E Arun
Port Blair, May 14: Mrs. Prema Kariappa, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board today lauded Mrs. Ratna Kannan, Chairperson of A & N State Social Welfare Board for her contributions towards Andaman Society.
Addressing a press conference today Mrs. Kariappa said that in Andaman and Nicobar Islands social problems are less because Mrs. Ratna Kannan handled those in a proper manner, as she is well experienced.
Mrs. Kariappa also expressed gratitude to the Lt. Governor for his support.
Addressing press persons she said that the conference was organized to discuss various issues pertaining to their respective states. She said this is the only organization who deals with NGOs (Non-Government Organizations), which focuses on women and children.
Mrs. Kariappa informed the media that within 2-3 months, the Social Welfare Board is implementing a National Women Helpline in Andaman Isles.
The State Social Welfare Boards were set up in 1954 to implement and monitor the programmes for which financial assistance was being provided by Govt, of India. The State Boards also work as a bridge
between the State Govt, and Central Board for providing inputs on policy making, planning and to coordinate programmes of State Govt., Central Govt.”and CSWB to avoid any kind of overlapping and duplication.
She said that the Conference of State Board Chairpersons is held annually in order to take stock of the achievements of the year that has gone by and also to determine the future course of action keeping in mind new developments that are taking place and new challenges that are emerging. The conference is also an opportunity for the State Board Chairpersons to share their experiences and give suggestions for the better implementation of our programmes.
The Conference has been organised in the A &s N Islands so that the State Board Chairpersons and officers can gain a firsthand knowledge of the working conditions and social problems that are affecting the Islands.
“ Since alcoholism is on the increase, it is giving rise to domestic problems such as gender violence and desertion of wives/bigamy. The Central Social Welfare Board wishes to take up welfare initiatives in the Islands in a more proactive way and to increase allocations for the programmes being implemented in the Islands,” she said.
Mrs. Kariappa added that the Family Counselling Centre programme of the CSWB has done pioneering work for strengthening families all over the country and even in a remote area like A & N Islands, Board has sanctioned a total of Rs. 8.12 lacs for FCC for the year 2012-13. There is substantial demand for the Creche programme in the Islands and a sum of Rs. 32.68 lacs was spent on 44 Creche units. An amount of Rs. 2.40 lacs was sanctioned under the Awareness Generation Programme for the year 2012-13.
She said that in the 11th Five Year Plan, a total of Rs. 120.00 lacs were spent on welfare activities in the A&N Islands This Conference is an opportunity to discuss the above issues and explore ways of fostering effective and meaningful coordination and partnership with State Governments and other stakeholders in the social sector and examining new and unexplored areas of interventions and the possibility of taking up new programmes as per the mandate of the Board.
