In a move aimed at preventing female infanticide and encourage education of girls, the State Government on Thursday said it would increase its assistance under its Girl Child Protection Scheme from Rs.22,200 to Rs.50,000.
Under the scheme, if parents having one girl child opted for family planning operation, Rs.50,000 (earlier Rs.22,200) would be deposited in the child's name. If family planning was chosen after having two children, the assistance will be Rs.25,000 to each child (earlier it was Rs.15,200).
The government also said it would remove the annual ceiling on the number of beneficiaries under its scheme to provide marriage assistance to differently-abled persons. It would provide loans up to Rs.15 lakh with 25 per cent subsidy to self-help groups which are ready to undertake income generating activities for transgenders.
For minorities, the government had a few proposals. The State Wakf Board would now get Rs.1 crore instead of Rs.45 lakh as grant, while the number of ulemas availing of pension would be increased from 2,400 to 2,600. Their monthly pension would go up from Rs.750 to Rs.1000.
It said the functioning of welfare boards for various kinds of unorganised workers would be revamped to improve their performance.
Pension for journalists will be increased from Rs.5,000 to Rs.6,000 and their family pension from Rs.2,500 to Rs.3,000 per month. The government will also construct a Media Centre in the new building of the Madras Reporters' Guild at the Omandurar Government Estate at a cost of Rs.50 lakh.
