| Social
Welfare Services incorporates all such types of activities that benefit
specific target groups in the society through income transfer, individual
care and training programmes. The programme provides aid to those
who are not covered under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the
disabled, those nutritionally at risk, and victims of various misfortunes.
The Food Stamp
Programme targets 199,685 persons with beneficiaries distributed
over 14 parishes. The programme aims at offsetting the economic
effects of liberalisation and the removal of subsidies from basic
food items, as it relates to purchases by the target groups to ensure
that their nutritional status is at the minimum acceptable level.
Assistance to
Ex-Servicemen reflects the provision allocated to the Jamaica Legion,
a voluntary organization that aids needy ex-servicemen of both world
wars.
Kerosene Assistance
Programme which targets 19,192 poor families, was implemented as
a result of the general removal of subsidy on domestic kerosene.
Public Assistance
Services refers to those offered to needy persons including the
aged and the physically challenged, as well as persons who have
suffered personal misfortune and therefore responsible for administering:
•
|
Rehabilitation
Grants |
•
|
Old
Age and Incapacity Assistance |
| •
|
National and Vocational Rehabilitation Service for the Disabled |
•
|
Abilities
Foundation |
• |
Administration
of Golden Age Clubs and Feeding Programmes |
Rehabilitation Grants are of three types:
1)
|
That
offered to graduates of the Food Stamp programme and to persons
who have met misfortune that interrupts income earning capacity
or living conditions. |
2) |
Compassionate Grants which are given to persons in need of speedy
assistance and who are unable to benefit from aid under other
schemes. |
| 3)
|
Emergency relief is given to persons involved in incidents such
as fire and flood, involving twenty families or less. |
Old
Age and Incapacity Assistance is given to persons who have reached
the age of retirement but do not qualify for a pension.
National
and Vocational Rehabilitation Service for the Disabled promotes
and undertakes programmes to allow for the full participation and
equality of all disabled persons at all levels in the society, by
achieving the following objectives:
•
|
Preparation and maintenance of a national registration of persons
with disabilities |
•
|
Development
and maintenance of an effective vocational training department
within the Council |
| •
|
Co-ordination
of the abilities and potential of the disabled through self-help
projects |
• |
Promotion
and co-ordination of a National Disability Awareness Week of
activities |
• |
Maintenance of a quality service for clients seeking assistance |
Golden
Age Clubs and Feeding Programme sees to the operation of the Golden
Age Project, which is primarily concerned with the welfare of senior
citizens. The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) co-ordinates
the Project and also advises on matters relating to the welfare
of this vulnerable group.
The
Council enables senior citizens to have a meaningful and independent
existence and to contribute to national development.
The
NCSC has four priority areas, as dictated by the National Policy
for Senior Citizens. These are education, income security, health
and national infrastructure
|
