Shillong: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Saturday approved an amendment to the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Social Assistance to include single-mothers as one of the beneficiaries.
So far, the scheme has been providing financial assistance to infirms, widows and persons with disabilities, but not single mothers.
“We have approved the amendment of the guidelines in respect of the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Social Assistance to infirms, widows and the persons with disabilities,” Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said.
Mr. Sangma said the state government was challenged with the fact that single mothers did not come under the definition of a widow. The sole intention of the amendment is to provide assistance to single mothers who have to face challenges and responsibilities of upbringing their children, Mr. Sangma said.
The Cabinet also approved the increase of the margin of family income of those who are eligible to avail the scheme from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 36,000 per annum.
