CSWB chairperson meets NGO reps and officials, assures of positive changes in the offing

GANGTOK, 08 May: Prema Carriappa, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board [CSWB], New Delhi, who is on a three-day state visit, today admitted that even she was unhappy with the miserly remuneration of Rs. 1,000 per month for the Ayas of crèche centres being run under the Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Programme, by  local NGOs through the State Social Welfare Board [SSWB].
Answering queries during an interaction session with members of NGOs, Ms. Carriappa said, “For the last three years, I have been constantly fighting with the concerned Ministry to hike the remuneration of the Ayas, and I hope that this will come to effect in the days to come.”

On the delay in the release of funds, the Chairperson informed that it happens because of the Ministry, which was undertaking some changes in its schemes under CSWB.
“Now improved schemes have introduced and will benefit not only the NGOs, but a huge number of downtrodden women who will be included under the schemes and the funds for the same will be released accordingly,” she announced.
Earlier, SSWB chairperson, Bhima Kanta Gurung, in her welcome address expressed gratitude towards the CSWB Chairperson for sparing time to visit Sikkim and hear out the grievances of the Sikkimese people.
She said, “In the recent years, it has been acknowledged that some good changes relating to women’s upliftment have paved the way for progress. This, however, is not adequate and much need to be done at the lower level and voluntary organizations working at this level need to be praised and expect still more efforts in this regard.”
In her address, SSWB Secretary, Hemlata Chettri conveyed her gratitude to Ms. Carriappa and said that it was a great moment for the Board and also the NGO members to be able to place their grievances directly to the person concerned.
Similarly, SP Mukherjee, Welfare Officer deputed with the SSWB here expressed hope that the visit of the Chairperson and her direct interaction with grassroots level functionaries will yield better results in the near future.
At present, various CSWB-sponsored schemes are functional in Sikkim, including Awareness Generation Camps, crèches, condensed courses for adult women, vocational training programme, short stay homes, family counseling centres etc.
The interaction session conducted by SSWB counselor, Sarita Gurung was attended by representatives of various NGOs, officials of SSWB and AK Arora, assistant project officer, CSWB.