Punjab Social Welfare Department : Scheme for Assistance to Dependent Children
I) Finance Assistance to Dependent Children
(Started in 1968)
Eligibility: Age: Orphan and destitute children below the age of 21.
Income: The income of the mother or father/guardian should not exceed Rs.1000 per month. Where parents are alive, income of both mother and father should not exceed Rs.1500 per month in a family, financial assistance is restricted only upto 2 children. Relaxation in income limit to the extent of Rs.300 per child for 2 children is admissible.
Rate of Pension: Rs.200 per month per beneficiary.
Mode of Payment: Quarterly through Banks.
How to apply: A very simple application from is available free of cost from the office of District Social Security Officer. The contents to be certified by the Sarpanch and Lamberdar of the village and in towns/city by the Municipal Counselor and attested by either SDO(C)/ Executive Magistrate/ Tehsildar/ NaibTehsildar/ Programmer Office (ICDS)/ CDPO/ BDPO.
Sanction of Pension: Applications, complete in all respects, are submitted in the officer of District Social Security Officer who processes the case, if found in order, Additional Deputy Commissioner sanctions the pension/financial assistance.
Budgetary Provision and Achievements
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
| Beneficiaries | 17042 | 22712 | 25698 (Proposed) |
| Expenditure/Budget | Rs.506.88 lacs | Rs.526.57 lacs | 616.74 lacs (Plan budget not yet approved) |
II )FACILITIES FOR JUVENILES under Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 (State share 50% and Centre Share 50%):
The Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 has been repealed by Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2000. Under this Act 5 Children Homes, Gurdaspur, Bhatinda, Jalandahr, Patiala at Rajpura and Ropar, 2 Juvenile Home at Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, 2 State After Care Homes at Ludhiana and Amritsar and 2 Special Homes at Hoshiarpur and Amritsar have been set up in the State.