The Human Services ministry yesterday started the registration process for its single parents assistance programme to create its database, which will determine the type on interventions required in each of the households.
Not only biological parents will be entitled but other persons who are solely and primarily responsible for the financial maintenance of a child or children.
President Bharrat Jagdeo had touted the creation of the programme, which under a $100 million fund, will assist single parent households, particularly those headed by females. The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that the process began in Regions Four and Five and Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand will visit Regions Six today where the process will continue.
According to GINA, the minister held meetings at the Mahaicony and Bush Lot Secondary Schools and the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School where she discussed the importance of the single parents’ registration process.
The regions’ head teachers and teachers of nursery, primary and secondary schools are targeted to assist the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, which has the responsibility to deal with vulnerable groups, to distribute the registration forms.
A sum of $100 million was allocated in this year’s budget for the setting up of a fund to provide support to vulnerable single parents.
The ministry also assists children with school uniform vouchers that cost the government millions of dollars annually.
From the registration forms distributed, the ministry will be able to determine what interventions are required.
The agency quoted Manickchand as saying that government recognises the constraints faced by vulnerable groups due to increasing food prices, which is a global phenomenon and sought to intervene to help the single parents.
“It is found that children are not attending school or are limited to accessing quality education provided because their parents are unable to provide for them,” she said.
It is hoped that with this intervention, single parents will be in a better position to provide for their children.
The minster said her ministry plans to go beyond the disbursement of funds to registrants and include skills training for those interested that will sustain them for the future and noted too that she wants the fund to be systematic and follow the pension system.
During interactive sessions with the head teachers, Manickchand pointed out that not only biological parents will be entitled but other persons who are solely and primarily responsible for the financial maintenance of a child or children.
GINA said more than 100 registration forms were distributed to the various teachers and added that forms would be given to students to take to their parents and those in need were free to apply for benefits.
Permanent Secretary of the Human Services Ministry Trevor Thomas gave a brief explanation to the teachers on how the forms should be completed. This was to ensure that incorrect information was not placed on them, which could see the single parent lose an opportunity to be registered.
Single parents can also uplift forms at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Office, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office and schools in their respective areas and from social workers.
All single parents are urged to complete the registration form as soon as possible and return it to the location from where it was uplifted. The closing date for the registration process is May 15, GINA said.
