Discuss the efforts made by the government of India for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. (HPAS Mains Question Paper 2022 – GS 2, Q.19)
According to the 2011 Census of India, India’s SC population was 201.4 million, accounting for 16.6%. The ST population was 104.3 million people, accounting for 8.6% of the total population.
Efforts by the Government of India for the welfare of Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes:
Several provisions in the Indian Constitution are aimed at the welfare and empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Some of India’s vital constitutional provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes include:
- Reservation: Seats in educational institutions and public employment are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Indian Constitution. Seats in the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) and state legislative assemblies are also reserved under the Constitution.
- Protective Measures: The Constitution includes several safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989, which guarantees legal protection against discrimination and atrocities.
- Political Representation: The Constitution mandates that seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The President of India and the Governors of the states are also required to appoint a certain percentage of these communities to their respective ministerial councils.
- Finance and Development: The Constitution makes specific provisions for developing Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) and the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) are unique plans designed to improve the social and economic status of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, respectively. These plans receive a portion of the total budget of the state and federal governments.
- Educational and cultural rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, as is the right to preserve and promote the culture of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Social Rights: The Constitution provides for the abolition of untouchability and the right to equal access to public places and services.
- Economic Rights: The Constitution guarantees equal pay for equal work and the right to own property.
Various measures and programs for the welfare and empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes:
- Special Central Assistance: The government provides SCA to states for specific plans and schemes aimed at the development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) and SCSP (Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan): The TSP and SCSP are unique plans to improve the social and economic status of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, respectively. These plans receive a portion of the total budget of the state and federal governments.
- The National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) provides financial assistance to eligible Scheduled Castes entrepreneurs for the establishment and operation of their businesses.
- The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) provides financial assistance to eligible Scheduled Tribes entrepreneurs for the establishment and operation of their businesses.
- Post-Matric Scholarships for SC/ST Students: To enable Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students to pursue higher education, the government offers post-matric scholarships.
- Ashram Schools: The government operates Ashram schools in tribal areas to provide Scheduled Tribes students with free education, lodging, and boarding.
- The Act to Prevent Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes and Tribes of India, 1989: This act was enacted by the government to prevent atrocities and discrimination against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- The National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Hub (NSCSTH) aims to support and promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by offering various services and support.
- Other programmes: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY), and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), among others, have been implemented by the government for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The government of India’s efforts are aimed at ensuring the overall development and empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, as well as bringing them on an equal footing with the rest of society. However, there is still a long way to go before these communities achieve complete socioeconomic equality.
