Kerala: Confusion over powers of social justice department

KOZHIKODE: The social justice (SJ) department may be stripped of its powers and role at the grassroots level  when the proposed  department for women and child development (WCD) is carved out of it.   Sources said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had  returned the file seeking clarity on the same.  Currently, the staff associated with schemes such as ICDS (Integrated child development services) and ICPS (Integrated child protection scheme) represent  the SJ department at block and village level. But as per the proposal, these institutions and staff will come under WCD and the  SJ department  will have no role below the district level.

According to the proposal, transgender, senior citizens, differently-abled and other marginalised sections would stay with the parent department.  There is no idea  how the SJ department should deal with these  categories at the grassroots level. The budget had announced the creation of  14 new posts of officers at district level,   law officer, administrative officer and supporting staff at directorate level for the WCD. 

“The file was returned to us seeking clarity on the functioning of the mother department at the ground level and a reply would be submitted at the earliest,” said SJ department director T.V. Anupama. As per the report of  Mr V.N. Jithendran, the special officer who was assigned to carve out a new department,  the district level offices of WCD will act as semi-directorate with the power for transfer, posting, fund expenditure etc.  Ministerial employees could be given the option to select the department.