State Balabhavan Society President and Women and Child Development and Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens Department Principal Secretary Amitha Prasad said that all the 30 districts in the State would receive one-stop crisis centres in respective government hospitals on November 1, to offer aid to the women subjected to atrocities.

Speaking after handing over the bus offered by Infosys Foundation to district Balabhavan, the Principal Secretary said that the one stop crisis centers will comprise a police official, medical superintendent, four women and child welfare department officials and two counsellors.

These centers will offer solutions to medical problems and treatments, counselling and act as a organisation working for social cause. She stressed that mothers forum should be set up in each gram panchayat which would enable the discussion on sexual crimes, nutrition and so on.

` 10,000 for victims

Pointing out at the financial assistance ensured by the State government to the child subjected to sexual crimes, Amitha Prasad said that the department would release Rs 10,000 immediately to the victim. The deputy commissioner of respective district is authorised to offer the amount up to Rs one lakh to bear the medical expenses of the child victim. However, if the medical expense crosses Rs one lakh, the State government can decide over releasing additional amount.

She lamented over three per cent funds earmarked for the disabled in each urban and rural local bodies remaining unused and said that the local bodies should follow the approach adopted by the urban and rural local bodies in Tumkur and Bidar.

These local bodies have created the system of pool fund, which would ensure additional efficiency in utilising the funds earmarked for the disabled. She stressed that there are nearly 30 schemes for the disabled and the funds should be utilised for the benefits of the disabled. She added that Udyog Mela would be held in the districts for disabled from December 3 to 7. Rs seven crore is earmarked to give away three-tyre scooters  for the disabled.

She said as many as 1,000 students studying SSLC and above will be given talking laptops. She called upon the Self Helf Groups (SHGs) to mull over new schemes rather than depending only on the small scale industries like manufacturing phenyl and other home products. SHGs should embark upon service sectors and health sector. They should set up care homes and sanitary napkin industries. In Gujarat, around 5,000 girls were trained for computing and tally accounts.

MLA’s plea

Responding to the demands put forth by Udupi MLA Pramodh Madhawraj, the Principal Secretary said the deputy commissioner or Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer  (CEO)  should send the proposal demanding remand home. Rs one crore can be sanctioned under ICPS scheme. She said the proposal should be sent for ‘putani train’ for the kids. The department will offer Rs 25 to Rs 35 lakh and remaining amount can be sought from railway department. She said self-defense measures could be taught for the girl students through Suraksha programme.

MLA Pramodh Madhwaraj said that the government should consider individual income of the disabled to offer pension facilities. Currently the pension is offered based on the income of the family of the disabled.

He said the bus offered by Infosys Foundation to Udupi would be exclusively meant for the children. He said only four districts in State, Bangalore, Udupi, Bidar and Dharwad have received the buses from Infosys Foundation.
DH News Service