The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : A safety net for the poor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

A safety net for the poor

It is a new social security net being spread by the State Government for the poor. Once again, the Kudumbashree poverty eradication mission will play a key role in the implementation of the programme as indicated by a meeting scheduled for next Thursday in the State capital where Kudumbashree has been entrusted with the task of the scheme formulation and identification of the beneficiaries.

The safety net for the poorest of the poor, promised by the State Government two years ago takes off with a corpus of Rs. 75 crores, built up from the financial year 2002-03. The State Budget for that financial year had earmarked Rs.25 crores for the purpose. Another Rs.50 crores had been allotted for the programme in the 2003-04 Budget. The Ashraya project implemented by Kudumbashree in 333 village panchayats in the States now will be a key component in the implementation of the social safety net, the first of its kind in the State. Under the safety net, families that are identified as beneficiaries can avail up to Rs.10,000. The programme is being implemented by the Social Welfare Department with th e active participation of Kudumbashree and the Ashraya project.

Besides, Kudumbashree will also have the responsibility for preparing the guidelines for the implementation of the project and also imparting training for social welfare officers who will be involved in implementing it.

K.A. Martin

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