs. 795.05 crores.
Similarly,
a toatal outlay of Rs. 253.00 crores was earmarked in the Annual
Plan 1999-2000 for Social Welfare under Central Sector,. This
includes - Rs. 245.0 crores for the M/SJ&E (Rs. 180.00 crores
for the disabled and Rs. 65.00 crores for Social Defence); Rs.
7 crore for the M/Home Affairs towards Modernization of Prison
Administration; and Rs. 1.00 crore of the D/Revenue for the
implementation of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, of 1988. While the year-wise
details of the outlays are given below, year-wise and scheme-wise
details are given at Annexures 5.6.3.1 and 5.6.3.2 respectively.
[Table 5.6.3.1]
Empowering
the Disabled
Towards empowering persons with disabilities, the major emphasis
has been to make as many disabled as possible active, self-reliant
and productive contributors to the national economy. Accordingly,
efforts continued to ensure equal opportunities, protection
of rights and full participation of persons with disabilities
through effective implementation of Persons with Disabilities
Act of 1995, as described in the following paragraphs.
[Table
5.6.3.2]
The six National Institutes specialized in different areas of
disabilities expanded their activities in the area of education,
training, professional guidance, research and development of
rehabilitation aids for improving the quality of services for
the disabled. Also, 11 District Rehabilitation Centres functioning
in 10 different States continued to provide comprehensive rehabilitation
services to the disabled in rural and remote areas. Voluntary
Organizations numbering about 403 offered a wide range of services
benefiting about 1.26 lakhs disabled in the field of education,
vocational guidance, counselling, rehabilitation, etc. For running
these National Institutes, a total outlay of Rs. 10.61 crores
was made available during 1998-99. For the year 1999-2000, an
outlay of Rs. 16.41 crores was earmarked for these Institutes.
The scheme for Supply of Aids and Appliances continued to assist
the needy disabled with simple, durable and modern aids and
appliances. Till December, 1998, 589 implementing agencies located
in different parts of the country were assisted to benefit 2.48
lakhs disabled persons. The scheme has been revised to make
a provision for medical and surgical correction and intervention,
prior to fitment of aids and appliances, whenever necessary.
In order to provide cost effective aids and appliances with
the application of modern technology – R&D Projects
were also funded for developing aids and appliances under the
scheme of Science and Technology in Mission Mode Project for
the Disabled. Also, steps were taken to start production of
some of the selected aids and appliances developed under the
scheme. Of the total targeted outlay (1998-99) of Rs. 25.0 Crore
for the scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fittings
of Aids and Appliances, the revised expenditure was Rs. 22.0
crore. For 1999-2000, an outlay of Rs. 30.0 crores has been
earmarked. The targetted outlay and the anticipated expenditure
for the scheme of Science and Technology in Mission Mode Project
during 1998-99 was Rs. 1.00 Crore and amount of Rs. 1.00 crore
has been earmarked for the year 1999-2000 also.
To extend placement services to the disabled, 51 Special Employment
Exchanges and 39 Special Cells for the disabled persons in normal
Employment Exchanges continued to function during the year.
Normal Employment Exchanges and Vocational Rehabilitation Centres
also assisted the disabled persons in their placement. Efforts
were made to implement the policy of 3% reservation of vacancies
for the blind, deaf and orthopaedically disabled in group A,
B, C, & D posts in Central services and in the Public Sector
Undertakings. The outlay during 1998-99 was Rs 0.20 crore. For
the year 1999-2000, an outlay of Rs. 1.45 crore was made available
not only for continuation but also for expansion of the scheme.
With the commitment for improving the economic status of the
disabled, the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
(NHFDC) extends loans to for promoting self-employment ventures.
It also extends loans for pursuing general/ professional/ technical
education besides upgradation of technical/ entrepreneurial
skills. The NHFDC continued its activities as an Apex financial
institution for routing funds through the channelising Agencies,
authorised by the States/UTs. During the year 1998-99, the Corporation
funded 268 Projects with an outlay of Rs. 28 crores,. For the
Year 1999-2000, an outlay of Rs 20.0 crores was provided.
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), which has a mandate
to register rehabilitation professionals and issue Certificates,
has so far, registered 1472 professionals/ personnel in the
Central Rehabilitation Register and also issued Certificates
to them. The Council also recognized 35 institutions during
the year to conduct various training programmes and organized
joint entrance examinations for admission to the National Institutes
on all India basis for the courses in Physio-therapy, Occupational
Therapy, Prosthetic and Orthetic Engineering. While an total
outlay of Rs. 3.0 crores was made available during 1998-99,
the outlay for 1999-2000 is Rs. 15.50 crores.
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Reforming
the Social Deviants.
The scheme for Prevention and Control of Juvenile Maladjustment
was revised during 1998-99 with a view to strengthen the implementation
of the Juvenile Justice Act 1986 and to bring about a qualitative
improvement in the services provided under the scheme to both
neglected as well as delinquent children. The salient features
of the revised scheme `A Programme for Juvenile Justice’
include - establishment of a National Advisory Board on Juvenile
Justice to advise the implementation of the Juvenile Justice
Act, 1986; creation of a Juvenile Justice Fund; establishment
of a Secretariat for the National Advisory Board; Constitution
of a Social Audit Panel comprising of 5-6 eminent persons to
report on juvenile justice facilities in the country; appointment
of observers to report on implementation of the Act in different
States/UTs; institution of a Chair on Juvenile Justice at the
Child and the Law Centre of the National Law School of India,
Bangalore. The scheme also provides awards for the best maintained
juvenile justice institutions in each State and at the National
level; training, orientation and sensitization of judicial,
administrative, police and NGO personnel responsible for implementation
of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986; provision of 100% financial
assistance to States/ UTs/Voluntary Organisations to facilitate
creation of infrastructure prescribed under the Act in hitherto
uncovered districts of the country; Financial assistance to
bring about a qualitative improvement in the existing infrastructure,
expansion of non-institutional services such as sponsorship,
foster care, probation, etc. as an alternate to institutional
care and provision of scholarships to children for excelling
in academics or in extra curricular activities.
[Table
5.6.3.3]
To combat the increasing incidence of alcoholism and drug addiction
effectively, the existing scheme for Prohibition and Prevention
of Drug Abuse was revised. The scheme continued to be implemented
through voluntary organizations by extending 90% financial assistance
for establishment and upgradation of De-addiction and Rehabilitation
Centres. About 414 such Centres were supported during the year,
benefiting about 1.29 lakh drug addicts, with follow-up and
rehabilitation. To sensitize the public about the ill-effects
of drug abuse, awareness generation programmes like holding
of seminars, conferences, workshops, essay/debate competitions,
publicity through media etc. continued during the year. Several
radio and TV programmes have been launched to create awareness
about the role of parents and teachers in the prevention and
control of drinking and drug abuse. A number of films have also
been produced and distributed to disseminate knowledge amongst
the masses. Voluntary Organisations are being financially assisted
to undertake educational work in various communities and target
groups. The experience thus gained by the Voluntary Organisations
in selected case studies, is being widely shared with enlightened
groups to invigorate their role in educating the public and
preventing drug abuse. Keeping in view the increasing menace
of drug abuse and its related problems in the North-East, 5
Training of Trainers programmes and 15 Training Courses for
service providers were conducted. To explore the possibilities
for opening new centres, and identifying the service providers
in the North-East, a Special committee was constituted. While
the total outlay for 1998-99 was Rs. 16.0 crores, an amount
of Rs. 20.0 crores has been provided during 1999-2000.
The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) continued to
provide technical advice to the Central and State Governments
in the formulation of laws, rules and regulations, training
of personnel, promotion of research and dissemination of information
on matters relating to social defence. The existing Bureau for
Drug Abuse and Prevention at NISD was upgraded into a full-fledged
National Centre for Drug Abuse Prevention. The newly set up
Centre organized a Certificate Course on De-addiction Counseling
and Rehabilitation. The outlay for 1998-99 was Rs. 2.0 crores.
A similar amount has been provided for 1999-2000.
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Caring
for the Other Disadvantaged
To bring about a qualitative improvement in services for the
Elderly, the scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Organisations
for the Welfare of the Aged was re-cast to enlarge the scope
of support to organisations. The revised scheme of `Assistance
to Panchayati Raj Institutions/Voluntary Organisation/Self Help
Groups for Construction of Old Age Homes/Multi Service Centres
for Older Persons' is expected to extend financial assistance
for non-institutional services to Older Persons such as preparation
for old age, death and bereavement, health check-up camps, information
and awareness for prevention of problems and treatment, opportunities
for income generation, employment exchange and sponsorship,
training as volunteers, recreation, cultural and creative programmes,
occupational therapy, counselling and legal aid, self/mutual
help groups, family assistance, information and referral services,
etc. with a total annual grant of Rs. 30 lakh per Home/ Centre.
The other scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for
Programmes relating to Welfare of the Aged was also revised
and made more flexible to meet the diverse needs of the Older
Persons. The new scheme of the Integrated Programme for Older
Persons is expected to reinforce and strengthen the ability
and commitment of the family to provide care to Older Persons;
foster amiable multi-generational relationships; generate greater
awareness on issues pertaining to Older persons and enhanced
measures to address these issues; popularise the concept of
Life Long Preparation for Old age at the individual level as
well as at the societal level; facilitate productive ageing;
promote health care, housing and income security needs of the
Older Persons; provide care to the destitute elderly. During
the year 1998-99, grant-in-aid was extended to NGOs to establish
44 new Old Age Homes, 164 new Drug Care Centres, 12 new Mobile
Medicare Units and one new project for providing non-rehabilitation
services to the older persons. With these new sanctions, there
exists a total number of 238 Old Age Homes; 387 Day Care Centres;
40 Mobile Medicare Units and 3 projects of Non-Institutional
Services for Older Persons. While the outlay for 1998-99 was
Rs. 10.0 crores, an amount of Rs. 15.0 crores has been provided
during 1999-2000.
[Table
5.6.3.4]
In order to meet the developmental needs of Street Children,
the scheme for Welfare and Development of Street Children was
revised and continued to support and strengthen the non-governmental
organizations so as to provide integrated community-based non-institutional
basic services to street children. Under the scheme, grant-in-aid
was given to 112 voluntary organizations, operating in 29 cities.
To provide emergency assistance to the street children, and
a platform for net-working amongst organizations, a 24 hour
Child Help Line free-phone service was established in a number
of cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Bangalore,
Chennai and Patna, which could be accessed by dialing the `1098’
on the telephone. During 1998-99, the outlay was Rs. 8.0 crores.
An amount of Rs. 9.0 crores has been provided for 1999-2000.
The nodal Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment continued
to grant recognition to both Indian and foreign agencies which
are engaged in sponsoring children for adoption abroad. About
85 agencies in the country have been given recognition for handling
inter-country adoption. In addition, 292 foreign agencies have
also been enlisted to sponsor inter country adoption cases in
more than 25 countries. During the last 3 years, a total estimated
number of 9152 children found homes through these agencies.
Of these, 5235 were covered under intra-country adoption while
the rest were through inter-country adoption. Also, guidelines
for Foster Family Care as an alternative to Institional Care
for children awaiting adoption have been circulated to Voluntary
Social/Child Welfare agencies and State Governments for implementation.
The scheme of Shishu Grih has been revised and ceiling on Grant
in Aid has been raised to Rs. 6.00 lakh in order to facilitate
better services for the children. As far as the Voluntary Coordinating
Agencies are concerned, there is no structured scheme and the
funds are met from the General Grant where Rs. 41.5 lakh is
earmarked. During the year 1998-99, the outlay for CARA and
Shishu Grih was 0.10 crore and Rs. 3.90 crores respectively.
For the year 1999-2000, while an outlay of Rs. 1.0 crore was
provided for CARA, the outlay for Shishu Grih was Rs. 2.0 crores.
Voluntary
Action
In all these efforts, the Non-Governmental Organisations have
been playing a very crucial role by shouldering the major responsibility
of reaching the Social Welfare Services to the most deprived
sections of the society.
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