Lahore, Sept 06 (TNS): The concept of social welfare is not new in our society but Shahbaz led Punjab government has taken lead in this segment too.
Punjab government’s spirit of doing good to the fellow beings and the enthusiasm for taking part in activities for the well being of the under-privileged is unprecedented.
To render help to the less fortunate brethren was an essential obligation of all, and was regarded as a means of salvation of serving God. Thus, every aspect of our culture was predominated by humanitarian philosophy. Political dependency and economic backwardness have been the main obstacles in the development of social work in the form of institutional services. After independence, social work has assumed new dimensions in Pakistan.
The sources of welfare activities are inherent in the constitution. It is on the basis of the national constitution that the government has established Social Welfare Department. Punjab’s this department has sought to serve the development and rehabilitation needs of the weaker sections of society especially the physically and socially handicapped, women and children, the vulnerable sections of the community in rural and urban areas.
Punjab’s Social Welfare Department is working with the vision of providing an equitable and well-functioning social protection system anchored at the principles of empowerment and inclusion for all, particularly the marginalized. In addition to coordinate and ensuring responsive social protection services to the communities in general, poor and vulnerable in particular, by mobilizing partnerships and developing organizational capacities.
Treatment, training and rehabilitation center for mentally challenged children (Chaman) is an institution, which was established in Lahore during the year 1990 to provide institutional care to mentally challenged children. There are a number of cases of mental illness in the province and according to the general estimation mental illness is twice as prevalent as blindness, polio, cerebral palsy and rheumatic heart conditions combined. The mental illness is a serious concern and it is the responsibility of state to protect them and provide them care and treatment which may suit their mental deficiency. It is working in close collaboration with mental hospital, Lahore and such other organizations which are engaged in this field and has the capacity to accommodate 30 children.
The mentally challenged children can get admission for day care services or hostel facilities after completion of the process of assessment and physical check up by the doctor and the psychologist.
Listed below are the facilities the Center provides:
- Assessment, advice and guidance
- Day care services
- Hostel facilities
- Provision of treatment, training and social rehabilitation of mentally challenged children in order to improve their behavior and make them as far as possible, adjusted in their societal environment to lead an independent life
- Provision of psychiatric treatment
- Counseling services for the families of the children
Child Welfare Services
- Abandoned Babies Homes (Gehwara)
- Model Children Homes (Orphanages)
- Home for Destitute Girls (Kashana)
- Centre for Lost Runaway & Kidnapped Children (Nigheban)
For the welfare of the infirm people, the Department is providing elderly services in form of ‘Old Age Home’.
Old Age Homes (Aafiat)
Social Welfare Department first old age home was established in 1975 under the name of “Aafiat” in Lahore. Later, 5 more Old Age Homes were established in the districts of Multan, Rawalpindi, Narowal, Sahiwal and Toba Tak Singh. These homes are providing quality services including shelter, food, health care and recreational facilities to old and infirm persons of the society. All such Institutions have the capacity to accommodate total 300 old and infirm persons (50 residents per institution) at a time.
Model Children Homes (Orphanages)
In this world, almost every society takes the responsibility to ensure all possible measures and steps for the betterment of orphans. Special attention and care is given to them for their constructive sustained and healthy physical, mental and social growth & development. Our religion also preaches to ensure the protection of rights of every individual irrespective of their caste, creed and colour. Pakistan is the signatory of several international commitments like Conventions on Child Rights. Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Department is running different projects for the welfare and rehabilitation of underprivileged and vulnerable children of our society and Model Children Homes (orphanages) are one of these projects.
There are 11 children homes, separately, for male and female children at Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Lahore, Gujranwala and 2 each at Narowal, D.G.Khan and Bahawalpur. These children homes are established to take care of destitute, parentless and poor orphan children and shape them up, polish their talents, and to provide them with an opportunity to lead a prosperous life instead of going astray. These children homes are designed to accommodate 50 children at a time.
Women Welfare Services
- Women Shelter Homes (Dar-ul-Aman)
- Mother & Children Homes (Dar-ul-Falah)
- Socio-Economic & Rehabilitation Center (SERC) for Women and Juvenile Prisoners
- Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Human Rights Centers for Women (Crisis Centers)
Drug Rehabilitation Center
The drug addiction has become one of the most serious problems in the contemporary world. All the societies are trying hard to resolve it but they have very little success as yet. Drug addicts are neglected section of the society that needs special attention. If these people are not taken care of, they may not only harm themselves but cause damage to the socio-cultural norms of society. Social Welfare Department has established Drug Rehabilitation Center for the rehabilitation of addicts.
This is a single model institution established in Multan for the rehabilitation of drug addicts (only male). The basic objective of this institution is to establish a model drug rehabilitation center where addicts may be provided with medical treatment along with the technical training so that they may become an active member of the society. Institution consists of two blocks; treatment block and rehabilitation and vocational skill training block. The center has the capacity to accommodate 50 addicts at a time.
Medical Social Services
The Medical Social Services Projects (MSSP) are established particularly for needy patients. There are total 110 Medical Social Services Projects working at national level hospitals DHQs and THQs in the Punjab.
MSSP are providing financial assistance to the poor patients through Health Welfare Committee and Patient Welfare Society. Heath welfare committees work under the rules of Zakat Department and Zakat funds are allocated by the Zakat Department. The funds are calculated for the total (indoor and outdoor) patients of the hospital. Patients are registered with the office of Medical Social Welfare Officer for one fiscal year.
Patient Welfare Society (PWS) is a registered NGO which arrange funds for needy patients with the help of philanthropists. PWS also maintains its own account which is based on donations.
The Punjab government has increased quota for disable persons from 2 % to 3 % while blind people have been provided 950 jobs across the province while registration of 26,000 blind people.
18,000 disable people have been provided ‘Khimad-Cards.
