SOCIAL WELFARE AND NUTRITIOUS MEAL PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT CITIZEN’S CHARTER – 2011 CHAPTER - 1 INTRODUCTION The implementation of schemes for the welfare of women, children and aged is done by the Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department through the Directorates of Social Welfare, Social Defence and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme. This Department also functions as a nodal agency for various Social Security Programmes implemented through the Revenue Department. 2.The Directorate of Social Welfare implements a number of programmes for the welfare of women including the Marriage Assistance Schemes. The Directorate also runs Service Homes where the destitute and deserted women can stay with security and at the same time, pursue education and vocational training. Working Women‟s Hostels where women can stay at affordable rates are also run by the Directorate of Social Welfare. Training and self-employment of women are thrust areas and the large number of Women Co-operative Societies run by the Directorate provide avenues for women to be self-reliant. The welfare of the vulnerable group of transgenders and programmes specially designed for them are also under the purview of the Directorate of Social Welfare. 3. Two flagship schemes of the Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department relate to nutrition security for children. Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Nutritious Meal Programme provides hot cooked meal to 54.80 lakh school children from Standard I to X. The Integrated Child Development Services Scheme which is implemented by the Commissioner of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, is a comprehensive package for children of the age group 0-6 years including supplementary nutrition, hot 1 cooked meal, health care and pre-school education. Pregnant and lactating mothers are also provided with supplementary nutrition besides health education and awareness. The scheme has also brought into its fold adolescent girls to look after their nutrition, health and training needs. 4. The Directorate of Social Defence is implementing many schemes, particularly focusing on children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. The Directorate also implements schemes for women in moral danger. 5. The Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department implements and monitors several social legislations for the care, welfare and protection of children, women and senior citizens. These include, the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. 2 The Heads of Departments implementing the welfare schemes of this department and the categories of population served by them are indicated below: Sl Head of the Category Type of assistance Contact No Department served numbers 1 Director of Social Women, Marriage Assistance, 044-28545745 Welfare Children, Livelihood Assistance 044-28545746 Old Engineering Senior citizens, Shelter 044-28545748 College Complex, Transgenders (for orphans, destitutes, 044-28545728 Chepauk and deserted and the aged), Chennai- 600 005 Destitutes Hostels (for working women) Guidance, Educational Assistance, Creches, Nutrition (School students) Family Counselling, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence, Dowry Prohibition, Prevention of Child Marriages and Assistance to transgenders. 2. Commissioner, Children, Nutrition 044-24541771, Integrated Child Adolescent Health Education 044-24540772, Development Services girls, 044-24540146 Scheme, Pammal Pregnant Nallathambi Street, women and Periyar Nagar, Lactating Taramani, mothers Chennai – 600113 3 Director of Social Children Observation Homes, 044-26426421 Defence, (Abandoned, Special Homes, Children No.300, neglected, Homes, After Care Purasawalkam High destitute, Organisations, Vigilance / Road, Kellys, children in Protective Homes, Chennai – 600 010 conflict with Resource Centres, law and Unmarried Mothers‟ Home, children in Half-Way Home, Open need of care Shelters, Educational / and protection) Vocational training, Special and Women Care Centre, Crisis (victims of Intervention Centre, immoral Comprehensive Street trafficking) Children Programme, Childline, Family support Scheme, Rehabilitation Programmes, Combating immoral trafficking and De-addiction Programme. 3 Under Revenue Department 4 Commissioner of Old age Pension, Free Dhotis / 044-28144 550 Revenue persons, Sarees, Nutritious Meals, 044-28410 540 Administration, Differently Free rice 044-28410 541 Disaster Management Abled, Accident Relief / Distress and Mitigation, Destitute Relief Ezhilagam Building, Widows, Chepauk, Chennai – Agricultural 600 005 Labourers, Destitute / Deserted Wives and Households below poverty line (who have lost their primary bread winner) The welfare schemes implemented by this department through the above Heads of Departments are detailed in separate chapters in this book. Application forms for availing benefits under the schemes are available in the Government website. http://www.tn.gov.in/appforms/ http://www.tn.gov.in/departments/social.html 4 CHAPTER – 2 WOMEN WELFARE 2.1. MOOVALUR RAMAMIRTHAM AMMAIYAR NINAIVU MARRIAGE ASSISTANCE SCHEME 1 Name of the Scheme Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Ninaivu Marriage Assistance Scheme 2 Objectives of the Scheme To provide assistance to poor parents in getting their daughters married and to promote the educational status of poor girls. 3 Assistance provided Scheme –I Rs.25,000/- (in the form of cheque)+4 gm ( ½ sovereign ) gold coin 22 carat is provided for making „Thirumangalyam‟. Scheme-II Rs.50,000./- ( in the form of cheque) + 4 grams gold ( ½ sovereign) 22 carat gold coin for making „Thirumangalyam‟ 4 To whom the benefit is due The benefit will be given in the name of mother / to be given or father of the bride. In case of death of the parents it will be given to the bride. 5 Eligibility Criteria Scheme-1 1. The bride should have studied 10th Std a) Educational (passed or failed) Qualification 2. If studied in private / distance education bride should have passed 10th std 3. Bride should have studied up to V Std in case of Scheduled Tribe Scheme-2 1. Degree Holders from regular colleges, Distance Education / Government recognized Open University are eligible. 2. Diploma holders should have qualified from Institutions recognized by the Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Tamil Nadu. b) Income limit Not exceeding Rs.24,000/- per annum for the family c) Age limit Bride should have completed 18 years of age at the time of marriage. There is no upper age limit. d) Other criteria Only one girl from a family is eligible 5 e) Time limit for sending Within 40 days before the date of marriage. Application Only in exceptional circumstances the applications can be accepted one day prior to the marriage. 6 Officer to be contacted 1. Commissioner of Corporation (for Corporation area) 2. Municipal Commissioner (for Municipalities) 3. Panchayat Union Commissioner ( for Rural areas) 4. District Social Welfare Officers 5. Extension Officers (Social Welfare) / Rural Welfare Officers (Women) 7 Probable time limit for 15 days from the date of receipt of application. processing applications 8 Belated applications Applications received on or after the date of marriage will not be entertained. 9 Certificates to be enclosed 1.Copy of School transfer certificate with the application 2. Copy of X std Mark sheet- for Scheme I 3. Copy of Degree / Diploma certificate to claim assistance under Scheme -2 4.Income certificate 5.Marriage invitation 10 Grievances if any to be At the District level - reported to District Collector / District Social Welfare Officer At the State level – Director of Social Welfare, Chennai – 600 005. Phone No.044-28545728 6 2.2. Dr. DHARMAMBAL AMMAIYAR NINAIVU WIDOW REMARRIAGE ASSISTANCE SCHEME 1. Name of the Scheme Dr. Dharmambal Ammaiyar Ninaivu Widow Remarriage Assistance Scheme 2. Objectives of the Scheme To encourage widow remarriage and to rehabilitate widows. 3. Quantum of Assistance Scheme-1 Rs.25,000./ - (Rs.15000/- by cheque & Rs.10,000/- as National Saving Certificate) along with 4 grams (1/2 sovereign) 22 carat is provided for making „Thirumangalyam‟. Scheme-2 Rs. 50,000./- (Rs.30,000/- by cheque and Rs.20,000/- National Saving Certificate) + 4 grams (1/2 sovereign) 22 carat gold coin for making Thirumangalyam. 4. To whom the benefit is due Widow who remarries. 5 Eligibility criteria Scheme-1 a) Educational Education qualification not required qualification Scheme -2 1.Degree Holders from regular colleges, Distance education / Government recognized open university. 2.The diploma holders should have qualified from Institutions recognized by the Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Tamil Nadu. b) Income limit No income ceiling c) Age limit Minimum age of 20 years for the bride and maximum age of 40 for the bridegroom. d) Other Criteria Nil e) Time limit for submitting Within 6 months from the date of marriage application 6. Officers to be contacted 1.District Social Welfare Officers 2.Extension Officers (SW) 7. Certificates to be enclosed 1. Widow certificate. with the application 2. Marriage invitation for remarriage. 3. Age certificate for both 4. Degree / Diploma certificates to claim assistance under scheme -2 7 8. Probable time limit for Within 15 days from the date of receipt of processing applications