Manipur Minister for Social Welfare, Henry Okram on Tuesday announced that funds allocated for Care Giver Allowance to the “Persons with Disabilities” under Chief Ministergi Shotharabasingi Tengbang (CMST) have been released through Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) to the respective bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
The Minister stated that the Social Welfare Department has disbursed a sum of Rs. 7,500 each to 4,717 beneficiaries for five months i.e. from April, 2020 to August, 2020 under CMST through banks today. And a sum of Rs. 3000 each to 4,866 beneficiaries for the period of two months i.e. February and March, 2020 for Care Giver Allowance/Maintenance Grant to persons with disabilities with high support needs under CMST and 3,33 beneficiaries for the period of July and August, 2020 has been disbursed last month.
Henry Okram then stressed that the present government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is committed to bring positive change and inclusive development in the State. He mentioned that applications for other schemes like Unemployment Allowance and Scholarship under CMST are being invited and the amount for these schemes will be released soon. For Marriage Incentive Award, there are 64 pending applications recommended by the previous Committee. And the amount of award shall be given to those beneficiaries selected by committee in this current financial year and new applications shall be invited when all the pending applications are cleared, he added. The Minister appreciated the tireless efforts and dedication of Director (Social Welfare) Ng. Uttam and officials for disbursing the funds to the needy and poor people at this juncture.
The CMST scheme is designed with five sub-schemes. Scheme includes Care-Giver allowances/Maintenance Grant to Persons with disability having a disability of 80% or more and are with provided with Rs. 1,500 per month. The beneficiaries are also covered under “SwavlambanHealth Insurance Scheme for PwD”, where the State Government provides the mandatory beneficiary contribution of Rs. 366 per annum, which will provide a health insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakhs to four members of a family and OPD charges. The persons with disabilities in the age group of 19-59 yrs who can work are provided with soft loans to take up economically viable employment opportunities and self-employment through Manipur Society for Skill Development (MSSD).
CMST includes a Scholarship scheme to students with Disabilities. The rate of scholarships are: Rs 3,000 per annum for Class I-V, Rs 4,000 per annum for Class VI-VIII, Rs 6000 per annum for Class IX-XII, Rs 8000 per annum for Graduate & Above. Under the scheme, a free travel and concession to persons with disabilities are being given to them for free travelling in public transport under Manipur State Transport (MST). The Scheme also includes a maintenance grant for homeless older persons with monetary support of Rs. 1,000 per month to the older persons in the age group of 60 years and above, who have been left homeless or sheltered in old age homes recognized by the department.
NNN
About The Author
