Meghalaya

+ Trafficking of Women and Children

The State Advisory Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary has been constituted of officials and members of the NGO’s.The Department of Social Welfare has notified a State Nodal Officer for the purpose of coordinating with the NGO’s and other concerned Department to combat the menace of trafficking of women and children in the State. The Nodal Officer may be contacted in the following number 0364-2225266 for more details

Helpline Numbers – 181, 100

In order to cater to the needs of destitute, orphan, widow, deserted wife and women in distress the Department of Social Welfare have set up the three training centres to provide vocational skills and training in knitting, tailoring, embroidery and weaving so as to enable them to be self supported and self employed.

On completion of training, the passed out trainees are given a token grant of Rs.3500 to Rs.5000 each to enable them to start their own ventures.

The Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong introduced the scheme in 1995 for providing training in computer Operator and Programming to destitute, orphan, deserted women so as to enable them to be economically independent.

The Scheme aims at empowering women socially and economically through the establishment of Women Self Help Group, Integration and Convergence of other related schemes available with the different Departments.

Swayamsidha are implemented in 5 (five) C & RD Blocks viz. Mylliem, Mawshynrut, Betasing and Resubelpara through the Child Development Project Officers and Umling through Bosco Reach Out

Under the Scheme of financial assistance to voluntary organisations the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) provides assistance in the form of grants-in-aid for construction of hostel buildings for working women. The objective of the scheme is to provide safe and economical hostel accommodation to women employees who posted outside their hometown. In Meghalaya three NGO’s viz. Young Women Christian Association, Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Shillong and Garo Baptist Convention Tura were funded by MWCD. The Young Women Christian Association and Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Shillong have accommodated 54 and 84 working women respectively

The programme of STEP launched in 1987 aims to upgrade the skills of poor and marginalised women. The objective is to provide employment to them on a sustainable basis in the traditional sectors of agriculture, veterinary, fisheries, handlooms and handicrafts. Meghalaya Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicrafts Co-operative Federation received assistance from Govt. of India under STEP for training women in Handloom and Sericulture.

Under the scheme which is assisted by Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD) projects of skill development and training of achieving self-reliance through income generation for women are supported. These projects of training for income generation are in the non-traditional trades and are funded by the Department of Women and Child Development. The State Level Empowerment Committee for NORAD was constituted and a number of NGO’s were recommended to Govt. of India for sanction under the scheme. Viz; St. Xavier of Christ Jesus West Garo Hills and Salesian Sisters of Northern India Auxilium Convent Nongthymmai, Seng Kynjoh Shaphrang Ki Kynthei Kyndong Tuber, Jaintia Hills, Okkapara Mahila Samity, West Garo Hills, Garobadha Women Society, FNA Outreach for underprivileged Women and Children (OUWC), Golflink Belfonte and WISE Social Service Centre, St. Mary’s Convent, Laitumkhrah. During 2009-10 two more organisations received grants-in-aid under NORAD Scheme i.e. 1) Bakdil P.O. Lower Chandmary, Tura and (2) Women’s Economic Development (WEDs) Modaltilla Hawakhana, Tura.

National Nutrition Mission a new scheme introduced by the Government of India during 2002-03 for implementing subsidized foodgrains to adolescent girls, expectant and nursing mothers belonging to Below Poverty Line families and undernourished. The objectives of the programme are to reduce malnutrition, elimination of micronutrients deficiencies relating to iron, iodine, vitamin A etc. and reduction of chronic energy deficiency. In Meghalaya, East Khasi Hills District has been selected for covering seven ICDS Projects. The programme is to be implemented in the lines of growth monitoring, weighing and identification of undernourished by distribution of 6 kgs of food grains (wheat/rice) based on local habitual through Public Distribution System. Training in growth monitoring, weighing, health and nutrition education, health check up, referral services and to conduct IEC programme and purchase of weighing scales. The programme is to be implemented through a convergence approach with the Department of Food and Civil Supplies and the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district for necessary arrangement of food grains and distribution through the Public Distribution System. 

For more information on schemes made available by the State of Meghalaya

http://megsocialwelfare.gov.in/supplementary.html

• http://megsocialwelfare.gov.in/women.html 
• http://megsocialwelfare.gov.in/