To address the issue of overcrowding at homes for mentally challenged, the Centre has proposed setting up of three more new homes in Delhi along the line of Asha Kiran, a Delhi Government’s centre for their care and rehabilitation. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament on Friday. Stressing on the need for a significant improvement on social security and welfare sector, the Centre on Friday earmarked Rs1,862 crore for the year 2014-15. This constitutes approximately 11.1 per cent of the total plan outlay of Rs16,700 crore in the Budget.
In view of the rising population of the elderly in the city, the ‘monthly aid’ of Rs1,000 to senior citizens of 60-69 years and Rs1,500 to 70 years and above, the Government extended it for 4.30 lakh people. At present 3.90 lakh people are being benefitted by the monthly aid. Government also announced six more working women hostels under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. “There are about 906 mentally challenged inmates of all age groups admitted against the intake capacity of 350 inmates at Asha Kiran, a Delhi Government’s centre for their care and rehabilitation. It is proposed to set up three more new homes for such persons at different locations in Delhi,” the Minister said. “Keeping in view the large number of needy women, it is proposed to set up six more such working women hostels under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode,” Jaitley added.