Programme & Scheme
The Special Central Assistance (SCA) is provided by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the state Government.
1 Pre_ Matric Scholarship scheme for SC/ST/MBC/Monastic Students
2 Post_Matric Scholarship scheme for SC/ST/MBC
3 Tribal Sub-Plan for scheduled Tribes
4 Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes.
5 Monitoring and evaluation of Schemes for Scheduled Castes, Tribes and OBC.
6 Diploma in Computer education under scheme of capacity Building Training.
7 Motor Mechanical training for ST& ST Six Month.
Others Schemes in South Sikkim
1. Indira Mahila Yojana - Under this Scheme, small groups of women are organized/formed which are called Indira Mahila Kendras and each Mahila and each Mahila Kendra has been given Rs, 5000/- as one time grant to start income generating schemes. These Self-Help groups are involved in income generating schemes viz. pickle making, ginger cultivation, vegetable growing, basket making, grapery, piggery etc. In this way women are being made independent and self-reliant. This scheme is presently implemented only in South District of Sikkim and 110 such Kendras are functional.
2. Balika Samridhi Yojana - Financial assistance is given to the families living below the Poverty line to whom girl child is born. This benefit is restricted to two girl child in each household. Total number of beneficiaries covered under this scheme till date is 252.
3. Small Family Scheme - This is a scheme for having Small family by delayed marriage wherein attractive incentives are given. The total number of beneficiaries covered under this scheme is 3989.
The details of the Scheme are as under :-
a. Unmarried girls attaining the age 13 years will be provided Rs. 2500/- as Fixed Deposit in the State Bank of Sikkim in their names.
b. If she remains unmarried at the age 21 years, out of the accumulated balance of principle and interest she will receive the benefit of Rs. 2000/-.
c. If she marries at the age of 22 years an additional incentive of Rs. 500/- will be paid to her.
d. If she marries at the age of 23 years an additional incentive of Rs. 1,000/- will be paid to her.
e. If she has her first child after 2 years of marriage she will get an additional incentive of Rs. 1,000/-.
f. If she has her second child after a gap of 3 years she will be paid an additional incentive of Rs. 1000/-.
The balance remaining at the end of this particular period will be utilized for :
(a) Diverting Rs. 2500/- to start a new scheme on the above pattern for a new beneficiary .
(b) Deposit the remaining amount in the interest bearing account in the name of the original beneficiary which will be available to her at the age of 50 years provided she continues to have only with two children.
4. Training for Women - The registered women organizations are imparting training in cutting and tailoring for a period of six months. So far 60 women have been benefited under this scheme.
5. Widow Remarriage Scheme - Under this scheme the eligible person marrying a widow is granted a cash incentive of Rs. 10,000/-. The number of beneficiaries covered since 1996 is 104.
6. Pension to widows of Ex-Servicemen - An amount of Rs. 84,000/- is annually transferred to Rajya Sainik Board for disbursement to the widows of Ex-Servicemen.
7. Women’s Hostel - For secure and economical accommodation to working women, Two Working Women’s Hostels are functional at Gangtok and Namchi.
This year being declared as the “Empowerment of Women Year” two days workshop is being held in the month of June 2001 to discuss issues relating to women and children. Different NGOs are organizing awareness generation camps in villages on the occasion of the Empowerment of Women Year and the department being the nodal department is constantly coordinating with these NGOs.
8. I.C.D.S.
The most prominent scheme, which relates to children and is implemented by the department, is Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Under this scheme the following package of services are provided to the beneficiaries:-
a) Supplementary feeding
b) Immunisation
c) Health Check-up
d) Referral services
e) Nutrition and Health Education
f) Pre-School Education
Against the 500 sanctioned ICDS centers, 499 centers in four districts are functional:-
1) East - 150
2) West - 122
3) North - 87
4) South - 115
5) East (Urban) - 25
Total - 499
9. Nutrition
This is a supplementary feeding program for children below 6 years of age, pregnant and nursing mothers at ICDS Centers and creches falling under Border Area Project.. The total number of beneficiaries last year was about 38,000. The Department will implement Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana from this year.
Under this program about 30,000 children below the age of 3 yrs. will be given fortified cereal based ready to eat food in powder form as take home food.
Besides RTE food, Khichari, biscuits and Milk will also be given to the children in ICDS centers. Total number of beneficiaries to be covered is expected to be around 39,000.
10. Honorarium to Anganwadi Workers/Helpers
The Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are honorary workers and as such they get honorarium @ Rs. 438/- for Anganwadi Worker and Rs. 260/- for Helper from the Central Government.
As these grass root level workers play the pivotal role in implementing the ICDS Scheme, the State Government has provided an additional amount of honorarium @ Rs. 750/- to the Anganwadi Workers and Rs. 450/- to the Helpers w.e.f. 1st October 2000.
11. Creches for Working Women’s Children
There are 115 creches throughout the State, which are run by NGOs under the supervision and guidance of the Sikkim State Social Welfare Advisory Board. Besides eight Anganwadi Centres to cover the children of labourers.
These are :-
a) East - Rey and Mangthang b) West - Naya Busty & Daramdin
c) North - Ringhema and Singhik d) South - Temi and Ravangla
12. Sikkim State Plan of Action for Children
The State Government has prepared “Sikkim State Plan of Action for Children” red which will be released in the month of June 2001. This plan of Action takes care of the children in the following areas: -
a. Rights for Survival -deals with health, reproductive and child health maternity, nutrition, child environment, sanitation, hygiene and water supply.
b. Rights for development
c. Rights for protection for the children specially in difficult circumstances.
d. Children’s rights for participation.
11. Welfare of SC/ST/OBC
The total population of Sikkim is 5.44 lakhs as per provisional census 2001. There are reservations for SC/ST/OBC in Government Service and for seats in higher studies w.e.f. 1.7.1995 in the proportion of 6%, 23% and 21% respectively. Besides this, 5 years relaxations in age for Government jobs is also provided to SC/ST. The Revenue Order No. 1 of 1917 restricts alienation of land belonging to tribal (Bhutia and Lepcha) to non tribals. The SC/ST population is dispersed all-over the State. All revenue blocks with more than 50% ST population have been grouped and declared as Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) area. There are 17 such blocks. Out of 32 Assembly Constituencies 13 are reserved for tribals including Sangha Seat representing Buddhist monks of this State. There are two seats reserved for SC. Regarding education facility pre and post metric scholarships are given to SC/ST students. Education is free for all up to College level. Besides, Vocational training in repair of Computers, radio, TV, photocopying machines, motor driving, cutting and tailoring, skill development etc. are given to the weaker section. Loans are provided by the SC/ST/OBC Development Corporation at low rate of interest for employment and income generating schemes.
The Social Welfare Department has taken up the constructions of residential school for ST at North Sikkim under CSS. A Hostel for OBC is under consideration at Chakhung.
The State Government has availed of CSS for infrastructure development in tribal areas.
12. Welfare of handicapped
Under these schemes a stipend of Rs. 300/- per month plus uniform is provided to children studying in Deaf and Dumb School in Darjeeling and St. Mary’s School at Kalimpong. Scholarship of Rs. 50/-, 60/- and 85/- is given to disabled children studying in the State.
a. Sheltered workshop at Jorethang is run by the Department for visually disabled person. They are engaged in cane and bamboo products. They are paid monthly stipend of Rs. 1200/-. and 600/- and 400/- respectively as per their skills.
b. Poor disabled persons are given as monthly subsistence allowance of Rs. 100/- each.
c. District Rehabilitation center for physically handicapped has been set up at Gangtok at the State Hospital.
d. Department maintains one Destitute Home with 50 children at Kaluk and gives financial assistance to 5 numbers of Homes run by NGOs benefiting 350 children.
e. Under Juvenile Justice Act a home is being run by the Department for under trial children at Gangtok.
f. The Department extends assistance to Voluntary Organisations like School for visually handicapped at Namchi, spastic society at Gangtok and other NGOs.
g. Old Age Pension. A monthly assistance of Rs. 200/- is given to 10104 beneficiaries above the age of 65 years who are below poverty line.
