Ultimatum to submit old age plans by Oct 31

Even 10 days after the ultimatum, no NGO has come forward with a proposal for either old age welfare or substance abuse prevention. It is likely that central funds will not flow this year into geriatric welfare and prevention of drug abuse, two areas that require sustained attention and where the state’s intervention is not enough to address the problems.

More than lack of interest, it is their frustration with the approach of the central social justice ministry that seems to have kept NGOs away. “Not only is there a long delay in the release of funds but the money released is also alarmingly little,” said social justice director V.N. Jithendran. The corrupt bureaucratic approach in Delhi has put off many well-meaning NGOs. “Many central government projects are secured on the basis of commissions. That’s not all, we also need strong political backing to secure a project,” said Ms Ajitha of Anweshi.

And even if the centre sanctions the money, it will be less than 40 percent of the amount actually required for the process. Cash-starved NGOs then will be left to cough up the rest of the money. “It would be hard to run a quality institution for the old or conduct effective anti-drug drive in our state with such meagre sum. Other states make do with the money but the quality of services offered is miserable,” Mr Jithendran said.

For instance, the centre provides only Rs 750 per month for a child under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme. “Long before the ICPS came into being, we had been providing Rs 2,500 per child,” the social justice director said.