Day-15 Answer Writing Challenge : Model Answer

Question: Briefly discuss some of the important welfare measures for Schedule Tribes in India?      (8 marks, 120 words)

Answer: 

Introduction:

• Indian Government, at all levels, announces Welfare Schemes for a cross section of the society from time to time. These schemes could be either Central, State specific or a joint collaboration between the Centre and the States.
• Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter.
• A welfare state is based on the principles of equality of opportunity and equitable distribution of wealth. It also focuses on the governmental responsibility for those who are unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions of a good life.

Body:

Important Bodies constituted-

1. National Commission for Scheduled Castes

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is an Indian constitutional body established with a view to provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and Anglo Indian communities to promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests, special provisions were made in the Constitution.

Article 338 of the Indian constitution deals with National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

2. National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation

Incorporation
NSFDC was setup by the Government of India on February 08, 1989 with the name National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSCSTFDC). It was incorporated as a fully owned Government of India Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (Previously Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956).

Important Bodies constituted-

3. National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC)

A wholly owned Govt. of India Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (M/o SJ&E) was set up on 24th January 1997 as a Company “Not for Profit” under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956.

NSKFDC is in operation since October, 1997, as an Apex Corporation for the all round socio-economic upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependants throughout India, through various loan and non-loan based schemes.

Schemes

1.Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)– Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment. The objective of this Scheme is to ensure integrated development of the selected villages with more than 50% SC population.

2.The National Overseas Scholarship is to facilitate the low income students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans category to obtain higher education viz., Master degree or Ph.D courses by studying abroad thereby improving their Economic and Social status.

3. The Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)

The Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers was revised in November, 2013 in consonance with the provision of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013).

The objective of SRMS is to provide assistance to the identified manual scavengers and their dependants for their rehabilitation in alternative occupations.

4. Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC)

The Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment has been monitoring the expenditure of the funds allocated for the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) every quarter.