Scheduled Caste Welfare in India
Constitutional mechanism for upliftment of SC
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Initiatives taken for SC development
Educational Empowerment
Economic Empowerment:
Social Empowerment
Other Schemes:
Scheduled castes are those castes/races in the country that suffer from extreme social, educational and economic backwardness arising out of age-old practice of untouchability and certain others on account of lack of infrastructure facilities and geographical isolation, and who need special consideration for safeguarding their interests and for their accelerated socio-economic development. These communities were notified as Scheduled Castes as per provisions contained in Clause 1 of Article 341 of the Constitution.
Constitutional mechanism for upliftment of SC The deep concern of the framers of the Constitution for the uplift of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes is reflected in the elaborate constitutional mechanism set-up for their uplift.
Article 17 abolishes Untouchability.
Article 46 requires the State ‘to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
Article 335 provides that the claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State.
Article 15(4) refers to the special provisions for their advancement.
Article 16(4A) speaks of “reservation in matters of promotion to any class or classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of SCs/STs, which are not adequately represented in the services under the State’.
Article 338 provides for a National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with duties to investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for them, to inquire into specific complaints and to participate and advise on the planning process of their socio-economic development etc.
Article 330 and Article 332 of the Constitution respectively provide for reservation of seats in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and in the legislative assemblies of the States. Under Part IX relating to the Panchayats and Part IXA of the Constitution relating to the Municipalities, reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in local bodies has been envisaged and provided. The Constitution of India has prescribed, protection and safeguards for the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other weaker sections; either specially or the way of insisting on their general rights as citizens; with the object of promoting their educational and economic interests and removing social disabilities. These social groups have also been provided institutionalized commitments through the statutory body, the National Commission of SCs. The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal Ministry to oversee the interests of the Scheduled Castes.
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Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry to oversee the interests of the Scheduled Castes. Though the primary responsibility for promotion of interests of the Scheduled Castes rests with all the Central Ministries in the area of their operations and the State Governments, the Ministry complements their efforts by way of interventions in critical sectors through specifically tailored schemes. The Scheduled Castes Development (SCD) Bureau of the Ministry aims to promote the welfare of Scheduled Castes through their educational, economic and social empowerment. Efforts made by State Governments and Central Ministries for protecting and promoting the interests of Scheduled Castes are also monitored.
Initiatives taken for SC development
Educational Empowerment Various scholarships are provided to the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) to ensure that education is not denied due to the poor financial condition of their families. These Scholarships are provided at both pre-matric and post-matric levels. Scholarships are also provided to SC students for obtaining higher education in India and abroad, including premier educational institutions. The Scholarships can broadly be classified into the following three types:
Pre-Matric Scholarships : The objective of the pre-matric Scheme is to support the parents of SC children for educating their wards, so that the incidence of drop outs at this stage is minimized.
Pre-Matric Scholarship to SC Student : The objective of the pre-matric Scheme is to support the parents of SC children for educating their wards, so that the incidence of drop outs at this stage is minimized.
Pre-Matric Scholarship to the Children of those engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards: This is also a centrally sponsored scheme, which is implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which receive 100% central assistance from the Government of India for the total expenditure under the scheme, over and above their respective Committed Liability.
Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Students (PMS-SC): The Scheme is the single largest intervention by Government of India for educational empowerment of scheduled caste students. This is a centrally sponsored scheme. 100% central assistance is released to State Governments/UTs for expenditure incurred by them under the scheme over and above their respective committed liability.
Scholarships for obtaining Higher Education and Coaching Scheme: These include:
Top Class Education for Scheduled Caste Students : The objective of the Scheme is to promote qualitative education amongst students belonging to Scheduled Castes, by providing full financial support for pursuing studies beyond 12th class, in notified institutes of excellence like IITs, NITs, IIMs, reputed Medical/Law and other institutions. Scholarship is awarded to the eligible SC students on securing admission in any of the institutions notified by the Ministry.
National Fellowship: The Scheme provides financial assistance to SC students for pursuing research studies leading to M.Phil, Ph.D and equivalent research degrees.
National Overseas Scholarship: The Scheme provides assistance to students belonging to SCs, de-notified, nomadic, semi-nomadic tribes etc for pursuing higher studies of Master level courses and PhD programmes abroad.
Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students: The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged SC and OBC candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations and succeed in obtaining an appropriate job in Public/Private sector. The Scheme provides central assistance to institutions/centres run by the Central/State Governments/UT Administrations, Central/ State Universities, PSUs, Registered Private Institutions, NGOs, etc. Coaching is provided for Group 'A' & 'B' examinations conducted by the UPSC, SSC, various Railway Recruitment Boards and State PSCs; Officers’ Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and PSUs; and Premier Entrance examinations for admission in Engineering, Medical and Professional courses like Management, Law etc.
Economic Empowerment:
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC): Set up under the Ministry, to finance income generating activities of Scheduled Caste beneficiaries living below double the poverty line limits (presently Rs 98,000/- per annum for rural areas and Rs 1,20,000/- per annum for urban areas). NSFDC assists the target group by way of refinancing loans, skill training, Entrepreneurship Development Programmes and providing marketing support through State Channelizing Agencies, RRBs, Public Sector Bank and Other Institutions
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC): It is another corporation under the Ministry which provides credit facilities to beneficiaries amongst Safai Karamcharis, manual scavengers and their dependants for income generating activities for socio-economic development through State Channelizing Agencies
Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP): It is a policy initiative for development of Scheduled Castes in which 100 % assistance is given as an additive to SCSP of the States/ UTs on the basis of certain criteria such as SC population of the States/UTs, relative backwardness of States/UTs, percentage of SC families in the States/ UTs covered by composite economic development programmes in the State Plan to enable them to cross the poverty line, etc. It is an umbrella strategy to ensure flow of targeted financial and physical benefits from all the general sectors of development for the benefit of Scheduled Castes. Under this Scheme, the States /UTs are required to formulate and implement Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes as part of their annual plans by earmarking resources
Scheme of Assistance to Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs): Share Capital contribution is released to the State Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the ratio of 49:51 between Central Government and State Governments. There are in total 27 such State-level Corporations which are working for the economic development of Scheduled Castes, although some of these Corporations are also catering to the requirements of other weaker sections of the Society, e.g. Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Minorities etc. The main functions of SCDCs include identification of eligible SC families and motivating them to undertake economic development schemes, sponsoring the schemes to financial institutions for credit support, providing financial assistance in the form of the margin money at a low rate of interest, providing subsidy out of the funds made available to the States under the Scheme of Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan of the States to reduce the repayment liability and providing necessary tie up with other poverty alleviation programmes. The SCDCs are playing an important role in providing credit and missing inputs by way of margin money loans and subsidy to the target group. The SCDCs finance the employment oriented schemes covering diverse areas of economic activities which inter-alia include (i) agriculture and allied activities including minor irrigation (ii) small scale industry (iii) transport and (iv) trade and service sector
Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes: The objective of the fund is to promote entrepreneurship amongst the Scheduled Castes who are oriented towards innovation and growth technologies and to provide concessional finance to the scheduled caste entrepreneurs. The fund has been launched on 16.01.2015. During 2014-15, Rs.200 Crore were released initially for the Fund to IFCI Limited, which is a Nodal agency to implement it
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes: The objective of this Scheme is to provide credit guarantee facility to Young and start-up entrepreneurs, belonging to Scheduled Castes, who aspire to be part of neo middle class category, with an objective to encourage entrepreneurship in the lower strata of the Society resulting in job creation besides creating confidence in Scheduled Castes. The Scheme has been launched on 06.05.2015. Initially, Rs.200 Crore has been released under the Scheme to IFCI Limited, which is a Nodal agency to implement it.
Social Empowerment
The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: In pursuance of Article 17 of the Constitution of India, the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was enacted and notified on 08.05.1955. Subsequently, it was amended and renamed in the year 1976 as the "Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955". Rules under this Act, viz “The Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 1977” were notified in 1977. The Act extends to the whole of India and provides punishment for the practice of untouchability. It is implemented by the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Assistance is provided to States/ UTs for implementation of Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Assistance is provided to States/ UTs for implementation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Financial assistance is provided to the States/ UTs for implementation of these Acts, by way of relief to atrocity victims, incentive for inter-caste marriages, awareness generation, setting up of exclusive Special courts, etc. Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 (No. 1 of 2016) was notified in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) on 01.01.2016. The Amended Act came into force w.e.f 26.01.2016.
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995: PoA Rules were amended in June 2014 for enhancing the relief amount to the victims of atrocities to become between Rs.75,000/- to Rs. 7,50,000/- depending upon the nature of an offence. Further Amendment done in the Principal Rules namely the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2016 have been notified in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 14th April, 2016.
The ‘Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act, 2013): Eradication of dry latrines and manual scavenging and rehabilitation of manual scavengers in alternative occupation has been an area of high priority for the Government. Towards this end, a multi-pronged strategy was followed, consisting of the following legislative as well as programmatic interventions:
Enactment of “Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993(1993 Act);”
Integrated Low Cost Sanitation (ILCS) Scheme for conversion of dry latrines into sanitary latrines in urban areas; and
Launching of National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (NSLRS).
Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers. In spite of the above measures taken by the Government, manual scavenging continued to exist which became evident with the release of 2011 the Census data indicating existence of more than 26 lakh insanitary latrines in the country. Therefore, Government decided to enact another law to cover all types of insanitary latrines and situations which give occasion for manual scavenging. The ‘Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act, 2013) was passed by the Parliament in September, 2013 and has come into force from 6th December, 2013. This Act intends to, inter alia, achieve its objectives to:
Identify and eliminate the insanitary latrines.
Prohibit:- i) Employment as Manual Scavengers and ii) Hazardous manual cleaning of sewer and septic tanks
Identify and rehabilitate the manual scavengers.
Other Schemes:
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY): The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana’ (PMAGY) is being implemented for integrated development of Scheduled Castes (SC) majority villages having SC Population concentration > 50%. Initially the scheme was launched in 1000 villages in 5 States viz. Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The Scheme was further revised w.e.f. 22.01.2015 and extended to 1500 SC majority villages in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Odisha. The principal objective of the Scheme is integrated development of SC Majority Villages:
Primarily through convergent implementation of the relevant Central and State Schemes;
By providing these villages Central Assistance in form of gap-filling funds to the extent of Rs.20.00 lakh per village, to be increased by another 5 lakh if State make a matching contribution.
By providing gap-filling component to take up activities which do not get covered under the existing Central and State Government Schemes are to be taken up under the component of ‘gap filling’.
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna: The primary objective of the Scheme is to attract implementing agencies for undertaking hostel construction programme with a view to provide hostel facilities to SC boys and girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities. The Scheme provides central assistance to State Governments/ UT Administrations, Central & State Universities/ Institutions for fresh construction of hostel buildings and for expansion of the existing hostel facilities. The NGOs and Deemed Universities in private sector are eligible for central assistance only for expansion of their existing hostels facilities.
Upgradation of Merit of SC Students: The objective of the Scheme is to upgrade the merit of Scheduled Caste students studying in Class IX to XII by providing them with facilities for education in residential /non-residential schools. Central assistance is released to the State Governments/UT Administrations for arranging remedial and special coaching for Scheduled Caste students. While remedial coaching aims at removing deficiencies in school subjects, special coaching is provided with a view to prepare students for competitive examinations for entry into professional courses like Engineering and Medical.
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation: Dr. Ambedkar Foundation was set up on 24th March 1992, as a registered body, under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860, under the aegis of the Minsitry of Welfare, Government of India. The primary object of setting up of the Foundation is to promote Dr. Ambedkar’s ideology and philosophy and also to administer some of the schemes which emanated from the Centenary Celebration Committee’s recommendations.
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre at Janpath, New Delhi: Setting up of ‘Dr. Ambedkar National Public Library’ now renamed as ‘Dr. Ambedkar International Centre’ at Janpath New Delhi was one of the important decisions taken by the Centenary Celebrations Committee (CCC) of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar headed by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. As on date the entire land of Plot ‘A’ at Janpath, New Delhi measuring 3.25 acre is in possession of the M/o SJ&E for setting up of the ‘Centre’. The responsibility of the construction of the ‘Centre’ has been assigned to National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) at a cost of Rs. 195.00 crore. The Hon'ble Prime Minister has laid the foundation of Dr. Ambedkar International Centre on 20th April, 2015 and has announced that the project will be completed within a period of twenty months. The National Building Construction Company (NBCC), the executing agency has already started the construction work at site and it is at an advance stage.
Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi: The Dr. Ambedkar Mahaparinirvan Sthal at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi, was dedicated to the Nation by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 02.12.2003 and he had also inaugurated the development work at the Memorial at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi. The responsibility of the construction of Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial has been assigned to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) at an approx. cost of Rs. 99.00 Crore. The Hon'ble Prime Minister has laid the foundation of the Memorial on 21st March, 2016 and has announced that the project will be completed within a period of twenty months. The CPWD, the executing agency has already started the construction work at site.
Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation: The Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation was established by the Government of India as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and registered under The Societies Registration Act, 1860 on 14th March 2008. The main aim of the Foundation is to propagate the ideals of the late Babu Jagjivan Ram, on social reform as well as his ideology, philosophy of life, mission and vision to create a casteless and classless society. Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Schemes and Programmes
NGOs Scheme
Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organisations working for Scheduled CastesScholarships
Pre-Matric Scholarships to the Children of those Engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazardsPost-Matric Scholarship for SC students
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students
National Overseas scholarship
National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students
Hostels
BABU JAGJIVAN RAM CHHATRAWAS YOJANAFree Coaching
Free Coaching Scheme for SC and OBC StudentsSchemes for Economic Development
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)
Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
Scheme of Assistance to Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs)
Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)
Venture Capital Fund For Scheduled Castes
Schemes for Social Empowerment
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
‘Lack of awareness an impediment for Dalit empowerment'
Staff Reporter
HYDERABAD: Lack of awareness has become an impediment for Dalits and tribals (SCs and STs) in availing various schemes being implemented for their empowerment, speakers at a meeting said here on Monday.
At a meeting organised here by Social Welfare Department as part of the ‘Dalit empowerment week' a large number of Dalit unemployed youth and representatives of Dalits' associations participated. Commissioner of Industries G. Anantha Ramu, Commissioner of Social Welfare K. Praveen Kumar, retired IAS officers Gopal Rao and B. Danam and others spoke.
The Dalit youth were told how to go about setting up small scale industries, to which the State government was extending financial assistance from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 1 crore under credit guarantee for micro and small enterprises scheme. Under the industrial investment promotion policy of 2005, known as Tata-Birla scheme, the entrepreneurs could avail loan up to Rs. 5 crore without any collateral security.
However, the youth attending the meet were disappointed citing their unsuccessful experiences in availing the schemes. Several youth stated that bankers were not sanctioning loans for lack of collateral security. Many applications were submitted for availing different schemes, but to no avail.
Dalit Consciousness
The whole concept of consciousness has a philosophical implication advocating that consciousness is largely collective and Durkheim's sociology advocates that collective consciousness can effectively bind people together, When Durkheim speaks about collective consciousness to its contrast Marx looks into class consciousness advocating how consciousness have capacity to divide people as well.
The emergence of Dalit consciousness in contemporary India is discussed by different scholars who go beyond Durkheim's ideology and the ideology of Marx.Ghurye in 'Caste and Race in India' makes an exhaustive list of discriminations associated with untouchables in traditional Indian society which includes banning of women of untouchable caste from covering the upper part of their body, wearing gold ornaments having sexual proximity beyond the caste and the men from wearing dhoti below their knees using public facilities and going for occupations beyond their caste prescriptions. Untouchables at large were supposed to carry a thorny branch of the tree to remove their footsteps from the road, they were supposed to hang an earthen pot into their neck to spit which may otherwise fall on the ground making higher castes impure. The list of discriminations associated with untouchables is exhaustive which ends with the note that untouchables were supposed to start their day drinking the water into which the Brahmins dip their toes.
Taking these discriminations into account M N Srinivas in ' The New Avatar of Caste' advocates that socio-cultural discriminations associated with untouchables compel them to go for a sub human level of existence. Cultural discrimination was used as a platform to highlight the plight of the Dalits who went for successful mobilization.
S.C Dube who advocates the Ambedkar's argument that "I was born in the Hindu Caste but I am not going to die in Hindu body" also endorses the cultural approach to Dalit mobilization. It is the manifestation of the cultural agony expressed by a bleeding heart. This argument is not acceptable to Michale Mahar who in ' Harijans in Contemporary India' advocates that for the emergence of consciousness ideology becomes essential. He advocates that Dalit consciousness in contemporary India is the manifestation of Dalit's search for modernization whereas Dalit consciousness in traditional India was a challenge to orthodox Brahmanism and Hindu values. Dalit mobilization in case of India should be studied from the time –perspective indicating and explaining how various kinds of ideology have supported to Dalit mobilization in India. During 1920s -1950s Dalit mobilization was greatly concerned about forcible entry to Hindu temples, burning copies of Manusmriti, abandoning the services of indigenous priests governed by brahmanic values, production and the circulation of caste literatures ,but in contemporary India Dalit identity is more a matter of search for right, justice and equality than just being concerned with rebellion against Hinduism.
Therefore different stages of Dalit consciousness are driven by different ideologies and interest and must be addressed by sociology. These two approaches are not acceptable to Andre Betielle who advocates that Dalit mobilization in contemporary India is greatly driven by political interest than by discriminatory cultural past. In his article 'Pollution and Poverty' appearing in Michale Mahar's 'Untouchables in contemporary India ' he advocates that poverty is more contagious than pollution. Most significant areas of discrimination have lost their merit in contemporary India because of growth of caste free occupations resulting in the mutual co-presence of Brahmins and Dalits in same occupation sphere. Constitution guarantees to protect untouchables from all possible forms of discrimination in schools, colleges, hospitals and other institutions of public importance. Quick means of transport and communication have facilitated the inflow and the outflow of ideologies from one part of the society to another therefore discrimination against untouchables is least visible in contemporary India and credit for that must have to go to the structured pattern of social change.
When people's faith in caste was about to die political interest of the people demanded search for vote banks. Noticing religious votes, tribal votes, higher caste votes and dominant caste votes are already tapped by organized political parties, the emergent Dalit leadership went for revivalism, hero-worship took place, literatures were published, cultural discrimination was highlighted, political parties were formulated to make Dalit mobilization complete in India. Therefore Dalit mobilization in India should be studied on the basis of the greed for power than need for improvement.
Rajendra Singh in 'I Alien and other souls 'advocates that emergence of Dalit consciousness in India should best be understood from symbolic perspective. Dalits in India being subjected to material, social and cultural deprivations carry with them low self-esteem a certain kinds of composite disprivileged identity which may give rise to the manifestation of arrogance and frustration or seclusion. But both the kinds of identities help the untouchables to identify others as binary opposites to them. Dalits have sufficient reasons to hate higher castes or to fight war against them. The interrelationship between Dalits and the higher castes over driven by the growth of binary consciousness putting alien" I" in one platform and the other souls, privileged, dominant or may be aggressive and arrogant in another platform.
Gail Omvedt advocates that Dalit mobilization in India should be studied from a multi-dimensional perspective. She advocates that every movement is having initiation stage- consolidation stage-crystallization stage-maturity stage and disintegration stage. Multiple factors involving economic discrimination lack of social dignity, cultural isolation and alienation from decision-making process were responsible for initiation of Dalit mobilization prior to India's independence. The emergence of Republican Justice Party and emergence of Dr B R Ambedkar who said Dalits need an Amdedkar than a Gandhi for their liberation gave rise to the consolidation of Dalit movement in India. It got crystallized when Constitution of India was designed to safe guard the interest of the Dalits in different facets of social life. But the domination of non-Dalit parties in Central and state politics weakened Dalit mobilization from 1960s to 1980s. The growth of Dalit party is consolidation in different parts of the country sufficiently speaks about the maturity of Dalit mobilization in India. She equates Dalit mobilization with class mobilization advocating that Dalits were identified with depressed class identity because they did not have an effective participation in the productive processes of the nation-state. Even after the introduction of reservation policy the representation of Dalits in Class I positions of administration and government remained low as against their population. That clearly indicates that emergent Dalit consciousness is trying to have an effective say in different important platforms of social life into which their participation was historically denied.
Dalit mobilization in contemporary India is stimulated by the publication of Dalit literature S A Rao in 'Social Movements in India' equates Dalit movement with the movements of Blacks in America. He concludes by saying that ideology for Dalit movement was imported from west that bore the fruit in Indian social soil.
Yogendra Singh concludes by saying that Dalit mobilization in India sufficiently implies how modernization has broken the backbone of caste and he equates Dalit consciousness with class consciousness to bring forward the view that Dalit mobilization in India is driving Indian society in the direction of modernization giving importance to the principles of equality against the principle of hierarchy. The sociologists stand different in their viewpoints pertaining to Dalit mobilization. Despite variations in their stand point one must have to accept that Dalit mobilization in India is an empirical fact. It has spoken on the one hand the Dalit 's search for self-identity with dignity, their search for rights and equality. On the other hand Dalit mobilization has given way to the glorification of caste or class identity within which caste is hidden. Such consequences of Dalit mobilization have stood opposite to the basic objective of Indian Constitution that believed to make India a caste-less and class-less society.
Kaam Mango Abhiyan
Ministry of Rural Development launches Kaam Mango Abhiyan under MGNREGA
27 Nov 2013
The Ministry of Rural Development has launched a “Kaam Mango Abhiyan” last week to proactively register demand in select districts of the country. Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister, Rural Development has written to chief ministers of the six states last week urging states to use the opportunity to’ motivate all stakeholders in realizing the benefits conferred under the Act’ and ‘create good models that can benefit large number of poor households’. He has urged Chief Ministers to personally lead this effort and extend it to all districts of these states. Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren has already flagged off the abhiyan recently with several MGNREGA workers and civil society representatives present.
Source: Press Information Bureau
Aid for 10,000 SC families to buy land, build houses
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The SC/ST Development Department has drawn up a scheme to provide financial support to 10,000 landless Scheduled Caste families to purchase land and construct houses. Rs.70,000 for housing scheme and Rs.19,500 for buying land Rs. 35 crores earmarked for scheme Beneficiaries to be identified by January 20 Land for 1,000 tribal families by month-end Scheduled and Backward Communities Welfare Minister A.P. Anil Kumar told a news conference here on Wednesday that 5,000 SC families would be given Rs.70,000 each to construct houses and another 5,000 families Rs.19,500 each to purchase land. The Government has earmarked Rs.35 crores for the scheme and the selection of beneficiaries would be completed by January 20, he said. Mr. Anil Kumar said the financial assistance would be available for purchase of up to three cents of land in panchayat areas and up to two cents in municipal and corporation areas. Persons with not less than three cents of land in their possession can apply for the housing assistance. The Minister said steps have been taken to simplify the procedures for extending assistance under the scheme. Persons applying for assistance under the scheme would not be required to submit the relevant documents. Only the select beneficiaries would be required to submit the documents. The Government had provided housing assistance to 5,000 SC families and assistance for purchase of land to 3,000 families under the same scheme. In addition, Rs.2 crores were disbursed to enable past beneficiaries under the scheme to complete construction of their houses. Mr. Anil Kumar said the Kerala State Development Corporation for Christian Converts from Scheduled Castes and the Recommended Communities has also given shape to 15 schemes to mark its silver jubilee. Under the scheme, the financial assistance for purchase of land by landless and shelterless persons covered by the Corporation would be increased from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh, he said. Hindu, Jan 5,2006 http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/05/stories/2006010503210400.htm
Diploma Course on Dalit Studies
Booshakthi Kendra, the Dalit Ashram
Nelahal P O
Tumkur Taluk 572128
Tumkur Dist. Karnataka
Duration
Two Full Years
(Confirm Date and Month of Commencing Course on Phone)
Venue
The Booshakthi Kendra, Nelahal
The Training Center of REDS, Tumkur
The Villages of Tumkur District for Field Studies
Course Philosophy
Dalit Communities all over India have an unexplored and unasserted wealth of knowledge that has been submerged by the shenanigans of dominant caste forces in India. It is time such knowledge is given an international visibility so that it becomes a focal point for International communities to engage Dalitism as an equal partner in discourses of governance. In order to do this it is necessary to evolve scientific forms and expressions of this knowledge system.
Course Objective
To provide the necessary learning ambience to genuinely searching young Dalit women and men from all over India so that either during the Diploma Course or after that they become part of a recognized Dalit Intelligentsia capable of standing up to any level of intellectual engagement with the rest of the world.
Course Aims
The Diploma Course aims at providing a learning space for young Dalit women and men for a limited period of two years.
It is the aim of the Course that such young women and men will transform themselves into effective instruments in the hands of the Dalit people for their holistic liberation.
It is aimed through this Diploma Course to create a critical intellectual mass of Dalit community which will look at its assumptions of realities as well as help the larger society to look at
its assumptions and will constantly remain a challenge to dominance of any kind in society.
It is aimed to create a Dalit community resource through this Diploma Course that will go back and remain with the community in all its struggles of life at all levels.
The Diploma Course aims to create a new Dalit Intelligentsia that will give national and international visibility to the aspirations and values of the Dalit people all over the world.
The Course Methodology
The Diploma Course on Dalit Studies will be twin based. It will be Field Based and Center Based.
1. The Field Based Studies will enable the young intellectuals to gather enormous data that lays buried within the Dalit community through systematic explorations. Adequate instruments will be provided to unearth the almost submerged worldview, value premises, philosophies, paradigms, spirituality etc. of the Dalit community. During the Field based studies the young intellectuals will stay in Dalit families in the villages and share all the comforts that the Dalit people enjoy in their homes. The generation of data will be done at the individual, family, Dalit community and village people's levels. The field based study will take place at different stretches in different areas of Tumkur District.
2. The Center Based studies will enable the young intellectuals pool their data, analysis and learning together. Necessary input will be given to the intellectuals to constantly refer their empirical data to the theoretical and paradigmatic frameworks placed before them and create a cycle of learning. The data they generate in their field studies will enhance their theoretical understanding and the theories they learn will further push them into the villages for more learning.
The Center Based Studies will have four major streams for their systematic and productive learning. These Streams are:
1. Culture, Religion, Spirituality Stream
2. Cognitive Stream
3. Personality Development Stream
4. Capacity Building Stream
Stream No 1 aims at making available to the young intellectuals dimensions of different cultures, religions and spiritualities both at a cognitive and analytical level as well as at an emotive, experiential level. The intellectuals will be enabled to challenge themselves on their cultural, religious and spiritual assumptions and check the validity of their assumptions with the experience and knowledge of other intellectuals in the Course. The intellectuals will also have ample space to explore new methods and practices congruent to their new learning in the course of their group life.
Stream No 2 aims at consolidating the cognitive dimension of the personality of the young intellectuals. In order to do this a Course Content has been prepared and is given below.
Stream No 3 aims at providing different packages and methods for dealing with the self, with the other, with the group and with the society. In a mutually supporting atmosphere the intellectuals will
challenge one another in their value congruence with their life style, assumptions of truth and realities of life, attitudes towards one another etc.
Stream No 4 aims at providing necessary space and material support to develop individual, group and community capacities and different skills.
All the four streams will be organically linked so that Internalization and Integration takes place during the course of everyday learning.
Course Content
Ambedkar's Writings
Course I
Castes in India
Annihilation of Caste
Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah – Federation vesus Freedom
States and Minorities
Russel and Resonstruction of Soceity
Communal Deadlock and a Way to solve it.
Course II
Philosophy of Hinduism
The Hindu social order: Its essential Principles; The Hindu Social Order: Its Unique Features; Symbols of Hinduism; Ancient India or Exhumation; The Ancient Regime-The State of the Aryan Society; A Sunken Priesthood; Reformers and Their Fate; The Decline and the Fall
of Buddhism; The Literature of Brahminism; The Triumph of Brahminism; The Morals of the House- Manusmriti or the Gospel of Counter-Revolution; The Philosophic Defense of Counter Revolution: Krishna and His Gita; Brahmins Vs Kshatriyas; Shudras and the Counter-Revolution; The Woman and the Counter-Revolution; Buddha or Karl Marx.
India and Pre-requisites of Communism Revolution and Counter Revolution Buddha or Karl Marx
Course III
Riddles of Hinduism
There are 24 riddles that Ambedkar deals with.
Course IV
Untouchables or Children of India's Ghetto; The House the Hindus have built; The Rock on which it is Built; Why Lawlessness is Lawful?; Touchables Vs Untouchables; Hinduism and the Legacy of Brahminism; Civilization or Felony; The Origin of Untouchability; The Curse of Caste; From Millions to Fractions; The Revolt of untouchables; Held at Bay; Away from the
Hindus; A Warning to the Untouchables; Caste and Conversion; Christianizing the Untouchables; The Condition of the Convert; Under the Providence of Gandhi; Gandhi and His Fast.
Course V
The Shudras. How they came to be the Fourth Varna in the Indo-Aryan Society The Untouchables. Who were they and Why they Became Untouchables?
Course VI
The Buddha and His Dhamma
Buddha as Ambedkar sees him. Hid Kula; His ancestry; His birth; Visit by Asita; Death of Mahamaya; Childhood and Education; Early Traits; Marriage; Father's Plans to save his son; The failure of the Women to win the prince; Prime Minister's Admonition to the Prince; The Prince's Reply to the Prime Minister; Initiation into the Sakya Sangh; Conflict with the Sangh; Offer of Exile; Parivraja – the Way Out; Parting Words; Leaving Home; The Prince and the Servant; The Return of Channa; The Family in Mourning.
A Critical Study of Buddhism.
Course VII
The Partition of India
Muslim Case for Pakistan;
Hindu Case against Pakistan;
What if not Pakistan?;
Pakistan and the Malaise;
Must there be Pakistan?
India Pakistan Relations in the changing global scenario.
Course VIII
What Congress and Gandhi have done to the Untouchables
A Strange Event;
A Shabby Show;
A Mean Deal;
An Abject Surrender;
A Political Charity;
A False Claim;
A False Charge;
The Real Issue;
A Plea to the Foreigners;
What do the Untouchables Say?;
Gandhism, the
Doom of the Untouchables.
A Critical Review of Gandhi and His Views on India.
Course IX
Isms of the World. Feudalism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Capitalism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Marxism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Communism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Brahminism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Communalism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Feminism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Lohiaism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Naxalism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Gandhism vis-à-vis Dalits;
Ambedkarism vis-à-vis Dalits.
Towards Dalitism as global alternative
Course X
Religions of the World – Instruments of Dominance or Instruments of Equality?
Quran Vs Islam;
Bible Vs Churches;
Tripitaka Vs Buddhism;
Vedas and Hinduism;
Protest Dimensions of Dominant religions;
Dominant Dimensions of Protest Religions;
Trajectory of Sikhism;
Trajectories of Jainism;
Trajectories of Veerashivism; Bakthi Movements;
Course XI
Dalitology
The Beginnings;
The Brahminic Social Order;
Dalit Communicative
Interaction; The Dalit Community;
Dalit Identity; A Protesting People;
Dalit Education; Dalit Elders;
Dalit Politics; Dalit Human Rights.
Course XII
Cosmosity – Dalit Spirituality.
Dalit Philosophical Traditions;
Dalit Self;
Dalit Psyche;
Primacy of Dalit Women; Dalit Body;
Dalit Ancestors – Mythical Ancestors, Historical Ancestors, Our Foremothers
and Forefathers;
Cosmo-centrism; Boocentrism. Earth as Dalit Spirituality.
Course XIII
Dalits as a Protesting People. History of Dalit Protest and Resistance; Dalit Resistance in Hindu Mythology; Resistance through different stages of Indian History; Resistance in the 20 and 21 Centuries. Contemporary Resistance. A Critical Analysis of Resistance in General and Dalit Resistance in Particular.
Dalit Movements – Protest or Proactive?
Future Course of Dalit Movements.
Literature as Dalit Resistance. Dalit Intelligentsia.
Course XIV
Projects of Dalitization
The Project of Land Distribution Vs The Project of Land Grabbing
The Project of Boocentrism Vs The Project of Heaven Centrism
The Project of Unbroken Identity Vs The Project of Ascriptive Identity
The Project of Brightening Horizons Vs The Project of Darkening Horizons
The Project of Unlimited Space Vs The Project of Graded Inequality
The Project of Don't Touchability Vs The Project of Untouchability
The Project of Freedom of Labor Vs The Projects of Free Labor
The Project of Political Nationalism Vs The Project of
Cultural Nationalism
The Project of Participation Vs The Project of Dominanace
The Project of Internationalism Vs The Project of Parochialism
Course XV
Global Alliances for Dalit Liberation
Globalization;
Terrorism of States and Ethnic Groups;
Indigenous Peoples of the World;
Evolution of Indigenous Alternatives;
UN and D lit Liberation; International Donors and Dalits;
International Dalit Solidarity Networks and Dalit Liberation; Alliances with Empowering People of the Earth.
Course Resource
The Diploma Course firmly believes that the young intellectuals are the primary resource persons during the entire period of two years. The methodology of the Course will be to rely heavily on the strengths of the learners as a basic resource and provide external input only
when the learning community requires it. There will be a pool of external faculty of teaching from different parts of India. Though not on a regular basis, some of them will come for short duration to interact with the young intellectuals to share their cognitive and emotive resources.
The external faculty will be chosen from the following pool.
1. Prof. Vimal Thorat
2. Mrs. Kumud Pavade
3. Prof. Waman Nimbalkar
4. Dr. S.K. Thorat
5. Mrs. Sivagami IAS
6. Dr. Kancha Ilaiah
7. Dr. Nalini Arles
8. Dr. James Massey
9. Dr. Ruth Manorama
10. Dr. Manohar Yadav
11. Mr. Thirumavalavan
12. Mr. Ambujakshan
13. Dr. Mohanrazu
14. Dr. C.S. Dwarakanath
15. Fr. Aloysius SJ
16. Ms. Jayashree Mangubhai
17. Mr. Martin Macwan
18. Ms. Manjula Pradeep
19. Mrs. Leelakumari
(Other faculty will be added to the pool in the course time) Course Responsibilities
M C Raj is the Dean of Studies for the Diploma Course on behalf of the Booshakthi Kendra.
Support Systems
The different Departments of REDS, Tumkur headed by Mrs Jyothi will provide all necessary support for the successful completion of the Diploma Course.
The Group of Dalit Panchayat Leaders in Tumkur District will provide all support for field based studies.
The Course provides boarding, lodging facilities for the young intellectuals together with a monthly pocket money allowance of Rs.300/-
Eligibility
The Diploma Course is open to all Dalit Graduates. Preference will be given to young Dalit women graduates. Applicants may be citizens of any country in the world. Only those who come successfully through a selection process will be eligible.
Linkages
The young intellectuals will have a lot of opportunity to directly interaction with many Indian and international intellectuals, academicians, Human Rights Activists, Theologians, Donors etc.
Negotiations are underway for recognition from a University in Europe as well as an Indian University. Certificates will be given from such universities at the successful completion of the entire course.
Applications
Formal application for the Diploma Course on Dalit Studies may be submitted to:
Dean of Studies
Diploma Course on Dalit Studies
Booshakthi Kendra
Nelahal P.O.
Tumkur Taluk – 572128
Karnataka – India
Phones: 0816-5533809 Mobile: (0) 9845144893
Deadline for Applications (Please Call for Details)
Application Form
Name:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Gender:
Nationality:
Marital Status:
Education:
Languages:
Proficiency in English:
Experience:
Organizations Affiliated to:
Vegetarian/Meatarian:
Hobbies:
Recognized Skills:
Permanent Address:
Residential Address:
Two References with Telephone Numbers:
Why do you want to take up this Diploma Course?
In what way can you contribute to the learning of others in the Course?
What are your apprehensions about the Course?
What Difficulties do you foresee in completing the entire course?
Do you have any health needs such as food, medical care etc.?
How do you plan to contribute to the Dalit community after the completion of the Diploma Course?
How do you plan to make use of the Course to building a career for you?
If selected for the Diploma Course on Dalit Studies, I promise to complete the course abiding by the group ethics of the Diploma Course.
Signature
Date………. Place……………
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 19: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved a fellowship scheme for providing financial help to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students wanting to pursue higher studies.
The scheme, called the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, is expected to benefit 667 Scheduled Tribe students and 1,333 Scheduled Caste students in 2005-06. The University Grants Commission (UGC) will be the nodal agency implementing the scheme..
Are Dalits Getting the Resources Due to Them?
By the Centre for Budgets & Governance Accountability (CBGA)
According to Census 2001, the Scheduled Castes constitute 16.2% of the total population of India.
However, this social group has historically suffered from caste and untouchability based exclusion and discrimination. In spite of decades of planning and a sizeable amount of public resources being channeled in the name of welfare of SCs, actual benefits have hardly reached these groups. In relation to all major socio-economic indicators (such as, access to income generating assets, poverty, employment, education, health etc.) they have been far below the national average.
Recognizing this fact, the Government of India under the directive of the then Prime Minister, Ms. Indira Gandhi, formulated the Special Component Plan (SCP) (now being renamed as - Scheduled Caste Sub Plan or SCSP) during the 6 Five Year Plan, in the year 1979. The SCP for SCs expected “to facilitate easy convergence and pooling of resources from all the other development sectors in proportion to the population of SCs and monitoring of various development programmes for the benefit of SCs”. This strategy was made mandatory for all the State governments’ departments as well as Central Government ministries.
The SCSP is not meant to be an isolated programme / scheme. Instead it’s purpose was to serve as an umbrella strategy for overall development of Scheduled Castes. The strategy entails the targeted flow of funds and associated benefits from the Annual Plan of States/ Union Territories, at least in proportion to the Scheduled Caste population in total population of the States/ Union Territories.
While the central objective of the SCP is the economic development of Scheduled Castes, it also intends to promote their educational and social development along with the fulfillment of their minimum needs and human resources development. The objective of SCP is to ensure that not only are sufficient funds allocated for the welfare of Dalits, but also that the funds are properly used and that effective and practical programmes with clear goals and targets are initiated.
Key Components of the SCP
The main elements of SCP are the following:
1. Out of the total plan outlay, funds allocated for the welfare of Dalits should be at least as much as the percentage of their population representation in the particular state.
2. Every department of the state government should initiate concrete steps to evolve separate
programmes, in accordance with specific needs and priorities of Dalits, under the SCP. Notional allocations under SCP (especially in sectors like Power, Irrigation, Education, and Health)
This part of the paper has been drawn from Social Watch - Tamil Nadu (2004), “Special Component Plan: Dalit Hopes Betrayed?” Second (Revised) Edition, Chennai, July 2004.
3. Only those programmes specially meant for Dalits and the percentage amount of funds allocated, as
per specific Government Orders, can be included in the SCP.
4. Separate budget heads have to be shown in the “Plan-Budget Link” Book clearly mentioning the receipts and expenditures details of the SCP (in order to prevent diversion, underutilization and mis-utilization of funds earmarked for Dalits).
5. The Department concerned with Dalit Welfare in the State should act as the Nodal Agency for the formulation and implementation of SCP in the state.
The three important instruments devised as vehicles for the implementation of the SCP strategy are:
1. The SCP of the states and central ministries: the targets fixed under SCP are disaggregated into district-wise and sector-wise targets. At the district level, the district collectors are responsible for coordinating the implementation of the schemes under SCP.
2. The Special Central Assistance (SCA) for the SCPs of the States: SCA is given as 100% grant by the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to various States, to make up for any deficiency towards the implementation of the SCP in the respective State.
3. Scheduled castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) in the States or the State Departments, which will play the role of Nodal Agencies, in the implementation of SCP in the States.
Nature of Allocations
The allocations for SCs fall under two categories:
1. Actual Allocations: This refers to allocations for SCs under those schemes, which are either meant exclusively for SCs or those in which there are clear guidelines/instructions regarding the proportion of SC beneficiaries being a certain minimum level within the total beneficiaries of the scheme.
2. Notional Allocations: In contrast to Actual Allocations for SCs, Notional Allocations for SCs refer to allocations that are shown by the Government Ministry/ Department as directly benefiting the SCs from within the total allocations for a Scheme. These benefits, even if they really reach the SCs in the proportions shown by the Ministry/Department, are at best incidental benefits derived by SCs, for which there were no binding policy guidelines or instructions within the scheme.
CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEME FOR COACHING AND ALLIED ACTIVITIES
THE SCHEME BACKGROUND
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes coming from deprived homes and disadvantaged environment find it difficult to complete with those coming from socially and economically advantageous positions.
Hence the Ministry of Welfare is implementing the Scheme of Coaching and Allied for SCs/STs under which funds are released for Pre-Examination training Centers (PETCs) in various party of the country for preparing SC/ST candidates for competitive examinations to improve their representation in various posts and services by providing them coaching for appearing for various competitive examinations held by UPSC, SSC, Recruitment Board, Commission, Public Sector Undertakings and other recruiting bodies.
The Pre-Examination Training Centres for SC/ST run by the State Governments/ Universities/Private Coaching Institutes will be eligible. The centres importing coaching to SC/ST candidates for competitive examinations having All India Recruitment Character such as Civil Services Examination, Banking Recruit- ment Services, Central Excise Inspector, Railway Board etc. will be covered under the scheme. The State Government Services Examination and other Subordinate Services Examination and other Subordinate Services Examination limited to State Government jobs will not be covered under the Scheme. Private organization will also be given financial assistance for conducting coaching for competitive examinations of all India nature for admission in Engineering, Medical and Management Courses, but not for Technical Courses as this is already covered under this Ministry/s NGO Scheme of Aid to Voluntary Organizations for the benefit of SCs/STs.
LOCATION OF COACHING INSTITUTES
The distribution of coaching centers should be equitable and linked to SC/ST population of the area. The privately run centers will be sponsored only in areas where there are no good coaching centers run either by State Government or by Universities in that particular region. All existing private run centers in such areas which are not doing well or not showing reasonable results will be weeded out on the basis of performance review.
SELECTION & ELIGIBILITY OF CANDIDATE
A candidate should have at least 50% marks in the qualifying examination. Thereafter, selection will be done on the basis of an interview by a Selection Committee comprising of the following members :
(a) Secretary of Social Welfare Department in the State Government.
(b) Two representatives of SC/ST community to be nominated by the State Government
(c) Director of the Institution as Convener.
The coaching centre should not have more that 40 students in each class including non-SC/ST students so that students can get adequate attention and coaching. Grant-in-aid will be given only for SC/ST students under this scheme. The total number of students may preferably consist of 30% women SC/ST candidates and 5% disabled SC/ST candidate
Candidates receiving coaching under the scheme of avail of the facilities only two times provided he/she is selected by/the Selection Committee. This limit is irrespective of the number of chances he/she may be entitled to in a particular competitive examination
INCOME CRITERIA
The income ceiling of candidates (income of self if employed, and income of parents if dependent on them)
COVERAGE OF COURSES
The Pre-Examination Coaching centre (PETCs) may conduct any number of courses but the courses conducted by them should preferably be of comparable level. In respect of the courses for which coaching can be imported, the PETCs should send their application in the prescribed proforma as at Annexure I along with proforma to be submitted by State Government / UT Administration in respect of grantee NGO/Institutions to Ministry of Welfare as per Annexure II and Annexure III. Applications by the various PETCs should accompany initial inspection report and recommendation of State Government in the proforma prescribed under this scheme.
REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE OF PETCs
A high-level committee chaired by Secretary (W) will review the performance of the Centres. The performance will be reviewed after every 3 years by the Committee in the Ministry without recourse to SFC on the basis of actual record maintained by the PETCs. Physical achievement in respect of each course should be finished by all PETCs as per proforma at Annexure VII every year while submitting the proposals.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
The inclusion/deletion of Centres, including private centres under the scheme will be determined Committee consisting of the following members:
Secretary (Tribal Affairs) or Nominee Chairman
Financial Advisor (Tribal Affairs) Member
Secretary, UGC Member
JS, Dept. of Education Member
JS (TA), Member
Dir. (SCH) Mem. Convenor.
Chairman may coopt. Any other professionals as Member/Members as and when required
There will be no bench-mark level in respect of each course in the scheme. The high level committed chaired by Secretary (W) as proposed above may evolve its own performance indicators. The performance will be reviewed after every 3 years by committee mentioned above without recourse to SFC on the basis of actual record maintained by the PETCs. The Selection Committee will also function as Advisory Committee for monitoring performance of coaching Institutes by evolving its own performance indicators
Will regard to private institutes the following norms will be adopted for inclusion/deletion :
a)
The Institution should be a Registered Trust or Society and/or recognised by the concerned States/UTs Education/Social Welfare Department or affiliated to the nearest university.
b)
The institution should have at least 3 years successful experience of importing coaching in the course(s) for which inclusion under the scheme is proposed or in analogous courses/degrees. However, in such districts where there are no coaching facilities, new institution could be considered.
c)
Private Institutes so selected should be included under the scheme for a period of 3 years at a time. Continuance for a further period would depend on its standard.
d)
The Institute should have adequate accommodation and teaching equipment.
e)
The faculty should be adequately qualified and competent.
f)
Institutions which have been started or managed by the SC/ST themselves should be considered on priority.
g)
The rates of coaching should be on contract basis as provided for in the scheme
h)
The institution should provide an undertaking to abide by the terms and conditions as given in Annexure. Furnishing of performance report is a pre-requisite for further grants to PETCs.
Scheduled Caste Welfare in India
Scheduled castes are those castes/races in the country that suffer from extreme social, educational and economic backwardness arising out of age-old practice of untouchability and certain others on account of lack of infrastructure facilities and geographical isolation, and who need special consideration for safeguarding their interests and for their accelerated socio-economic development. These communities were notified as Scheduled Castes as per provisions contained in Clause 1 of Article 341 of the Constitution.
Constitutional mechanism for upliftment of SC
The deep concern of the framers of the Constitution for the uplift of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes is reflected in the elaborate constitutional mechanism set-up for their uplift.
Article 17 abolishes Untouchability.
Article 46 requires the State ‘to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
Article 335 provides that the claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State.
Article 15(4) refers to the special provisions for their advancement.
Article 16(4A) speaks of “reservation in matters of promotion to any class or classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of SCs/STs, which are not adequately represented in the services under the State’.
Article 338 provides for a National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with duties to investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for them, to inquire into specific complaints and to participate and advise on the planning process of their socio-economic development etc.
Article 330 and Article 332 of the Constitution respectively provide for reservation of seats in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and in the legislative assemblies of the States. Under Part IX relating to the Panchayats and Part IXA of the Constitution relating to the Municipalities, reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in local bodies has been envisaged and provided.
The Constitution of India has prescribed, protection and safeguards for the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other weaker sections; either specially or the way of insisting on their general rights as citizens; with the object of promoting their educational and economic interests and removing social disabilities. These social groups have also been provided institutionalized commitments through the statutory body, the National Commission of SCs. The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal Ministry to oversee the interests of the Scheduled Castes.
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Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry to oversee the interests of the Scheduled Castes. Though the primary responsibility for promotion of interests of the Scheduled Castes rests with all the Central Ministries in the area of their operations and the State Governments, the Ministry complements their efforts by way of interventions in critical sectors through specifically tailored schemes. The Scheduled Castes Development (SCD) Bureau of the Ministry aims to promote the welfare of Scheduled Castes through their educational, economic and social empowerment. Efforts made by State Governments and Central Ministries for protecting and promoting the interests of Scheduled Castes are also monitored.
Initiatives taken for SC development
Educational Empowerment
Various scholarships are provided to the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) to ensure that education is not denied due to the poor financial condition of their families. These Scholarships are provided at both pre-matric and post-matric levels. Scholarships are also provided to SC students for obtaining higher education in India and abroad, including premier educational institutions. The Scholarships can broadly be classified into the following three types:
Pre-Matric Scholarships : The objective of the pre-matric Scheme is to support the parents of SC children for educating their wards, so that the incidence of drop outs at this stage is minimized.
Pre-Matric Scholarship to SC Student : The objective of the pre-matric Scheme is to support the parents of SC children for educating their wards, so that the incidence of drop outs at this stage is minimized.
Pre-Matric Scholarship to the Children of those engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards: This is also a centrally sponsored scheme, which is implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which receive 100% central assistance from the Government of India for the total expenditure under the scheme, over and above their respective Committed Liability.
Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Students (PMS-SC): The Scheme is the single largest intervention by Government of India for educational empowerment of scheduled caste students. This is a centrally sponsored scheme. 100% central assistance is released to State Governments/UTs for expenditure incurred by them under the scheme over and above their respective committed liability.
Scholarships for obtaining Higher Education and Coaching Scheme: These include:
Top Class Education for Scheduled Caste Students : The objective of the Scheme is to promote qualitative education amongst students belonging to Scheduled Castes, by providing full financial support for pursuing studies beyond 12th class, in notified institutes of excellence like IITs, NITs, IIMs, reputed Medical/Law and other institutions. Scholarship is awarded to the eligible SC students on securing admission in any of the institutions notified by the Ministry.
National Fellowship: The Scheme provides financial assistance to SC students for pursuing research studies leading to M.Phil, Ph.D and equivalent research degrees.
National Overseas Scholarship: The Scheme provides assistance to students belonging to SCs, de-notified, nomadic, semi-nomadic tribes etc for pursuing higher studies of Master level courses and PhD programmes abroad.
Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students: The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged SC and OBC candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations and succeed in obtaining an appropriate job in Public/Private sector. The Scheme provides central assistance to institutions/centres run by the Central/State Governments/UT Administrations, Central/ State Universities, PSUs, Registered Private Institutions, NGOs, etc. Coaching is provided for Group 'A' & 'B' examinations conducted by the UPSC, SSC, various Railway Recruitment Boards and State PSCs; Officers’ Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and PSUs; and Premier Entrance examinations for admission in Engineering, Medical and Professional courses like Management, Law etc.
Economic Empowerment:
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC): Set up under the Ministry, to finance income generating activities of Scheduled Caste beneficiaries living below double the poverty line limits (presently Rs 98,000/- per annum for rural areas and Rs 1,20,000/- per annum for urban areas). NSFDC assists the target group by way of refinancing loans, skill training, Entrepreneurship Development Programmes and providing marketing support through State Channelizing Agencies, RRBs, Public Sector Bank and Other Institutions
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC): It is another corporation under the Ministry which provides credit facilities to beneficiaries amongst Safai Karamcharis, manual scavengers and their dependants for income generating activities for socio-economic development through State Channelizing Agencies
Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP): It is a policy initiative for development of Scheduled Castes in which 100 % assistance is given as an additive to SCSP of the States/ UTs on the basis of certain criteria such as SC population of the States/UTs, relative backwardness of States/UTs, percentage of SC families in the States/ UTs covered by composite economic development programmes in the State Plan to enable them to cross the poverty line, etc. It is an umbrella strategy to ensure flow of targeted financial and physical benefits from all the general sectors of development for the benefit of Scheduled Castes. Under this Scheme, the States /UTs are required to formulate and implement Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes as part of their annual plans by earmarking resources
Scheme of Assistance to Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs): Share Capital contribution is released to the State Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the ratio of 49:51 between Central Government and State Governments. There are in total 27 such State-level Corporations which are working for the economic development of Scheduled Castes, although some of these Corporations are also catering to the requirements of other weaker sections of the Society, e.g. Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Minorities etc. The main functions of SCDCs include identification of eligible SC families and motivating them to undertake economic development schemes, sponsoring the schemes to financial institutions for credit support, providing financial assistance in the form of the margin money at a low rate of interest, providing subsidy out of the funds made available to the States under the Scheme of Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan of the States to reduce the repayment liability and providing necessary tie up with other poverty alleviation programmes. The SCDCs are playing an important role in providing credit and missing inputs by way of margin money loans and subsidy to the target group. The SCDCs finance the employment oriented schemes covering diverse areas of economic activities which inter-alia include (i) agriculture and allied activities including minor irrigation (ii) small scale industry (iii) transport and (iv) trade and service sector
Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes: The objective of the fund is to promote entrepreneurship amongst the Scheduled Castes who are oriented towards innovation and growth technologies and to provide concessional finance to the scheduled caste entrepreneurs. The fund has been launched on 16.01.2015. During 2014-15, Rs.200 Crore were released initially for the Fund to IFCI Limited, which is a Nodal agency to implement it
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes: The objective of this Scheme is to provide credit guarantee facility to Young and start-up entrepreneurs, belonging to Scheduled Castes, who aspire to be part of neo middle class category, with an objective to encourage entrepreneurship in the lower strata of the Society resulting in job creation besides creating confidence in Scheduled Castes. The Scheme has been launched on 06.05.2015. Initially, Rs.200 Crore has been released under the Scheme to IFCI Limited, which is a Nodal agency to implement it.
Social Empowerment
The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: In pursuance of Article 17 of the Constitution of India, the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was enacted and notified on 08.05.1955. Subsequently, it was amended and renamed in the year 1976 as the "Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955". Rules under this Act, viz “The Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 1977” were notified in 1977. The Act extends to the whole of India and provides punishment for the practice of untouchability. It is implemented by the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Assistance is provided to States/ UTs for implementation of Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Assistance is provided to States/ UTs for implementation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Financial assistance is provided to the States/ UTs for implementation of these Acts, by way of relief to atrocity victims, incentive for inter-caste marriages, awareness generation, setting up of exclusive Special courts, etc. Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 (No. 1 of 2016) was notified in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) on 01.01.2016. The Amended Act came into force w.e.f 26.01.2016.
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995: PoA Rules were amended in June 2014 for enhancing the relief amount to the victims of atrocities to become between Rs.75,000/- to Rs. 7,50,000/- depending upon the nature of an offence. Further Amendment done in the Principal Rules namely the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2016 have been notified in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 14th April, 2016.
The ‘Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act, 2013): Eradication of dry latrines and manual scavenging and rehabilitation of manual scavengers in alternative occupation has been an area of high priority for the Government. Towards this end, a multi-pronged strategy was followed, consisting of the following legislative as well as programmatic interventions:
Enactment of “Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993(1993 Act);”
Integrated Low Cost Sanitation (ILCS) Scheme for conversion of dry latrines into sanitary latrines in urban areas; and
Launching of National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (NSLRS).
Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers.
In spite of the above measures taken by the Government, manual scavenging continued to exist which became evident with the release of 2011 the Census data indicating existence of more than 26 lakh insanitary latrines in the country. Therefore, Government decided to enact another law to cover all types of insanitary latrines and situations which give occasion for manual scavenging. The ‘Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act, 2013) was passed by the Parliament in September, 2013 and has come into force from 6th December, 2013. This Act intends to, inter alia, achieve its objectives to:
Identify and eliminate the insanitary latrines.
Prohibit:- i) Employment as Manual Scavengers and ii) Hazardous manual cleaning of sewer and septic tanks
Identify and rehabilitate the manual scavengers.
Other Schemes:
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY): The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana’ (PMAGY) is being implemented for integrated development of Scheduled Castes (SC) majority villages having SC Population concentration > 50%. Initially the scheme was launched in 1000 villages in 5 States viz. Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The Scheme was further revised w.e.f. 22.01.2015 and extended to 1500 SC majority villages in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Odisha. The principal objective of the Scheme is integrated development of SC Majority Villages:
Primarily through convergent implementation of the relevant Central and State Schemes;
By providing these villages Central Assistance in form of gap-filling funds to the extent of Rs.20.00 lakh per village, to be increased by another 5 lakh if State make a matching contribution.
By providing gap-filling component to take up activities which do not get covered under the existing Central and State Government Schemes are to be taken up under the component of ‘gap filling’.
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna: The primary objective of the Scheme is to attract implementing agencies for undertaking hostel construction programme with a view to provide hostel facilities to SC boys and girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities. The Scheme provides central assistance to State Governments/ UT Administrations, Central & State Universities/ Institutions for fresh construction of hostel buildings and for expansion of the existing hostel facilities. The NGOs and Deemed Universities in private sector are eligible for central assistance only for expansion of their existing hostels facilities.
Upgradation of Merit of SC Students: The objective of the Scheme is to upgrade the merit of Scheduled Caste students studying in Class IX to XII by providing them with facilities for education in residential /non-residential schools. Central assistance is released to the State Governments/UT Administrations for arranging remedial and special coaching for Scheduled Caste students. While remedial coaching aims at removing deficiencies in school subjects, special coaching is provided with a view to prepare students for competitive examinations for entry into professional courses like Engineering and Medical.
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation: Dr. Ambedkar Foundation was set up on 24th March 1992, as a registered body, under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860, under the aegis of the Minsitry of Welfare, Government of India. The primary object of setting up of the Foundation is to promote Dr. Ambedkar’s ideology and philosophy and also to administer some of the schemes which emanated from the Centenary Celebration Committee’s recommendations.
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre at Janpath, New Delhi: Setting up of ‘Dr. Ambedkar National Public Library’ now renamed as ‘Dr. Ambedkar International Centre’ at Janpath New Delhi was one of the important decisions taken by the Centenary Celebrations Committee (CCC) of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar headed by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. As on date the entire land of Plot ‘A’ at Janpath, New Delhi measuring 3.25 acre is in possession of the M/o SJ&E for setting up of the ‘Centre’. The responsibility of the construction of the ‘Centre’ has been assigned to National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) at a cost of Rs. 195.00 crore. The Hon'ble Prime Minister has laid the foundation of Dr. Ambedkar International Centre on 20th April, 2015 and has announced that the project will be completed within a period of twenty months. The National Building Construction Company (NBCC), the executing agency has already started the construction work at site and it is at an advance stage.
Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi: The Dr. Ambedkar Mahaparinirvan Sthal at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi, was dedicated to the Nation by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 02.12.2003 and he had also inaugurated the development work at the Memorial at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi. The responsibility of the construction of Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial has been assigned to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) at an approx. cost of Rs. 99.00 Crore. The Hon'ble Prime Minister has laid the foundation of the Memorial on 21st March, 2016 and has announced that the project will be completed within a period of twenty months. The CPWD, the executing agency has already started the construction work at site.
Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation: The Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation was established by the Government of India as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and registered under The Societies Registration Act, 1860 on 14th March 2008. The main aim of the Foundation is to propagate the ideals of the late Babu Jagjivan Ram, on social reform as well as his ideology, philosophy of life, mission and vision to create a casteless and classless society.
Telangana CM Dalit Bandhu Scheme 2021
The scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis in Huzurabad Assembly Constituency. The details of the scheme have come through government meetings and discussions. The scheme has drawn criticism from many idealistic and oppositions.
More about the scheme – In a review meeting in Pragathi Bhawan, the Chief Minister of Telangana state, K Chandrasekhar Rao spoke about the Dalits and how they are losing confidence in the central government. The chief minister of state blamed it to the former ruling government of the state and the central for doing less for the community.
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TS Dalit Bandhu Scheme Apply Online
Dalits are an important and glorious part of our Indian community, yet they suffer discrimination at the hands of money lenders or landowners. India has come a long way post-independence, yet Dalits are victims of the Hindu caste system and are often treated as outcasts.
Dalit Bandhu scheme is the latest flagship programmed introduced by the government of Telangana. It is a welfare scheme that aims at empowering the Dalit community in the state. Under the scheme, the Dalit families will be encouraged towards entrepreneurship and will be provided with the financial assistance of Rs. 10 lakhs through a direct benefit transfer, which will also be the country’s biggest direct benefit transfer scheme, as the cash will be directly sent to the bank accounts of the families.
TS Dalit Bandhu Scheme Apply online
TS Dalit Bandhu Scheme Apply onlineTS Dalit Bandhu Scheme Registration 2021
The budget of the state also outlays sanctioned money towards Dalit empowering schemes and programs. On June 25th, 2021, the CM of the state called an all-party meeting with all the Dalit leaders and representatives of the state.
The highlight of the meeting was that 11,900 Dalit families from 119 assembly constituencies were selected for the financial assistance of Rs. 10 lakh each. This monetary assistance was without any bank guarantee.
The first Dalit empowering program is sanctioned for Rs. 1200 crores and Rs. 200 crores for the pilot project in Huzurabad.
Scheme Telangana CM Dalit Bandhu Scheme
Under State Government of Telangana
Introduced by Hon’ble CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao
Beneficiaries Dalit families
Official portal cm.telangana.gov.in
Benefits To empower Dalit bandhus
Telangana Dalit Bandhu Pathakam
Benefits of the scheme
The main motive of the scheme is to provide opportunities to Dalit families.
Dalit community is a backward community in the state, financial assistance will be providing to the families for a better future.
The rate of unemployment is huge in the state among the Dalit community. Through this scheme, entrepreneurship will be boosted.
1200 crores have been allocated towards empowering the Dalit community scheme.
It is a welfare program for the benefit of the Dalit community.
The scheme will be monitored by the Telangana state CM.
TS Dalit Bandhu Scheme Online Application
In which area the scheme has been implemented?
With the aim to provide better opportunities and to raise the standard of living of Dalit people, the CM of the state has decided to implement the scheme in Huzurabad Assembly Constituency on polit basis.
If the scheme is implemented successfully in the Huzurabad Assembly Constituency, then based on the experience it will spread across the entire state.
The scheme will be launched in a phased manner. The government also launched a survey by the officials to find out the opinions of the Dalit family by visiting the colonies.
It is important for the Dalit community to be in favor of the scheme after all it is launched for their benefit.
A special orientation program was announced by the government to make the Dalit community understand the purpose and motive of the scheme.
In the orientation programme, 427 men and women were invited from Huzurabad Assembly on July 26th The program was attended by two men and two women from each village, municipal staff, and fifteen resource persons.
All details regarding the implementation of the scheme and its monitor were explained in the programme.
The results of the scheme will be evaluated and a safety fund will be prepared for the beneficiaries of the scheme by the state government.
TS Dalit Bandhu Scheme Eligibility Criteria
Following are the eligibility criteria that is to be followed by the applicants of the scheme-
The applicant of the scheme should be a permanent resident of Telangana state.
The applicant of the scheme should belong to Dalit community.
The applicant of scheme should be below the poverty line.
Documents required for the scheme
Following are the documents required to apply for the scheme-
Aadhar card
Voter ID card
Residential proof
Caste certificate
Bank account details
Valid mobile number
How to navigate the beneficiary list for the scheme?
To know if your name is on the beneficiary list follow the following steps-
First, visit the official website of the Telangana State government.
On the homepage, there will be an option “Beneficiary list for Dalit scheme”.
Fill in all the required details.
Now, search your name in the beneficiary list.
TS Dalit Bandhu Scheme Portal
Implementation of scheme
Financial assistance to the Dalit families will be provided without any bank Guarantee. In earlier government schemes, poor people were asked for bank guarantees which made the people lose confidence in the government. The purpose of government schemes should be to free people from debts. People who belong to the weaker section of society are unable to provide a bank guarantees for obvious reasons.
Under Dalit Bandhu Scheme 2021 is not a loan given to the Dalit community, they do not have to repay it to the government. Through this scheme, intermediates have been removed. The benefit of the scheme in the form of monetary assistance will be sent to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.Through this scheme, entrepreneurship will be promoted. To promote it, the government will introduce special reservations for the Dalit community in the licensed business. A reserved category will be for Dalit people who want to gain the license of Wine shops, Fertilizer shops, and other shops.
There will be a variety of businesses to choose from. The issue of the license will be eased for the community. They can choose to open tiffin centers, hotels, rice mills, dairy farming, grinding, mill, steel or cement, etc.
To protect the interests of the Dalit community against any future adversity, a new fund will be created especially for the Dalit people. This will be called Dalit Security Fund permanently. This fund will be managed by the district collector of the said district. In this security fund, the beneficiary of the scheme will have to deposit the prescribed amount in the fund and he or she will be issued an electronic chip identity card.
With the help of this identity card, government officials can track the success of the scheme.
Telangana Dalit Bandhu Application Procedure
The scheme has been launched by the Government of Telangana for the welfare of the Dalit community who were ignored by the former government and by society.
Telangana Dalit Bandhu Portal
Telangana Dalit Bandhu PortalThe details of the scheme have been in bits. There is no official procedure announced by the government of Telangana yet.
The official announcement regarding the registration of the scheme will be available soon. Till now, the government has decided to provide monetary assistance to 11,900 families that are 100 each from 119 constituencies of the state.
The application procedure will most be both online and offline mode.
UP :
Yogi Adityanath government extends laundry scheme to all Dalits
The scheme grants financial assistance to members of the SC community to start laundry services.
The scheme grants financial assistance to members of the SC community to start laundry services.
Hindustan Times
The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to allow all scheduled caste (SC) groups to avail the laundry-cum-dry cleaning scheme under which the state’s Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation provides interest-free loans to unemployed Dalits to set up these services.
“Earlier only those belonging to washer men (dhobi) caste were eligible for this scheme but now the government has decided to allow all scheduled castes to benefit from the scheme,” said Lalji Nirmal, the chairperson of Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation.
Nirmal said under the scheme interest-free loans ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.16 lakh were being provided to the SCs.
“The dhobis (washer men) with experience in the field will still get priority for this scheme. The aim is to empower the community by getting more Dalits to get employed or by helping them become entrepreneurs,” Nirmal said.
The scheme also comes with a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 for all those enrolling for it.“We have a clear directive from the government and the chief minister in particular to empower the community that was merely treated as a vote bank all these years. Now, of course, an attempt is being made to not just give them jobs but possibly make them job creators,” Nirmal, who also heads the Dalit Mahasabha, said.
SCHEME OF POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE STUDENTS BELONGING TO SCHEDULED CASTES FOR STUDIES IN INDIA (PMS-SC)(With effect from 2020-2021)
Post Matric Scholarship for SCs: Scheme Guidelines
Objective
1.1The objective of the scheme is to appreciably increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio of SC students in higher education with a focus on those from the poorest households, by providing financial assistance at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.
Scope
2.1These scholarships are available for studies in India only and the awardees are selected by the State Government/Union Territory to which the applicant actually belongs (i.e. the State/UT in which permanently settled or domiciled, as per the terms of domicile decided by the State).
2.2This is applicable to all the students who are currently beneficiaries of the scheme as well as fresh admissions.
3. Complete scheme guidelines are given below.
SINGLE POINT REGISTRATION SCHEME
Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS)
The Government is the single largest buyer of a variety of goods. With a view to increase the share of purchases from the small-scale sector, the Government Stores Purchase Programme was launched in 1955-56. NSIC registers Micro & small Enterprises (MSEs) under Single Point Registration scheme (SPRS) for participation in Government Purchases.
Benefits of Registration
The units registered under Single Point Registration Scheme of NSIC are eligible to get the benefits under Public Procurement Policy for Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) Order 2012 as notified by the Government of India, Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises, New Delhi vide Gazette Notification dated 23.03.2012 and amendment vide order no. S.O. 5670(E) dated 9th November 2018.
- Issue of the Tender Sets free of cost
- Exemption from payment of Earnest Money Deposit (EMD);
- In tender participating MSEs quoting price within price band of L1+15 per cent shall also be allowed to supply a portion upto 25% of requirement by bringing down their price to L1 Price where L1 is non MSEs.
- Every Central Ministries/Departments/PSUs shall set an annual goal of minimum 25 per cent of the total annual purchases of the products or services produced or rendered by MSEs. Out of annual requirement of 25% procurement from MSEs, 4% is earmarked for units owned by Schedule Caste /Schedule Tribes and 3% is earmarked for the units owned by Women entrepreneurs.
- In addition to the above, 358 items are also reserved for exclusive purchase from SSI Sector.
Eligibility
- All Micro & Small Enterprises having EM Part-II (Optional)/ Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) are eligible for registration with NSIC under its Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS).
- Micro & Small Enterprises who have already commenced their commercial production but not completed one year of existence. The Provisional Registration Certificate can be issued to such Micro & Small Enterprises under Single Point Registration scheme with monitory limit of Rs. 5.00 Lacs which shall be valid for the period of one year only from the date of issue after levying the registration fee and obtaining the requisite documents
How to Apply
Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) shall have to apply either online on our website www.nsicspronline.com or on the prescribed application form in Duplicate and to be submitted to the concerned Zonal/Branch Office of NSIC or NSSH Office located nearest to the unit. In case of any difficulty in filling the application form and completing the documentation, please consult any of the Zonal / Branch/ NSSH office of NSIC. The application form containing Terms & conditions are available free of cost from all offices of the NSIC. The guidelines attached with the Application Form provide a checklist for the documents that are required to be submitted along with the application.
REGISTRATION FEE
The registration Fee for SPRS is based on the Net Sales Turnover as per latest audited Balance Sheet of the Micro & Small Enterprise for the Registration, Renewal and any other amendment etc. However, the Registration, Renewal and any other amendment etc in the SPRS for SC/ST owned MSEs is available at a token amount of Rs. 100/- plus GST only.
REGISTRATION PROCESS
- Micro & Small Enterprises shall have to apply either online on our website www.nsicspronline.com or on the prescribed application form (in duplicate) along-with requisite fee and documents to the Zonal/Branch/Sub Branch and Sub Office/Extension office of NSIC situated nearest to their location.
- Duplicate copy of the G.P. Registration Application Form submitted by the Micro & Small Enterprise will be forwarded to the concerned Inspecting agency along with copies of required documents and requisite Proof of inspection charges remitted in favor of concerned Inspection Agency requesting for carrying out the Technical Inspection of Micro & Small Enterprise and forward their recommendations in this regard.
- After receiving Inspection Report, NSIC will issue the SPRS Registration Certificate to Micro & Small Enterprise for items/stores as recommended.
English
Scheme Guidelines for PMS SC revised in March 2021 
Assistance to NGOs for welfare of dalit community
LOK SABHA
The Grant-in-aid released to NGOs for various projects under the scheme of "Grant-in-aid to Voluntary Organizations working for Scheduled Castes" during the last 3 years is as under:-
Year
No. of NGOs
Amount released
2006-07
336
Rs. 29.01 Crore
2007-08
349
Rs. 30.95 Crore
2008-09
266
Rs. 21.50 Crore
Release of grant-in-aid is based on the inspection reports of the NGOs and on the recommendations of the Multi-Disciplinary Grant-in-aid Committees of the respective State Governments. Inspections, wherever necessary, are also conducted by the officials of this Ministry. Evaluation studies are conducted from time to time to assess the impact of the working of the NGOs under the scheme.
Funds are allocated under various schemes of the Ministry and through Apex Corporations for Educational and Economic Development of Scheduled Castes. These are as under:-
Educational Development
I. Pre-Matric Scholarship for the Children of those engaged in unclean ocupations.
II. Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students.
III. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana.
IV. Scholarship Scheme of Top Class Education for SCs
V. Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship.
VI. National Overseas Scholarships for SCs
Economic Development
i. Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers
ii. Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students.
iii. Special Central Assistance for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan.
iv. Assistance for skill development and self-employment through the National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation & the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation.
This information was given by Shri D. Napolean, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Rastriya Dalit Sangharsh Samity
All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations
Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS) - http://www.dalitstudies.org.in/
Delhi-based Dalit studies research institute established in 2002 to address the need for knowledge pertaining to issues of social exclusion and discrimination associated with caste, untouchability, ethnicity, and religious status. IIDS aims especially (a) to provide knowledge support to Dalit and other NGOS, (b) to produce research enabling the development of appropriate government policies for social inclusion and (c) to serve as a resource center for researchers, activists, and others.
Dalit Foundation – www.dalitfoundation.org/
The Dalit Foundation is a registered trust under Indian charity law. The Foundation was established in 2003 and is the first grant-making agency in South Asia whose mission, vision and program objectives focus exclusively on social change and justice for Dalit communities. The Foundation supports individuals, small community-based organizations, and networks that work to secure social change and protect the rights of Dalits in South Asia.
Dalit Solidarity Network – www.dsn-uk.org
Based in the United Kingdom, DSN-UK is part of an international network campaigning for recognition of the problem of caste discrimination and action for its eradication. DSN lobbies, campaigns and educates politicians, development agencies, the media, companies and the public about caste and how they can take action to end this human rights scandal. DSN-UK started in 1998 as a network of individuals, groups, movements and agencies working in solidarity with Dalit communities in India .
International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) - http://www.idsn.org/
Formed in 2000, the IDSN is a network of international organizations, national solidarity networks and affected country groups, campaigning against caste-based discrimination throughout the world, from the Dalits of South Asia to the Osu of Nigeria and the Burakumin of Japan. The IDSN is based in Denmark and directs their advocacy and lobbying work especially towards the United Nations and European Union.
FORUM-ASIA (Asian Forum for Human Rights & Development) - http://www.forum-asia.org/
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a membership-based regional human rights organization in Asia (headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand) and presently, it has 40 member organizations (including NCDHR) in 15 countries in Asia. Since 2004, FORUM-ASIA has been an “NGO in Consultative Status” with the UN. FORUM-ASIA strives to empower people by advocating social justice, sustainable human development, participatory democracy, gender equality, peace and human security through collaboration and cooperation among human rights organizations in the region.
Human Rights Watch – www.hrw.org
Leading international NGO dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the globe. Have done a great deal of excellent human rights work on the situation of Dalits in South Asia.
Social Watch India - http://www.socialwatchindia.net/
Social Watch India is a New Delhi-based is a broad based network of civil society organizations, citizens and communities to build a process of monitoring governance towards professed goals of social development, particularly with respect to the marginalized sections of our country. Its focus is to monitor the functioning and efficiency of the key institutions of governance and their commitment towards citizens and principles of democracy.
Navsarjan - http://www.navsarjan.org/home.asp
NGO based in Gujarat which has run successful state-level campaigns on the issues of Banning Manual Scavenging & Rehabilitating Scavengers, Drinking Water for Dalits, Implementation of Land Reforms, Implementation of Minimum Wage for Farm Workers, and Implementation of the Atrocity Act.
Dalit NGO Federation (DNF) of Nepal – http://www.dnfnepal.org/
Established in 1996, DNF is an umbrella organization of all Dalit NGOs in Nepal. It is a national forum for raising the collective voices of the Dalit community to ensure their rights, dignity and opportunity through policy influencing, networking and alliance building.
Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace (ACJP) - http://www.ambedkar.net/default.aspx
The ACJP is a United States-based global volunteer charity organization with its global headquarters at Tunkhannock, Pennslyvania, USA. Their aim aim is to follow the path of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in working to liberate Dalits through social work and human rights education so that they can lead their lives with dignity and develop into citizens who can make maj
Dalit Freedom SAKSHI Human Rights Watch - http://www.sakshiap.org/
NGO based in Andhra Pradesh doing excellent work on Dalit Human Rights
Network (DFN) – http://www.dalitnetwork.org/
United States (Colorado) based NGO, founded in 2003, with a presence throughout India, working mainly at the village level (especially on children’s education) and maintaining close ties with the All India Christian Council.
OneWorld South Asia - http://southasia.oneworld.net/
OneWorld South Asia provides media support to bring together a network of people and groups working for human rights and sustainable development across the globe.
Bihar Human Rights Commission - http://bhrc.bih.nic.in/
The Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, an Act of the Parliament, provides for establishment of the National Human Rights Commission at the national level and State Human Rights Commissions at the state level.
In the State of Bihar, the State Human Rights Commission was established on 3rd-Jan-2000 vide Notification No. 207. However, the Commission was formally constituted vide notification no. 6896 on 25.6.2008 when Shri Justice S.N. Jha, a former Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan High Courts was appointed as Chairperson and Shri Justice Rajendra Prasad, a former Judge of the Patna High Court and Shri R.R. Prasad, a former Director General of Police, Bihar were appointed as members with effect from the date they assume charge of this office.
About
The caste system, which has existed for more than 3000 years in India, is a traditional system of social segregation, which works on the principle of purity and pollution. The Dalits are placed at the bottom of this hierarchical ladder. Dalit Foundation is a non-government organisation, which is the first grant-making institution in south Asia working for the empowerment of Dalit communities. Established in June 2003, the Foundation’s mission, vision and programme objectives focus exclusively on empowerment of Dalit communities. It is committed to support individuals, community-based organisations, and networks that work to secure social change and protect the rights of Dalits. Dalit Foundation defines Dalits as all those who are committed to the ideology and belief of equality against the traditional caste based identity.
Dalit Foundation provides group sholarships to individuals working among all the marginalized communities including Dalits in India. The informal group of four persons having the religious, gender and social diversity adopt to a common minimum program which includes combating caste discrimination and untouchability in public schools and the local self-governments. The fellows organize youth and women across castes to ensure that such organization can combat caste and gender prejudices and practices. The fellows also work with the children of all poor communities to ensure quality education.
We are also committed towards building a strong line of leadership for the Dalit movement. Hence, through our group scholarship programmes, we train one young man and a woman both in vocational skills, leadership and social justice perspective to ensure that while taking care of their own employment they become the local leaders in their own village. For the current year we have awarded scholarships to 72 individuals including 38 women and trained 175 village leaders including 123 young women. At the end of 2016 we will train additional 200 village leaders. In addition, Dalit foundation also provides scholarships to Dalit artists with the aim of promoting Dalit art and culture and utilizing Dalit culture as a tool for liberation.
Call for Group Scholarship
Dalit Foundation (DF) has been actively involved in promoting and protecting Dalit human rights and it has been strengthening the Dalit leadership at grassroots level since 2003. Over the past decade DF’s support and initiative through grants and individual Scholarships to the grassroots Dalit and marginalized groups has elevated the caste based issues to public discourse in most of the DF intervention areas. Nonetheless, the individual Dalit activists and group fellows has accelerated the process of change in the lives of Dalit communities, which is visible indeed through their actions. So, the support has imbedded with multiple effects of change in — addressing caste based discrimination, struggle for equality, building capacity of Dalit communities and partners, and developing their leadership across the nation.
As one is aware that India as a nation is undergoing global economic transition for the past two decades, along with social communication which is moving at fast phase. The caste based identity politics possess perfect biggest challenge to the goal of social change, though; promotion of social and religious diversity further becomes even critical. To ensure this two pivotal elements— caste based identity and diversity, DF will uphold and practices definition of the term ‘Dalit’ and diversity in its all approaches.
Future Direction:
With this aim DF has planned to strategies its future initiative and actions through group Scholarship to address pressing multiple issues that continue to dehumanize Dalits and their lives on daily basis in every part of Indian region despite of legal mechanisms and policy frame due to patriarchal structure and social construct that prevents Dalits communities from to leave life of dignity.
Group Scholarship:
The group Scholarships are implicit and it is effective in addressing the issues that are heinous in nature— caste based atrocity, chronic poverty, conflict and dispute over natural resources — land, water, forest and lack of accesses to other entitlements all these elements evidently impacted on women and their lives further resulting in violence and discrimination. Therefore, this form of structural violation and discrimination requires huge strength of critical mass to address the issues efficiently and effectively. Henceforth, this process involves large scale community participation. And, also the process requires initiating several popular public campaigns on the issues at wider level. It also facilitates better monitoring and evaluation of the programme implementation at the field by the fellows.
Besides the group Scholarship process would assist in careful selection group fellows in given depleting financial resources and funding crunch. Hence this process would enable fellows to take carefully crafted strategic intervention in selected villages in order to build right perspective among communities and address human rights violations that impacts lives of Dalit and other marginalized communities.
This will also help in promoting idea of building need based approach through vocational education and further enhance on self-depended on livelihood and it is expected to reach out to larger beneficiaries.
The strategy intended to moot new approach and criteria of common minimum programme under this Scholarship. The aim is to facilitate better planning of the partners work, better monitoring and evaluation of the programs successes, gaps and challenges across the region. The outcome, learning, challenges and results will be shared among the partners and to networking groups of DF.
The Common Minimum Program aims to following criteria while implementing the programme at ground zero.
Caste Discrimination and Untouchability: in Public School, among village Panchayat members and accesses to safe water and other resources.
Mobilization: Caste based violence, violence against women, minimum wages under NAREGA, rural livelihood mission, agricultural labour, and other unorganized sector, youth organization, sensitize panchayat members and other stakeholders
Organization: Social justice committees, Sub-caste discrimination, all poor platforms, art/culture/food festival
Education: common program of all children and children library and theatre group
Selection process:
Application and concept note are invited from potential CBOs and groups, the applications need to accompany with two page concept note on proposed work, strategy and time frame of the programme intervention.
Please write to programmesdf2016@gmail.com
Field Visit: Intense field visits will be carried out.
Project Selection Workshop: Intense workshop for 3-4 days for the identification of partners.
Planning Workshops:
Joint planning and monitoring with tangible outcome.
Raising local resources for the sustainability of the programmes.
Skill building training for the volunteers (2 per village).
Agreement Letter will be sent and after the consent of the partner, financial disbursement will be carried out.
Eligibility Criteria Eligibility Criteria for Grants
Applicant organizations must:
Work in innovative ways to bring about change on a range of Dalit issues such as land reforms, manual scavenging etc. have an annual budget not exceeding Rupees 10 lakh [$25,000] are led by people – especially women – from the discriminated community focus on more than a single sub-caste are not associated with any political party and have not been convicted of any offence Eligibility Criteria for Fellowships
Applicants must:
Belong to the Dalit community
not be paid employees or consultants with any organization
are engaged in their individual capacity as activists or researchers, who have either
adequate academic qualification or work experience
not be office bearers of any political party
not have been convicted of any offence that would adversely affect the credibility of the Foundation.
Grant Making Procedure 1. Concept Note
1 Proposals are accepted throughout the year in any Indian language. The proposal requires a brief description of the project by the grant seekers, along with organization details (background, annual budget of past two years, registration certificate, FCRA, 80G and 12A status, etc) for organizational grants.
2. Preliminary Approval
After a desk study of the proposals, within a month the applicants are notified whether their proposals are selected for further evaluation or not.
3.Field Visit
The short-listed applicants are visited by representatives of Dalit Foundation (programme coordinators) who spend 3 days and 2 nights surveying the proposed work area and the work of the applicants. They live and eat in the homes of the applicants in order to fully grasp the ideology and workings of the applicant. Their observations on the field visits are documented in a specific format so as to ensure that all has been checked.
4. Project Selection Workshop
Based on the feedback/recommendations of the programme coordinators, the applicants are invited for a three day project selection workshop. At the end of the workshop, the participants are graded according to the matrix system. There are four project selection workshops held in a year, two for partners from North India and two for partners from South India.
Allocation of funds
Geographical coverage and focus areas of funds in India:
The Foundation focuses on those states/areas of India, where Dalit concerns need to be addressed urgently. Since the approach to Dalit issues in the southern sector is more organised, Dalit Foundation is giving more emphasis to the northern sector. The major thrust is on support to new and nascent initiatives in neglected areas while strengthening existing movements and groups. Dalit Foundation’s primary area of focus throughout will be on Dalit led Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Region States Covered Percentage:
Contact Us Our address:
Dalit Foundation
Dalit Shakti Kendra
Village-Nani Devti
Sanand-Bawla Highway
Ahmedabad District
Gujarat
Pin: 382100
India
Tel: 9960187270
For any programme related queries, please contact: programmesdf2016@gmail.com.
For queries relating to volunteering, internship, contributions and publications, please contact: governancedf2016@gmail.com.
Dalit Foundation is a registered charitable trust (no. E/16122/ Ahmedabad) under Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 (29th Act).
Join the program
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Dubai International Award for Best Practices
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Equator Prize
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