SOCIAL WELFARE

The professed goal and purpose of Government is the welfare of their people as such in a welfare state every agency of the State works for promoting the well-being of the people through well organized social services in order to establish a balance between economic growth and social development.

In order to fulfill the above targeted objectives the Government of Pakistan has established diversified programmes for development of children, elevation of status of the women, rehabilitation of disabled persons and to promote the culture of self reliance and solve the problems on self-help basis through registration of NGOs and so on.

In the wake the United Nations declaration for the Development National Social Service Programme is the responsibility of Government to ensure the promotion of social services designed to deal with the social effects of programmes of economic and social development of state and in order to fulfill this obligation, the Social welfare Department came in existence in 1962. Under the devolution plan, this department has been merged with the Culture department, its field offices have been developed and the Director Social Welfare in accordance with the policy and on the same pattern as that of the Health Department and with the approval of the Chief Minister has been cleared as Provincial Coordinator. Here it remains a matter of concern that despite repeated reminder and Chief Secretary instruction the General Administration Department has yet to notify this decision. It is pending with the general Administration Department.

FUNCTIONS:

To register Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies at Provincial Level under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961 and made there under Rules, 1962.

To coordinate with Federal Government (M/O Women Development Social Welfare, Special Education) in the following fields :

Convention on the Rights of the Child in Pakistan (CRC)

Provincial Commission for Child Welfare and Development.

Commission for Status of Women

Juvenile Justice system

Provincial Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons.

Provincial Council of Social Welfare

To implement the decision of National Council for rehabilitation and Disabled Persons through Provincial Council for rehabilitation and Disabled Persons.

To Provide grant-in-aid to the registered Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies.

To deal with the cases, referred by Geneva on Human Rights.

To impart in service and other training’s for NGOs, Line Department.

DETAILS OF RGULATORY ORDINANCE / LAWS:

Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961 under which the Director, Social Welfare has been declared as Registration Authority, whereas the Secretary, Social Welfare present the Provincial Government to take punitive action against the registered Association in case of deviation from the Law.

However, in order to facilitate the masses for their convenience, the competent authority has declared the Executive District Officer (all over the Sindh) of District Government; consequent upon the Devolution System, to act as Registration authority of the respective City / District in exercising the powers conferred upon him under the provision of section to (e) of Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (R&C) Ordinance, 1961.

Provincial Council for rehabilitations of Disabled Persons has been constituted under the provision of Rehabilitation and Employment Ordinance, 1980 to which the Secretary, Social Welfare and Director, Social Welfare acts as Chairman and Secretary resspectively to under-take the measure for medical Assessment, Rehabilitation, Training and Recruitment under 2% Quota reserved for Disabled Persons.

The Sindh Social Welfare Council works to encourage Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies by providing Grant-in-Aids in matching principle and the Minister for Social Welfare, Secretary, Social Welfare, Director, Social Welfare act as President, Senior Vice President and Secretary respectively.