Tura, Aug 30: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Wednesday said that single mothers should be empowered with different skills under the Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Programme.
He said this during a review meeting here that was attended by Social Welfare Commissioner Secretary Hima Shangpliang and all officials of the Social Welfare Department of Garo Hills, besides West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi.
“Besides giving assistance, it would be appropriate to move forward to really empower the beneficiaries, particularly the single mothers,” said Mukul, while expressing his concern for the rise of single mothers across Meghalaya.
Mukul said he would persolly talk to the Chief Secretary to design the skill programme. “Now that the department has a ready data under the programme, they would also be able to easily identify the right persons for specific skill development training,” he added.
He urged the department to give wide publicity of the social assistance programmes to ensure that no eligible person is left out.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to come together and open thrift cooperative societies, so that their funds can be transferred directly to them.
Mukul expressed satisfaction that the social assistance programmes were effective in reaching out to the most vulnerable sections of the society.
In 2012, the Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme for the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Infirm and Widows (the nomenclature of which was later changed to include all single mothers) and Chief Minister’s Wedding Assistance Scheme for Orphan Girls were launched.
