The Congress government in Chhattisgarh has decided to take a major step for the rehabilitation and resettlement of children staying in state-run shelter homes by increasing the exit age for inmates to 21 years from the current 18 years.
Also, the government will support them for self-reliance in their future life by helping them with higher education, skill development, employment and housing purposes, under a newly announced ‘Bal Uday’ scheme.
The scheme was announced by chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in the budget for the financial year 2023-24 presented in the State Assembly recently. A provision of Rs 1 crore has been made for the scheme.
A state government note said that earlier, the children exiting the shelters at age of 18 faced a number of problems in joining the mainstream of society, especially in getting employment and houses. In some cases, this forced the youth to get involved in criminal activities. Keeping this in view, the chief minister has made this sensitive move for the children.
Led by the women and child development minister Anila Bhedia, the department is currently drafting a detailed work plan for rehabilitation and resettlement of the youngsters exiting the shelter homes, the government note said.
The scheme will focus on providing economic support for higher education, ensuring employment, housing and other facilities for these youth. CM Baghel has said that arrangements should also be made for vocational skill training of the youth so that they could engage in self-employment and become self-reliant. The CM has also directed provisions for community group housing for such youngsters.
Tree Plantation Scheme
CM Baghel will launch the ambitious 'Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada' scheme of the state government on the occasion of the International Day of Forests on March 21.
As a preparatory move, chief secretary Amitabh Jain has written to all district collectors and divisional forest officers to make the required preparations for the launch of the scheme. Local public representatives, departmental officers and employees, and a large number of common people will attend the program.
Landowners of all categories including governmental, semi-governmental, and autonomous government institutions, private educational institutions, panchayats, and land contract holders will be eligible under the 'Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana'. Under this scheme, 100 per cent financial aid will be provided to the beneficiaries for tree plantation on 5 acres of private land and 50 per cent financial assistance for tree plantation on more than 5 acres of land.
Through this scheme, a goal of planting 15 crore saplings in 1.80 lakh acres of land in five years has been set at the rate of 36,000 acres of land every year. The Government will decide the minimum price for the purchase of selected plant species every year so that farmers can get a definite income. The production of wood outside the forest regions will encourage wood-related industries. Also, farmers will earn extra income through carbon credit, a government note said.
