Morung Express Feature
The Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB), set up in 1958 under the Naga Hills, Tuensang Area, has been implementing various programmes of Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), New Delhi to facilitate and strengthen Voluntary organizations working for women, children and disadvantaged section of the society.
According to a pamphlet received here, the Board sponsors women and girl for vocational training under state programme. The training is provided to help and empower needy and economically weaker women to go for wage employment and self-employment. Trainings are imparted to women in the age group of 15 years and above.
Preference is however given to destitute women, widows and women belonging to weaker sections. The duration of the course may vary from 6 months to 2 years with 25 candidates in a batch. The minimum qualification for the candidates varies from trade to trade, but the applicant should clearly indicate this is in candidate Performa provided by NSSWB.
In another area, condensed course of education for women aims at facilitating social and economic empowerment of women, school dropouts and failed candidate in completing their education. Registered voluntary organizations having experience in educational programmes, recognized educational institutions can apply for assistance to conduct such courses. These courses are for women who are of the age of 15 years and above. Types of courses can be conducted under this scheme include; two year non-residential education course to enable women to appear for recognized primary/middle/matric/higher secondary or equivalent examinations as private candidates, one year non- residential education course for women who have failed in HSLC Matric or equivalent examination as private candidates.
The pamphlet stated that selection of candidates is conducted by a committee comprising of the institution and the principal/representative of a local government school of the area where the course is to be held. If the course is held in a building owned by the institution, no grant will be provided for the rent. Instead a lump-sum as maintenance grant is provided.
Awareness Generation programme: The objective of the programme is to create awareness amongst women on issues relating to their status, rights and problems. This programme also aims to encourage rural women to think of their problems, analyze them and initiate action to tackle them. The programme is participatory in nature and should lead to some sort of collection action that will empower women to make their voice heard in the process of development in their own community.
Grants provided to voluntary agencies to conduct awareness generation programmes should have a background of social activism and social mobilization at the community level. The duration is 1 to 5 days. At the village level, involvement of Village Council is essential.
Topics to be covered are issues relating to status of women and rights, women’s health, community health, hygiene etc, it said.
Family Counseling Centres: Women organizations and other voluntary social welfare organizations working in the field related to women issue can avail grants from CSWB through the NSSWB for setting up such centers. These centres provide counseling, referral and re-habilitative service to women victims of atrocities in the family and society.
They are also expected to intervene in cases of any atrocities or physical violence against women. Therefore, the Centre should work closely with the local authorities and the local police, the applicant organizations should have had experience and a track record in social mobilization work in dealing with women issues and problems. The institution will be required to meet 20 per cent of the expenditure sanctioned towards “other expenses” as its matching contribution.
Working Women Hostel: Assistance is provided to voluntary agencies in the form of grants for hostel facilities for working women. As per the latest instruction of the Government of India, working women whose income does not exceed Rs. 16,000 consolidated per month in class A city and Rs. 15,000 consolidated per month in any other city/town, is eligible for accommodation in these hostels which are run with grants received from CSWB.
Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme: Financial assistance is provided to voluntary organizations to set up crèche units for children of working women and ailing mothers belonging to lower income groups. Children of the age 0-6 years can be looked after during the day. Each unit should have at least 25 children who are provided with sleeping facilities, health care, supplementary nutrition etc. The grantee institution shall have to contribute an additional 10 per cent of the budget as its matching share towards nutrition and contingent expenses.
Short Stay Home: The CSWB is giving grant to voluntary organizations to establish and run Short Stay Home for women and girls with a view to protect and rehabilitate those women and girls who are facing social, economic and emotional problems due to family problems, mental strains, social ostracism, exploitation and other causes which are in moral danger.
Temporary shelter to these needy women and girls were provided from 6 months to 3 years. With services such as case work and counseling services, medical care and psychiatric treatment, occupational therapy, skill development and rehabilitation services, educational, vocational and recreational services.
Innovative schemes: Under this scheme, an institution is expected to prepare a project proposal keeping in view the social necessities by giving details of the area, the requirement of the proposed project, areas of intervention, methodology, tools, budget etc. There is no specific application form and no schematic budget for this scheme. However, voluntary organizations are advised to contact the NSSWB while preparing the proposal.
The pamphlet also cited other programmes viz; Integrated Scheme for Women Empowerment, help line, Swadhar, seminars, orientation training programmes, training of voluntary organizations.
Application forms for all the schemes are issued every year during April/May. Completed forms should be submitted to the office on or before the 30th of June, the pamphlet added.
Selection is done by the executive board members of NSSWB and deserving voluntary agencies are recommended to the CSWB, New Delhi for consideration and sanction of grant thereof, the pamphlet said. The office of the NSSWB is located at Old Secretariat Complex, Kohima, Nagaland.
