Delta state government says it is ready for the enumeration of all widows resident in the state for easy and comprehensive access to them as part of its social protection programme “widows welfare scheme”
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who flagged off the exercise with the training of Delta North enumerators to produce a dependable electronic widows compendium said the programme will entrench a merit system and enhance the processes through which government will select those that truly need its support.
The Delta state widows welfare scheme initiated in 2018 has 5607 enrollees who enjoy enjoying monthly stipend from the state government with free healthcare services from accredited healthcare centres across the state including surgeries.
Governor Okowa represented by the Delta state commissioner for Economic Planning, Barry Gbe, said the government intends to increase the number of beneficiaries in line with its policy thrust of adequately budgeting for programmes that support the poor and the vulnerable widows in the state.
Read Also : Delta State residents urge security agencies to step up fight against crime
According to Elder Isioma Okoba, SSA, to the governor on Social Welfare Scheme and coordinator of the programme, said the beneficiaries were verified by the community, religious and civic leaders including traditional rulers and limited to verified poor and vulnerable widows.
The enumerators comprising young men and women drawn from different communities that made up the Delta North Senatorial Zone were armed with a gadget undergoing training that would enable them capture personal information of widows.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
