Agartala, Nov 25, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Nov 25: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha inaugurated a two-day Regional Workshop on Acts/Rules and implementation of schemes of Social Justice & Empowerment Department at a private hotel in Agartala on Saturday.

Representatives from different states such as Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura have participated in the regional workshop organized by the Social Welfare and Social Education department. 

After inaugurating the workshop, the Chief Minister said, the 2-day workshop on Acts/Rules and implementation of schemes of Social Justice and Empowerment Department holds great importance. 

The state government is also appropriately implementing different flagship schemes of the central government for the welfare of senior citizens and people of SC and OBC communities of the state.

He said, the SW&SE department of the state government has been implementing Maintenance and Welfare of Parent and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 in all districts and sub-divisions of the state since 2008. 
There are presently 4 Old Age Homes in the state such as Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Old Age Home (run by the government) and NGO run Old Age Homes such as Apnaghar Old Age Home, Abhoyashram Old Age Home and Prantik Old Age Home. 

The Chief Minister in the workshop said, financial assistance is being provided under IPSrC scheme (Integrated Programme for Senior Citizen Scheme) from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to different Agencies/NGOs registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Presently, 3 NGO run Old Age Homes in the state are getting financial assistance under the scheme. 

The Government of India has enacted ‘The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Acts, 2019’ and ‘The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Acts, 2020’ to safeguard the rights and interests of the Transgender Persons. In Tripura, the Transgender Welfare Board has been constituted following the provision of ‘The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Acts, 2020’. 

The Chief Minister said, the present state government is working cooperatively with SW&SE department, Tripura Aids Control Society, Sports department, Skill Development department and Health department on reducing Drug & Substance Abuse in the state. Awareness based programs are being conducted on grass root level to keep the young generation away from drug abuse. 

Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Pratima Bhowmik said, the government is working tirelessly to deliver the benefits of all schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment till the last person of the society. 

Implementation of central flagship schemes to ensure quality education and better economic condition of backward section of the society will be discussed in the workshop. The states performing well in implementing flagship schemes for backward section of the society will be joining the discussion in the workshop. 

As a result, Tripura can also benefit in this regard. Secretary of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India Anjali Bhawra also spoke on the occasion. 

SC Welfare Minister Minister Bhagaban Das, OBC Welfare Minister Ram Prasad Paul, SW&SE Minister Santana Chakma, Bihar SC Welfare Minister Santosh Kumar Suman and Chief Secretary of Tripura state J.K. Sinha were present in the inaugural programme.