DEMAND NO.43

Social Welfare And Nutritious Meal Programme Department

POLICY NOTE 2002-2003

CHAPTER – 2

WOMEN AND CHILD WELFARE

2.1 The care and well-being of children has been the concern of this Government which accords high priority to childhood development and nutrition.  This Government will concentrate on policies reaching out to children in their vulnerable years, empowering access to health care and a safe environment reducing gender discrimination  and enhancing the well being of the adolescent girls and the nutritional status of women.

 2.2. GIRL CHILD PROTECTION SCHEME

The Honourable Chief Minister had introduced the revolutionary Girl Child Protection Scheme in 1992 called  "Puratchi Thalaivi Dr J Jayalalithaa Scheme for the Girl Child"  to promote family planning, to eradicate female infanticide and to discourage preference for male child.

Now, this scheme has been completely restructured to confer enhanced financial benefit to the girls  belonging to poor families.  In cases of families with only one girl child and no other children and if either of the parents has undergone sterilisation, and aged below 35 years and  their family income is below Rs.50,000/- per annum, an initial deposit of Rs.22,200/- will be made in the Tamilnadu Power Finance Corporation by the Government in the name of the child.   An amount of Rs.150/- (Rupees one hundred and fifty only) as monthly incentive shall be given to the child on completion of  5^th year and upto 20^th year of deposit for her educational purposes.  However, the maturity value shall be payable only if the girl child studied upto 10^th Standard and appeared for the Public Examination.  On completion of twenty years of deposit, the girl child  will receive a lumpsum amount that actually accrues from the cumulative deposit.

For families with two girl-children and no male child and if either of the parents has undergone sterilization and aged below 35 years and their family income is below Rs.12.000/- per annum, an initial deposit of Rs.15,200/- will be made in the Tamil Nadu Power Finance Corporation for each girl child by the Government.  An amount of Rs.150/- (Rupees one hundred and fifty only) as monthly incentive shall be given to the child on completion of  5^th year and upto 20^th year of deposit for her educational purposes.  However, the maturity value shall be payable only if the girl child studied upto 10^th Standard and appeared for the Public Examination.  If  the children do not appear for the 10^th Standard  Public Examination before the completion of 20 years of deposit, such children are not eligible to receive the maturity  value and it shall be forfeited to the Government Account.  On completion of twenty years of deposit, the girl child shall receive a lumpsum amount that actually accures from the cumulative deposit, provided she has appeared for the 10^th Standard Public Examination.

A sum of Rs.1270.75 lakhs has been provided  for the year 2002-2003.

2.3. CRADLE BABY SCHEME

To counter the menace of female infanticide in certain parts of Tamil Nadu an unique scheme called the "Cradle Baby Scheme" was started by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1992. Under this scheme, cradles were placed in vital places such as Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, Orphanages and Children Homes in order to enable the rescue of female children abandoned by their biological parents  due to various social circumstances.  A reception centre was started in Salem.  This scheme has been revitalised by setting up full-fledged reception centres at Madurai, Theni, Dindigul and Dharmapuri Districts at a total cost of Rs.12.96 lakhs.  The Primary Health Centres in the Districts prone to female infanticide will be equipped to receive female babies.  Cradles totalling 188  are also placed in the District Social Welfare Offices,  Primary Health Centres and Primary Health Sub Centres.    The children received in the cradle points will be handed over to the reception centres for rehabilitation.    Action is being  taken by the Government for wide propagation against female infanticide.

 A sum of Rs.11.19 lakhs has been provided for the year 2002-2003.

 2.4. 18 POINT PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

The overall development of the children is the concern of this Government which had the vision of drawing up a 15 Point Programme for child welfare during the year 1993 named as  "Dr J Jayalalithaa 15 Point Programme for Child Welfare".  As a measure of follow up of the earlier programme keeping in mind the developments in recent years, the earlier programme has been revived as "Tamil Nadu 18 Point Programme, for women and children  welfare”.

Clear goals have been set for 2010 with interim goals for 2003 and 2006. State Level Committee, Heads of Departments’ level Committee and District Level Committee have been formed for the  effective implementation and monitoring of the 18 point programme. 

2.5. PURATCHI THALAIVAR MGR NUTRITIOUS MEAL PROGRAMME

FOOD SECURITY

Tamil Nadu has already established a lead in the country by taking laudable steps for improving access of children and expectant mothers to nutrition.  Now the aim of the Government  is to consolidate this position and become the first State in the country to provide a "Whole Life Cycle Nutrition Security Programme" for those below the poverty line with special focus on nutrition for expectant mothers, infants and the aged.

Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Nutritious Meal Programme was introduced with effect from 1.7.1982, in Child Welfare Centres in rural areas for pre-school children in the age group of 2-5 years and for primary school children in the age group of 5-9 years.  Subsequently, this scheme was extended to the Nutritious Meal Centres in urban areas from 15.09.1982 onwards.  From 15.9.1984 onwards this scheme was further extended to the school students of 10-15 years of age.  Old age pensioners have been included in the scheme with effect from 15.1.1983 and pregnant women are also benefited under this scheme with effect from 6.12.1995.

Budget  Estimate  2002-2003

(Rupees in lakhs)

*   This includes grants released by the Government of India and State funding.

** This is fully funded by World Bank.

The details of the number of the nutritious meal centres and the beneficiaries under various NMP schemes are given below:-

I.CHILD WELFARE CENTRES