Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Special training centres planned in all districts

Photo: M. Periasamy

HELPING HAND: Minister for Social Welfare Geetha Jeevan (second left) and Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Pongalur N. Palanisamy (third right) giving away a tricycle to a disabled person at a function in Coimbatore on Thursday. —

COIMBATORE: The State Government plans to start a special training centre in all the districts this year for the mentally challenged, according to Geetha Jeevan, Minister for social welfare.

Speaking at a function organised here on Thursday to distribute assistance under various social welfare schemes she said that such centres were already functioning in eight districts in the State.

The Government was also running homes for destitute women and children without parents or with a single parent. They could stay in these homes and vocational training was also imparted to them.

The Government was providing teacher’s training free of cost to 40 girls every year.

She said that the income ceiling for the parents of poor girls (for marriage assistance) and girl child protection scheme had been increased to Rs. 24,000 a year. The State Government had formed a welfare board for transgenders and through this they could obtain family card under the public distribution system. Efforts were also being taken to help them pursue higher education.

She added that the Government had formed welfare board for the disabled and its members could avail of assistance for the education of their children or the children’s wedding.

The Government had launched an assistance scheme for spinsters aged above 50.

Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Minister Pongalur N Palanisamy alleged that the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime had suspended several welfare schemes during 2001-2005 and pointed out that the schemes were introduced by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government in its previous tenure.

Mr. Palanisamy said that prospective investments for Tamil Nadu were lost to the neighbouring States because the AIADMK regime did not take the required initiatives.

In the absence of a cordial relationship between the AIADMK regime and the Central Government, Tamil Nadu had to forego a lot of schemes and budgetary allocations too.

With the DMK regime maintaining a cordial relationship with the Centre, it was able to implement schemes at a huge outlay without additional tax burden on the people.

The Ministers distributed assistance to the tune of Rs. 2.5 crore to 1,426 beneficiaries.

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