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Social Security and Welfare*
Kerala has been a pioneer in adopting social security and welfare measures for the economically and socially weaker sections of the population in particular WOMEN, in terms of Shelter Homes, Rehabilitation Measures, Pensions, Women specific Organisations, Welfare Funds for unorganized sector workers and so forth, the need for better quality delivery of services is emerging as a major requisite. It is essential to upgrade institutions as also to make provision for hitherto relatively neglected areas of concern - the ageing population, the physically and mentally challenged persons and growing problems of adolescents.
Social Security and
Welfare through Institutional Care and Protection
Major welfare activities under institutional
care and protection are undertaken by the following
Government Departments, Commissions, Institutions,
Corporations as given below.
Major
Government Departments and Agencies stands
for Social Security Measures
|
Sl.
No. |
Major
Government Departments/Agencies |
Major
Activities |
1 |
Social
Welfare Department |
Institutional
care and protection, ICDS with Anganwadi Centers,
etc. |
2 |
Prisons
Department |
Welfare,
protection, employment and economic upliftment
of prisoners. |
3 |
Sainik
Welfare Department |
Welfare
of Ex-servicemen and war-widows. |
4 |
State
Commissionerate for Persons with Disabilities |
Welfare
and social security measures of disabled. |
5 |
Women's
Commission |
Welfare
and social justice measures addressing atrocities
against women, adalaths, legal workshops,
jagratha samithies, etc. |
6 |
Kerala
State Women Development Corporation |
Welfare,
skill development, economic development through
income generating and employment generating
schemes. |
7 |
National
Institute of Speech and Hearing |
Welfare,
education, health activities of disabled in
speech and hearing. |
8 |
State
Institute for the Mentally Handicapped |
Welfare,
education, skill mentally development etc
of challenged persons. |
9 |
Kerala
State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation |
Welfare,
employment, programmes of income generating
physically handicapped persons. |
|
WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WOMEN
The
major welfare institutions run by the Social Welfare
Department, offer the following major services:
Sl.No. |
Name
of Institutions |
|
1 |
Mahilamandir |
Maintenance,
education, vocational training, rehabilitation
of the abandoned women above the age of 13. |
2 |
After
Care Home |
Care,
protection and rehabilitation to Children/Adolescents
in the age group of 14 to 21 coming from Juvenile
Justice/Welfare Institutions. |
3 |
Rescue
Home |
Protection
and rehabilitation of girls above 13 engaged
in immoral activities or who are in fear of
being forced into such activities. |
4 |
Children's
Home |
Functioning
at Alappuzha provides protection to destitute
and care and of leprosy children patients. |
5 |
Old
Age Homes & Day Care Centre |
Care,
protection and rehabilitation of the aged
by providing food, clothing, medical services,
shelter,etc. |
6 |
Home
for Physically Handicapped |
Takes
care of the maintenance and rehabilitation
of the destitute handicapped above the age
of 16. Separate homes for men and women. |
7 |
Asha
Bhavan |
Mentally
cured patients abandoned by relatives are
taken care of by providing food, medicine,
clothing, etc. and rehabilitation/reunion
with family whenever possible. |
8 |
Care
Home for the Diasbled |
Maintenance,
education, rehabilitation, etc of the handicapped
children in the age group of 4-16. |
9 |
Short
Stay Home |
Providing
living amenities to women in distress arising
out of family discord, and those fearing of
being forced into immoral activities. They
are given proper counseling and rehabilitated
within a stipulated period. |
10 |
Home
for Mentally Deficient Children |
To
provide special education, maintenance and
rehabilitation of mentally challenged children
upto the age of 16. |
11 |
Pratheeksha
Bhavan |
Care,
protection, maintenance of those mentally
challenged persons above the age of 16. |
12 |
Vocational
Training Centres |
To
provide vocational training courses for the
physically handicapped boys and girls so as
to rehabilitate them. |
There
are 50 Welfare Institutions in Kerala. They are
as follows:
• 12 Mahila Mandirs
• 15 Old Age Homes
• 3 Homes for Physically Handicapped
• 6 Asha Bhavans
• 3 Care Home for the Disabled
• 2 Rescue Homes
• 3 After Care Homes
• 1 Children's Home
• 1 Short Stay Home
• 1 Home for Mentally Deficient Children
• 1 Pratheeksha Bhavan and
• 2 Vocational Training Centres.
Welfare
Institutions, Sanctioned strength and Inmates
- 2007
|
Sl.
No. |
Institutions |
Numbers |
Inmates(Nos) |
Sanctioned
Strength (Nos) |
1 |
Mahilamandir |
12 |
218 |
325 |
2 |
After
Care Home |
3 |
81 |
250 |
3 |
Rescue
Home |
2 |
27 |
200 |
4 |
Children's
Home |
1 |
22 |
50 |
5 |
Old
Age Home |
15 |
492 |
1225 |
6 |
Homes
for Physically Handicapped |
3 |
77 |
125 |
7 |
Asha
Bhavan |
6 |
191 |
300 |
8 |
Care
Home for the disabled |
3 |
102 |
125 |
9 |
Short
Stay Home |
1 |
17 |
50 |
10 |
Home
for Mentally Deficient Children |
1 |
25 |
50 |
11 |
Pratheeksha
bhavan |
1 |
34 |
50 |
12 |
Vocational
Training Centre |
2 |
180 |
300 |
|
Total |
50 |
1466 |
3050 |
As
against the total sanctioned strength of 3050
inmates in the 50 institutions, the occupants
are 1466 in 2007, ie, below half of the strength.
This needs to be examined. It could be that the
stated strength no longer exists in practice due
to financial difficulties in maintaining larger
numbers. For improved delivery of services, it
appears necessary to revamp these institutions.
District-wise Number of beneficiaries in the various
Welfare Institutions.
Welfare of the Old Age People
The old age population (60+) in India is a fast growing phenomenon. The old age population in 1961 is 25.6 million while after 30 years i.e., in 1991 it is more than double which comes to 56.7 million. It is expected to increase to 113.26 million during the 25 years ending 2016. In percentage terms it is 5.8% in 1961 and 6.8% in 1991. Expected percentage of old age population by 2016 will come to 8.9%. Compared to other States the percentage of old age population in Kerala is higher; the percentage of old age population in 1961 is 5.83% and in 1991 it comes to 8.82% and in 2001 it is 9.79. It is expected to grow during 2011 to 11.74%; in 2021 it would be 15.63% and in 2026 it will come to 20%. The rate of increase will be doubled with in 25 years. It is also to be noted that majority of old age people in Kerala are widows. In 1991, among the old age people in the range of 60-69, 53.8% are widows and among those above 70 years it comes to 69.20 %.
During 2006, the Social Welfare Department was running 15 Old Age Homes and 1Day Care Centre for the aged and there are 487 inmates in these institutions as against the sanctioned strength of 1225 persons. But during 2007, it is reported that there are only 10 Old Age Homes and 1 Day Care Centre & Old Age Home with 397 inmates and a sanctioned strength of 1075 (Refer Table below)
Old
Age Homes and Day care Centre for Aged during
2007
|
Sl.No |
Institution |
Institutions |
Total
Inmates (Nos) |
Sanctioned
Strength (Nos) |
1 |
Old
Age Home |
10 |
371 |
1000 |
2 |
Day
care Centre & Old Age Home |
1 |
26 |
75 |
|
Total |
11 |
397 |
1075 |
Welfare of War Widows
There are 313 War Widows holding identity cards issued by Zila Sainik Welfare Offices upto 30th September 2007. Re employment opportunities of Ex-Servicemen and employment to Widows are limited to State service and Quasi Government Institutions. Hence new ventures and policies are required to absorb those seeking employment. The present numbers war widows in Kerala holding identity cards issued by Zilla Sainik Welfare Officers for the last six years are given below
War
Widows in Kerala - 2000 to 2007
|
Year |
War
Widows (nos) |
2000 |
278 |
2001 |
276 |
2002 |
272 |
2003 |
269 |
2004 |
267 |
2005 |
263 |
2006 |
261 |
2007 |
313 |
Department of Sainik Welfare implements the welfare activities of War Widows mainly through funds from non-plan provision of state budget and interest accrued from two Welfare Funds viz (i)State Military Benevolent Fund & Flag Day Fund and (ii) Amalgamated Fund for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Ex-Servicemen.
Major activities implemented through the Sainik Welfare Department and its achievements during 2007 are listed below:
Major
Welfare schemes/ achievements of War Widows
during 2007
|
Sl.No. |
Name
of Scheme |
Beneficiaries
(Nos) |
Amount
spent during 2007 (Rs) |
1 |
Financial
assistance to Second World War Veterans
who are in indigent circumstances @Rs. 400
p.m. |
1677 |
46,95,600
(upto Sep 07) |
2 |
Construction
of houses for disabled Ex-Servicemen |
16 |
3,60,000 |
|
Cash
awards to recipients of Gallantry |
|
|
3 |
Decorations
in the Defence Service and |
66 |
3,51,068 |
|
dependents
of defence personnel |
|
|
4 |
Financial
help for children of Ex-service men |
189 |
2,34,500 |
| Source:
Department of Sainik Welfare |
Welfare of Prisoners
The Jail infrastructure in the state consists of 3 Central Prisons, 1 Open Prison, 3 District Jails, 5 Special Sub Jails, 26 Sub Jails, 1 Women's Prison, Kannur and one Borstal School. In 2007, there were 6784 prisoners out of which 201 were women while in 2006 there are 7118 prisoners of which 177 are women.
The details of district wise jail prisoners during 2007 are furnished Click for More...
The modernization of Prisons is managed by 75% financial assistance from Government of India and 25% by the State Government. Installation of surveillance system in jails, video conferencing in jails, providing cell phone jammers, computerization of jails, installation of bio-gas and gas ovens, energy conservation programmes, etc. are the major components of this scheme. The Welfare of Prisoners consists of social gatherings and entertainment programmes, correctional seminars, training to prisoners in computer, bread making, soap making, book binding, beekeeping, organic manure, establishment of dairy farm, recreational facilities and educational programmes, etc.
*Source: Economic Review 2007
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