Sanjeev Kumar Sundriyal*
The
UPA Government’s third year in office was a landmark year in the field of
social justice. Not only were there new legislative initiatives to help the
disadvantaged groups integrate with society, but there were also administrative
measures to attend to their problems more effectively. The Union Minister for
Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Mukul Wasnik, led the Ministry and its
departments in devising programmes that have translated the UPA’s philosophy
and commitment to social justice into a reality.
The
Ministry’s objective was to empower the disadvantaged sections of the society
and give them their due so that they lead a life of respect and contribute to
their maximum capacity in the nation’s march towards prosperity.
A Central assistance of over Rs 2,700
crore was released under the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste
students,covering nearly 48 lakh students. The scheme of post-matric
scholarship for students belonging to Scheduled Tribes was revised to raise the
eligible income ceiling from Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, rationalize the
grouping to courses and enhance allowances by about 60%.
The scheme of post-matric scholarship
for Other Backward Classes has also been revised to raise the eligible income
ceiling from Rs 44,500 to Rs 1 lakh per annum, rationalize the grouping of
courses and increase maintenance and other allowances by three fourths. During
the year, central assistance of Rs 528 crore was released to states under the
post-matric scholarship scheme to benefit approximately 17 lakh students
belonging to the Other Backward Classes.
The Top
Class Education scheme for Scheduled Caste students has been revised to raise
the annual family income ceiling from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh with effect from
the academic year 2012-13. 24 new institutions have been added to the list of
notified premier institutions under the scheme thus increasing the number of
institutions covered under the scheme to 205. During the year, scholarships of
more than Rs 21 crore were given to 1,674 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
students.
An amount of over Rs 100 crore was
released to the University Grants Commission for new fellowships and renewal of
ongoing fellowships for 2000 Scheduled Caste students to pursue courses leading
to M.Phil, Ph.D and equivalent degrees under the Rajiv Gandhi National
Fellowship Scheme. Likewise, fellowships amounting to Rs 84.93 crore were given
to 3,335 Scheduled Tribe students under the scheme.
Concessional loans, amounting to
over Rs 490 crore, were disbursed through the National Scheduled Castes Finance
& Development Corporation, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance &
Development Corporation and the National Backward Classes Finance &
Development Corporation to 2.05 lakh beneficiaries for self-employment. The
authorized share capital of the National Safai Karmcharis Finance and
Development Corporation was also doubled to Rs 600 crore.
The
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana for integrated development of 1,000 Scheduled
Caste majority villages has been revised to enhance central assistance under
the gap filling component from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh per village.
Consequently, an additional amount of Rs 100 crore was released to the five
states taken up under the scheme viz. Himachal Pradesh, Bihar,Rajasthan, Tamil
Nadu and Assam.
For greater focus on addressing issues confronting persons
with disabilities,the Government has set up a separate Department for
Disability Affairs. As per Census 2001, India has 2.2 crore persons with
various types of disabilities. They are seen in all walks of life, discharging
not only their normal responsibilities, but trying to do better than others.
Aware of their difficulties in getting their due, the Government is constantly undertaking initiatives to
correct the situation. These initiatives include the comprehensive Rights of
Persons with Disabilities Bill, a draft of which is under consideration for
introduction in Parliament.
The
Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre has been sanctioned as an
autonomous centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University at an estimated
cost of Rs 45 crore. The National Handicapped Finance & Development
Corporation disbursed concessional loans of more than Rs 50 crore to 10,625
beneficiaries for self-employment.
On
2nd April 2012, World Autism Day, the Government reiterated its
commitment to help development of people with autism in the country. India has about
10 million people with autism in the country. The Government has stressed the
need to remove the myths associated with it, like autism is the result of bad
parenting or “emotionally dysfunctional mothers.” The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
(SSA), the vehicle for the Right To Education, ensures support to children with
autism, through resource teachers and teacher-aides. In many States, students
with autism get a one on one support with care-giver or aide in the classroom.
The Rajya Sabha passed in the last Budget Session a Bill to amend the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 to extend its benefits to children
with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities. The
children having these severe disabilities will have the option to receive
education at home
The
Ministry is implementing a “Self employment scheme for the rehabilitation of
manual scavengers (SRMS). The Government drafted a new Bill “The Prohibition of
Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2011.” The
Government is committed to eliminate the demeaning practice as per the spirit
of the resolution adopted by the National Advisory Council (NAC). (PIB Features.)
*****
*Media & Communication Officer, PIB, New Delhi.
SS-91/SF-91/24-05-2012
RTS/HSN