Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Haryana
The Social Justice & Empowerment Department is working independently since the bifurcation of Social Welfare Department in the year 1992. The Department is implementing a number of schemes for the care, protection and rehabilitation of socially under privileged. Earlier the Social Justice & Empowerment Department was working within a very small area having few welfare schemes. Now, it has expanded its area of schemes and has implemented schemes since the creation of the Departments covering beneficiaries belonging to urban as well as rural areas. At present, the Department is implementing a number of schemes for the welfare of senior citizens, orphan/destitute children, Widows & destitute women, mentally retarded children, the blind, deaf & dumb, kashmiri migrants, dwarfs & eunuchs minority communities such as Muslim, Sikhs, Christens, Paris etc., in the state.
Schemes for Welfare of Physically Challenge
(1) Government Institute for the Blind Girls/ Boys, Panipat
A residential school is being run at Panipat by this Department for blind boys and girls where the blind students in the age group of 6 to 18 years are being provided free education up to Matric standard with facilities of boarding and lodging, clothing, food and books free of cost. The blind students studying in 10 + 1 and 10 +2 in other schools are also provided free residential facilities in this institute.
(2) Training Centre for Adult Blind, Panipat
For Adult Blinds, a Training Centre is being run at Panipat where Vocational Training for 3 years duration in the trades of caning of chairs, weaving, candle making and music is imparted to the adult blinds in the age group of 18 to 45 years. A Computer Training Cell has also been established here.
(3) Scholarship for the Physically Handicapped
Scholarships ranging from ` 300/- to ` 1500/- p.m. are being provided to the physically handicapped students under this Scheme.
(4) Unemployment Allowance to Physically Handicapped Persons:
Educated physically handicapped unemployed persons are provided unemployment allowance from the time of registration with the Employment Exchange @ ` 200, ` 250/- and ` 300/- p.m. according to their qualifications i.e Matric, 10+2, BA and above. Whereas 100% physically handicapped educated unemployed persons are provided `1000, ` 1500 and ` 2000 p.m.
(5) Grant-in-aid to the Voluntary Organizations:
Grant-in-aid is provided to NGOs working in the field of physically and mentally handicapped welfare for the purpose of salary of staff, ration money and maintenance allowance of inmates.
(6) Reimbursement of the Cost of Aids and Appliances/Artificial Limbs
100% cost of aids and appliances / artificial limbs are reimbursed to the District Red Cross Societies working in the State with a view to rehabilitate the disabled persons.
(7) Other Grant-in-aid Schemes (Disabled Welfare)
i) State Level Project / Home for Persons with Special Needs, Rohtak. A State Level Home for Mentally Retarded has been set-up the State Govt. at Rohtak. This Home is being run by a Registered Govt. Society, i.e. Welfare Society for the Home for Persons with Special Needs, Rohtak. At the initial stage, there is a target to accommodate 200 children (150 day scholars and 50 hostlers) in this Home
ii) Financial Assistance to non-school going Disabled Children.
Under this scheme mentally retarded and multiple disabled children who are in the age group of 0-18 years who are not able to attend formal education, training etc. due to their disability is given financial aid. They are totally depend on their parents and relatives and need constant supervision and care of their families. Financial Assistance shall be admissible under the scheme @ ` 300/- p.m. to every such disabled child in the family of the applicant.
iii) Establishment of Research Centre / Special School and Recreation Centre for the Disabled Scheme is initiated in the year 2008-09.
iv) Establishment of Life Long Home for Mentally Retarded Persons.
v) Deployment of Care Givers. On the pattern of old schemes of the caregivers training and deployment of the National Trust, the State Govt. has formulated a scheme of Deployment of Caregivers in the year 2008-09.
vi) Funding of Local Level Committees. In every District in the State has a Local Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district and two members, one member is from NGO and another member is from Persons with Disabilities as per the provision of National Trust Act, 1999.
vii) Insurance Scheme (NIRMAYA). The State Govt. has already launched the Health Insurance Scheme in the State and 2721 enrollment forms were sent to designated agency i.e. M/s A legion insurance and Broking Ltd., Chennai by the end of March, 2009.