Drug abuse major problem for NE women: Ms Patil

Guwahati, Sep 4 (UNI) The menace of drug abuse has emerged as the main hurdle in the uplift of women in North East though their status is considered better in the region compared to other parts of the country.

Addressing newsmen here today, Central Social Welfare Board chairperson Rajani Patil said, '' Incidence of female foeticide is much less in the NE and the overall condition of women is better here. But drugs is proving to be a major problem.'' She informed that of the total Rs 175 crore annual budget of the Social Welfare department, Rs 2 crore was sanctioned for Asom annually by the Board for the 353 units and 210 NGOs operting in the state.

'' However, the state government has about Rs 75 lakh pending dues for the social welfare department,'' she said, adding that the Chief Minister has assured of releasing the amount at the earliest.

Ms Patil informed that the creche programmes, Awareness Generation Programmes and Family Counselling Centres were popular among the people and the Board had asked for region specific allocation from the Centre, rather than scheme specific.

She mentioned that special programmes for women engaged in agriculture activities in hilly terain in NE and marketting of handicrafts made by women of the region would be proposed.

The chariperson said task forces would be constituted to monitor the utilisation of funds by the NGOs.

She also informed that the Board had demanded changes in the 50-years old formats of the schemes in the 11th Five Year Plan.

UNI SG KK/src1804