Relief measures for Socially Backward People in Tsunami hit areas
	16:22 IST

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has taken up special relief and rehabilitation measures for persons including inter-alia persons who are socially backward, elderly, disabled, children & women in Tsunami affected areas. These measures include : ·         Counseling services for Tsunami affected children in Tamil Nadu through NGOs for which Rs. 4.14 lakhs have been sanctioned. ·         Setting up of 3 children’s home by State Government of Tamil Nadu for which Rs. 11.68 lakhs have been sanctioned. ·         Child Centre being opened through NGOs at Port Blair with outreach centre at Hut Bay in Andaman & Nicobar Islands at cost of Rs. 2.76 lakhs. ·         6 child help-centres with 24 sub-centres for children in all Tsunami affected areas have been set up by CHILDLINE India Foundation for which an amount of Rs. 9.40 lakhs have been sanctioned. ·         A total of 1981 aids and appliances have been distributed to the persons with disabilities in Southern India of which 900 aids & appliances have been distributed in Tamil Nadu. ·         More than 200 aids & appliances have been distributed to persons with disabilities in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. ·         The National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, which provides concessional finance to members of the backward classes asked the concerned State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) to submit proposals for financial assistance for the affected people of the target group. The SCA of Tamil Nadu submitted a project proposal for training programmes for the affected people and Corporation has sanctioned Rs. 35.00 lakhs for the above project. This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Smt. Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. MLD:LK:sje-63 (21.3)