The Muhandolbom Welfare Center of Gyeonggi Province held a joint conference together with 33 relevant organizations on November 18.

From December 1 to January 31, all efforts channeled to identify vulnerable members of the society 

◇ On November 18, Gyeonggi Province held a joint emergency conference with a total of 33 relevant organizations including the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, the Gyeonggi Regional Communication Office, Samchully Co., Ltd., Namyang Dairy Products Co., Ltd., the Christian Council of Korea in Gyeonggi Province, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Yongju Temple, Bongseon Temple, the Gyeonggi Metropolitan Suicide Prevention Center, the Korea Women’s Hotline, and the Korean Pharmaceutical, Nurses, Beauty Associations in Gyeonggi Province. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

In preparation for winter, Gyeonggi Province is actively working to identify welfare blind spots and to provide support. 

The province will engage in concentrated efforts from December 1 to January 31 next year to identify vulnerable individuals in the province who need immediate support.  

The Muhandolbom Welfare Center of Gyeonggi Province held a workshop for those responsible for Muhandolbom outreach centers in counties, cities and the province at the Gyeonggi Provincial Human Resource Development Center on November 17 before beginning concerted identification and support efforts. 

The following day at the same venue, Gyeonggi Province held a joint emergency conference regarding cooperative measures with a total of 33 relevant organizations including the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, the Gyeonggi Regional Communication Office, Samchully Co., Ltd., Namyang Dairy Products Co., Ltd., the Christian Council of Korea in Gyeonggi Province, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Yongju Temple, Bongseon Temple, the Gyeonggi Metropolitan Suicide Prevention Center, the Korea Women’s Hotline, and the Korean Pharmaceutical, Nurses, Beauty Associations in Gyeonggi Province.

Bae Yeong-sang, Manager of the provincial Welfare Blind Spot Identification Team, said, “Most tragic incidents such as the suicide of a mother and her two daughters in Songpa district and the family suicides in Incheon occurred in the winter season. As living expenses increase in winter while job openings including those for day labor decrease, the possibility of sliding into welfare blind spots is high.”

A total of 25 thousand Muhandolbom caregivers including the heads of villages and towns as well as members of 95 private network teams have been mobilized for the concentrated efforts scheduled to begin from December 1. In order to identify those who have temporarily fallen below the poverty line, a joint special investigation will be conducted by the province together with districts, counties, cities, and with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. 

For those residents found in need, the province will provide support via the Gyeonggi Muhandolbom project, emergency aid, and basic livelihood security, along with a plan to connect them with regional private resources through the Muhandolbom centers in districts, counties, and cities. 

Kim Mun-hwan, Manager of the Muhandolbom Welfare Department, said, “We will sincerely do our utmost to reach out to every corner of Gyeonggi Province and help those in need spend a warm winter. If you know or find anyone in need, please call the Call Center at 031-120 or visit a community service center near you.” 

During the joint emergency conference on that day, a variety measures for identifying vulnerable individuals were discussed through presentations of Muhandolbom emergency support cases and support requests made via the Women’s Hotline 1366 Center, as well as educational welfare activities undertaken by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. The use of the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service was also encouraged. 

Since the launch of the Welfare Blind Spot Identification Team of the Muhandolbom Welfare Center, the number of households the province has identified and supported totaled 24,953 as of last September, which is a year-on-year increase of 574%. 

The Muhandolbom project of Gyeonggi Province is the first of its kind in the nation with a separate budget other than an ordinance to help those families who face financial crises because of death, unemployment, business failure, or the incapacitation of primary income earners, but who cannot receive support under current law. 

The province also urged people to call the Call Center at 031-120 or to visit a near-by community service center if they know or find anyone in need. 

◇ Gyeonggi Province will engage in concentrated efforts to identify vulnerable members of the province who need immediate support from December 1 to January 31 next year. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Park Gwan-sik malbut@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201411191110147055C048&s_code=C048