Tura, July 8: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today inspected the social assistance scheme in South West Garo Hills and West Garo Hills districts.
The chief minister’s social assistance scheme launched in 2012 is for infirm, widow and person with disability. The chief minister took special attention for inspection to ensure enrollment so that the beneficiaries are not left out of the scheme.
The special drive for the scheme is underway at Zikzak and Betasing in South West Garo Hills and Selsella in West Garo Hills.
“There has been a low turn-out for the scheme, so I felt the need to personally inspect to create awareness, so that beneficiaries can be enrolled”, said Sangma.
He stated that the department of social welfare has to take keen interest to ensure that people are identified for the scheme. Towards this end, help desk and chief minister’s support desk has been set-up at different locations to enable people to enroll.
“This is my pet programme and I want everybody entitled to benefit from this programme to be enrolled”, he added.
The chief minister’s social assistance programme does not require that a person has to be from below poverty line, which is the mandate for the National Old Age Pension Scheme.
“Most of the people in rural areas of Meghalaya are poor. So it is not mandatory for them to produce BPL card. We are ensuring that irrespective of their social status they are accommodated”, said Sangma.
Under the scheme a financial assistance of Rs. 500 is provided monthly. There is no age bar for person with disability and for widow. However, to seek benefit for pension a women has to be 58 years old and men 60 years old.(SP News)
