Social Welfare

Empowering marginalized and vulnerable communities.

The Indian government has established an extensive social welfare system. Several programmes designed for betterment and enhancement of quality of life for SC, ST, BC, Minorities, women, etc stand proof to it.

Sensitize common man about ongoing schemes and programmes.

Every citizen need to be aware about his / her entitlements, relevant schemes and programmes being implemented by Central and State Governments so as to access and benefit from them.

Collective action for social change.

Innumerable success stories narrate the potential of collective action to break social barriers that result in a socially just and equitable society. One such notable action is the Self-Help Group movement in India, now established as a proven model to promote women empowerment.

The Indian Constitution establishes a welfare state. This is clear from the salient features in the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). In this spirit, India is making a determined attempt to fulfil its ideal of a welfare state not only in principle but also through economic planning, thus securing to the Indian citizens justice—social, economic and political.

Some articles of the Indian Constitution which directs the government towards a welfare state:

The State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life (Article 38). That the citizen, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood; (Article 39a). The State shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any other way, to all workers agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas (Article 43). The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in

cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want (Article 41). The State shall 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 shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation (Article 46).

In this spirit, striving towards the similar objectives, this portal provides state specific content and information in Indian languages on entitlements, schemes, programmes and institution details related to women, children, SC, ST, OBC, Minorities, Senior Citizens, differently-abled and others.

Women and Child Development

evelopment / Women and Child Welfare

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Women and Child Welfare 1. Introduction

1. Mandate 2. Policy Initiatives

3. Organisation 4. Subjects Allocated to the Ministry

Introduction

The Department of Women and Child Development was set up in the year 1985 as a part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to give the much needed impetus to the holistic development of women and children. With effect from 30.01.2006, the Department has been upgraded to a Ministry.

Mandate

The broad mandate of the Ministry is to have holistic development of Women and Children. As a nodal Ministry for the advancement of women and children, the Ministry formulates plans, policies and programmes; enacts/ amends legislation, guides and coordinates the efforts of both governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the field of Women and Child Development. Besides, playing its nodal role, the Ministry implements certain innovative programmes for women and children. These programmes cover welfare and support services, training for employment and income generation, awareness generation and gender sensitization. These programmes play a supplementary and complementary role to the other general developmental programmes in the sectors of health, education, rural development etc. All these efforts are directed to ensure that women are empowered both economically and socially and thus become equal partners in national development along with men.

Policy Initiatives

For the holistic development of the child, the Ministry has been implementing the world's largest and most unique and outreach programme of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) providing a package of services comprising supplementary nutrition, immunization, health checkup and referral services, pre-school non-formal education. There is effective coordination and monitoring of various sectoral programmes. Most of the programmes of the Ministry are run through non-governmental organisations. Efforts are made to have more effective involvement of NGOs.  The major policy initiatives undertaken by the Ministry in the recent past include universalisation of ICDS and Kishori Shakti Yojana, launching a nutrition programme for adolescent girls, establishment of the Commission for protection of Child Rights and enactment of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Organisation

The Ministry has 6 autonomous organisations viz.

National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) National Commission for women (NCW) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)

Working under its aegis, NIPCCD and RMK are societies registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. CSWB is a charitable company registered under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956. These organisations are fully funded by the Govt. of India and they assist the Department in its functions including implementation of some programmes/schemes. The National Commission for Women was constituted as a national apex statutory body in 1992 for protecting and safeguarding the rights of women. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights which is a national level apex statutory body constituted in the March 2007 for protecting and safe guarding the rights of children.

Subjects Allocated to the Ministry

Welfare of the family. Women and Child Welfare and Coordination of activities of other Ministries and

Organisation in connection with this subject. References from the United Nations Organizations relating to traffic in Women

and Children Care of pre-school children including pre-primary education National Nutrition Policy, national Plan of Action for Nutrition and National

Nutrition Mission. Charitable and religious endowments pertaining to subjects allocated to this

Department Promotion and development of voluntary effort on the subjects allocated to this

Department Implementation of

o Immoral Traffic in Women and Girl Act. 1956 (as amended upto 1986) .o The Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, 1986 (60 of

1986).o The Dowry Prohibition Act. 1961 (28 of 1961) o The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 (3 of 1988), excluding the

administration of criminal justice in regard to offences under these Acts. Implementation of the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Food

(Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992 (41 of 1992). Coordination of activities of Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere

(CARE) Planning, Research, Evaluation, Monitoring, Project Formulations, Statistics and

Training relating to the welfare and development of women and children, including development of gender sensitive data base.

o United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) o Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB)

o National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)

o Food and Nutrition Board Food and Nutrition Board (FNB)o Development and popularization of subsidiary and protective foods.o Nutrition extension.

Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equity

National Commission for Women Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (56 of 2000) Probation of Juvenile offenders Issues relating to adoption, Central Adoption Resource Agency and Child Help

Line (Childline) The Children Act, 1960 (60 of 1960) The Child Marriage – Restraint Act, 1929 (19 of 1929)

evelopment / Women Development

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Women Development 1. Status of Women in India 2. Women Empowerment

1. Goal and Objectives 2. Policy Prescriptions

3. Economic Empowerment of women 4. Social Empowerment of Women

3. Relates resources

Status of Women in India

Four out of ten women in India still have no say in their marriage, eight out of ten need permission to visit a doctor, six out of ten practise some form of head covering, and the average Indian household gives over Rs. 30,000 in dowry. These are among the findings of a major new large-scale sample survey shared exclusively with a newspaper The Hindu.

The National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) conducts the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), the largest household survey in India after the government's Nation Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) surveys, and the NCAER is the only independent body that conducts such large-sample panel surveys. The survey covers economic data on income and expenditure, development data on education and health, and sociological data on caste, gender and religion. The key findings of NCAER's latest round covers 2011-12 data. It covered 42,000 households across the country, weighted nationally, and 83% of them were also interviewed for the 2004-5 round of the IHDS.

The data shows that India has made progress in child marriage, with 48% of women over 25 reporting in 2011-12 that they were married before the age of 18 as opposed to 60% in 2004-5. The average number of children that women (over 40) reported they had had has also come down slightly to 3.55, indicating that fertility is falling. The practice of marrying a cousin or relative – more common in the south than the north – is becoming less common, but over 20% in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka still marry relatives.

However, women's autonomy remains severely constrained. 41% of women had no say in their marriage and just 18% knew their husbands before marriage, a statistic that has not improved. Women's say in marriage rose with their level of education, with income and with level of urbanisation and the southern states did better.

Just 10% said that they could take the primary decision to buy large items for the house, less than 20% had their names on the house's papers and 81% needed permission to visit a doctor. 60% of women – including 59% of forward caste Hindus and 83% of Muslim women – practised some form of `purdah' or `ghunghat'. Over half of all women said it was common for women in their community to be beaten if they went out without permission.

The average Indian family gives over Rs. 30,000 in cash as dowry and 40% admitted to giving large items like TVs and cars as dowry. The practise of giving large items as dowry was most common among forward caste Hindus and lowest among Muslims. Wedding expenses ranged from nearly Rs 1 lakh in the poorest village to Rs 1.7 lakh in

small cities, a big jump over the 2004-5 survey. Kerala and Delhi had the most expensive weddings.

Source : The Hindu

Women Empowerment

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women.

Within the framework of a democratic polity, our laws, development policies, Plans and programmes have aimed at women’s advancement in different spheres. From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards has been a marked shift in the approach to women’s issues from welfare to development. In recent years, the empowerment of women has been recognized as the central issue in determining the status of women. The National Commission for Women was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women, laying a strong foundation for their participation in decision making at the local levels.

India has also ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal rights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.

The Mexico Plan of Action (1975), the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (1985), the Beijing Declaration as well as the Platform for Action (1995) and the Outcome Document adopted by the UNGA Session on Gender Equality and Development & Peace for the 21st century, titled "Further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action" have been unreservedly endorsed by India for appropriate follow up.

The Policy also takes note of the commitments of the Ninth Five Year Plan and the other Sectoral Policies relating to empowerment of Women.

The women’s movement and a wide-spread network of non-Government Organisations which have strong grass-roots presence and deep insight into women’s concerns have contributed in inspiring initiatives for the empowerment of women.

However, there still exists a wide gap between the goals enunciated in the Constitution, legislation, policies, plans, programmes, and related mechanisms on the one hand and the situational reality of the status of women in India, on the other. This has been analyzed extensively in the Report of the Committee on the Status of Women in India, "Towards Equality", 1974 and highlighted in the National Perspective Plan for Women, 1988-2000, the Shramshakti Report, 1988 and the Platform for Action, Five Years after- An assessment"

Gender disparity manifests itself in various forms, the most obvious being the trend of continuously declining female ratio in the population in the last few decades. Social stereotyping and violence at the domestic and societal levels are some of the other manifestations. Discrimination against girl children, adolescent girls and women persists in parts of the country.

The underlying causes of gender inequality are related to social and economic structure, which is based on informal and formal norms, and practices.

Consequently, the access of women particularly those belonging to weaker sections including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other backward Classes and minorities, majority of whom are in the rural areas and in the informal, unorganized sector – to education, health and productive resources, among others, is inadequate. Therefore, they remain largely marginalized, poor and socially excluded.

Goal and Objectives

The goal of this Policy is to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment of women. The Policy will be widely disseminated so as to encourage active participation of all stakeholders for achieving its goals. Specifically, the objectives of this Policy include

Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for full development of women to enable them to realize their full potential

The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by women on equal basis with men in all spheres – political, economic, social, cultural and civil

Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and economic life of the nation

Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and vocational guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and public office etc.

Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination against women

Changing societal attitudes and community practices by active participation and involvement of both men and women.

Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process. Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the

girl child; and Building and strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly women’s

organizations.

Policy Prescriptions

Judicial Legal Systems

Legal-judicial system will be made more responsive and gender sensitive to women’s needs, especially in cases of domestic violence and personal assault. New laws will be enacted and existing laws reviewed to ensure that justice is quick and the punishment meted out to the culprits is commensurate with the severity of the offence.

At the initiative of and with the full participation of all stakeholders including community and religious leaders, the Policy would aim to encourage changes in personal laws such as those related to marriage, divorce, maintenance and guardianship so as to eliminate discrimination against women.

The evolution of property rights in a patriarchal system has contributed to the subordinate status of women. The Policy would aim to encourage changes in laws relating to ownership of property and inheritance by evolving consensus in order to make them gender just.

Decision Making

Women’s equality in power sharing and active participation in decision making, including decision making in political process at all levels will be ensured for the achievement of the goals of empowerment. All measures will be taken to guarantee women equal access to and full participation in decision making bodies at every level, including the legislative, executive, judicial, corporate, statutory bodies, as also the advisory Commissions, Committees, Boards and Trusts etc. Affirmative action such as reservations/quotas, including in higher legislative bodies, will be considered whenever necessary on a time bound basis. Women–friendly personnel policies will also be drawn up to encourage women to participate effectively in the developmental process.

Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in the Development Process

Policies, programmes and systems will be established to ensure mainstreaming of women’s perspectives in all developmental processes, as catalysts, participants and recipients. Wherever there are gaps in policies and programmes, women specific interventions would be undertaken to bridge these. Coordinating and monitoring mechanisms will also be devised to assess from time to time the progress of such mainstreaming mechanisms. Women’s issues and concerns as a result will specially be addressed and reflected in all concerned laws, sectoral policies, plans and programmes of action.

Economic Empowerment of women

Poverty Eradication

Since women comprise the majority of the population below the poverty line and are very often in situations of extreme poverty, given the harsh realities of intra-household and social discrimination, macro economic policies and poverty eradication programmes will specifically address the needs and problems of such

women. There will be improved implementation of programmes which are already women oriented with special targets for women. Steps will be taken for mobilization of poor women and convergence of services, by offering them a range of economic and social options, along with necessary support measures to enhance their capabilities

Micro Credit

In order to enhance women’s access to credit for consumption and production, the establishment of new and strengthening of existing micro-credit mechanisms and micro-finance institution will be undertaken so that the outreach of credit is enhanced. Other supportive measures would be taken to ensure adequate flow of credit through extant financial institutions and banks, so that all women below poverty line have easy access to credit.

Women and Economy

Women’s perspectives will be included in designing and implementing macro-economic and social policies by institutionalizing their participation in such processes. Their contribution to socio-economic development as producers and workers will be recognized in the formal and informal sectors (including home based workers) and appropriate policies relating to employment and to her working conditions will be drawn up. Such measures could include:

Reinterpretation and redefinition of conventional concepts of work wherever necessary e.g. in the Census records, to reflect women’s contribution as producers and workers.

Preparation of satellite and national accounts. Development of appropriate methodologies for undertaking (i) and (ii) above.

Globalization

Globalization has presented new challenges for the realization of the goal of women’s equality, the gender impact of which has not been systematically evaluated fully. However, from the micro-level studies that were commissioned by the Department of Women & Child Development, it is evident that there is a need for re-framing policies for access to employment and quality of employment. Benefits of the growing global economy have been unevenly distributed leading to wider economic disparities, the feminization of poverty, increased gender inequality through often deteriorating working conditions and unsafe working environment especially in the informal economy and rural areas. Strategies will be designed to enhance the capacity of women and empower them to meet the negative social and economic impacts, which may flow from the globalization process.

Women and Agriculture

In view of the critical role of women in the agriculture and allied sectors, as producers, concentrated efforts will be made to ensure that benefits of training, extension and various programmes will reach them in proportion to their numbers. The programmes for training women in soil conservation, social forestry, dairy development and other occupations allied to agriculture like horticulture, livestock including small animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries etc. will be expanded to benefit women workers in the agriculture sector.

Women and Industry

The important role played by women in electronics, information technology and food processing and agro industry and textiles has been crucial to the development of these sectors. They would be given comprehensive support in terms of labour legislation, social security and other support services to participate in various industrial sectors.

Women at present cannot work in night shift in factories even if they wish to. Suitable measures will be taken to enable women to work on the night shift in factories. This will be accompanied with support services for security, transportation etc.

Support Services

The provision of support services for women, like child care facilities, including crèches at work places and educational institutions, homes for the aged and the disabled will be expanded and improved to create an enabling environment and to ensure their full cooperation in social, political and economic life. Women-friendly personnel policies will also be drawn up to encourage women to participate effectively in the developmental process.

Social Empowerment of Women

Education

Equal access to education for women and girls will be ensured. Special measures will be taken to eliminate discrimination, universalize education, eradicate illiteracy, create a gender-sensitive educational system, increase enrolment and retention rates of girls and improve the quality of education to facilitate life-long learning as well as development of occupation/vocation/technical skills by women. Reducing the gender gap in secondary and higher education would be a focus area. Sectoral time targets in existing policies will be achieved, with a special focus on girls and women, particularly those belonging to weaker sections including the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes/Minorities. Gender sensitive curricula would be developed at all levels of educational system in order to address sex stereotyping as one of the causes of gender discrimination.

Health

A holistic approach to women’s health which includes both nutrition and health services will be adopted and special attention will be given to the needs of women and the girl at all stages of the life cycle. The reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality, which are sensitive indicators of human development, is a priority concern. This policy reiterates the national demographic goals for Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) set out in the National Population Policy 2000. Women should have access to comprehensive, affordable and quality health care. Measures will be adopted that take into account the reproductive rights of women to enable them to exercise informed choices, their vulnerability to sexual and health problems together with endemic, infectious and communicable diseases such as malaria, TB, and water borne diseases as well as hypertension and cardio-pulmonary diseases. The social, developmental and health consequences of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases will be tackled from a gender perspective.

To effectively meet problems of infant and maternal mortality, and early marriage the availability of good and accurate data at micro level on deaths, birth and marriages is required. Strict implementation of registration of births and deaths would be ensured and registration of marriages would be made compulsory.

In accordance with the commitment of the National Population Policy (2000) to population stabilization, this Policy recognizes the critical need of men and women to have access to safe, effective and affordable methods of family planning of their choice and the need to suitably address the issues of early marriages and spacing of children. Interventions such as spread of education, compulsory registration of marriage and special programmes like BSY should impact on delaying the age of marriage so that by 2010 child marriages are eliminated.

Women’s traditional knowledge about health care and nutrition will be recognized through proper documentation and its use will be encouraged. The use of Indian and alternative systems of medicine will be enhanced within the framework of overall health infrastructure available for women.

Nutrition

In view of the high risk of malnutrition and disease that women face at all the three critical stages viz., infancy and childhood, adolescent and reproductive phase, focussed attention would be paid to meeting the nutritional needs of women at all stages of the life cycle. This is also important in view of the critical link between the health of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women with the health of infant and young children. Special efforts will be made to tackle the problem of macro and micro nutrient deficiencies especially amongst pregnant and lactating women as it leads to various diseases and disabilities.

Intra-household discrimination in nutritional matters vis-à-vis girls and women will be sought to be ended through appropriate strategies. Widespread use of nutrition education would be made to address the issues of intra-household

imbalances in nutrition and the special needs of pregnant and lactating women. Women’s participation will also be ensured in the planning, superintendence and delivery of the system.

Drinking Water and Sanitation

Special attention will be given to the needs of women in the provision of safe drinking water, sewage disposal, toilet facilities and sanitation within accessible reach of households, especially in rural areas and urban slums. Women’s participation will be ensured in the planning, delivery and maintenance of such services.

Housing and Shelter

Women’s perspectives will be included in housing policies, planning of housing colonies and provision of shelter both in rural and urban areas. Special attention will be given for providing adequate and safe housing and accommodation for women including single women, heads of households, working women, students, apprentices and trainees.

Environment

Women will be involved and their perspectives reflected in the policies and programmes for environment, conservation and restoration. Considering the impact of environmental factors on their livelihoods, women’s participation will be ensured in the conservation of the environment and control of environmental degradation. The vast majority of rural women still depend on the locally available non-commercial sources of energy such as animal dung, crop waste and fuel wood. In order to ensure the efficient use of these energy resources in an environmental friendly manner, the Policy will aim at promoting the programmes of non-conventional energy resources. Women will be involved in spreading the use of solar energy, biogas, smokeless chulahs and other rural application so as to have a visible impact of these measures in influencing eco system and in changing the life styles of rural women.

Science and Technology

Programmes will be strengthened to bring about a greater involvement of women in science and technology. These will include measures to motivate girls to take up science and technology for higher education and also ensure that development projects with scientific and technical inputs involve women fully. Efforts to develop a scientific temper and awareness will also be stepped up. Special measures would be taken for their training in areas where they have special skills like communication and information technology. Efforts to develop appropriate technologies suited to women’s needs as well as to reduce their drudgery will be given a special focus too.

Women in Difficult Circumstances

In recognition of the diversity of women’s situations and in acknowledgement of the needs of specially disadvantaged groups, measures and programmes will be undertaken to provide them with special assistance. These groups include women in extreme poverty, destitute women, women in conflict situations, women affected by natural calamities, women in less developed regions, the disabled widows, elderly women, single women in difficult circumstances, women heading households, those displaced from employment, migrants, women who are victims of marital violence, deserted women and prostitutes etc.

evelopment / Prerna Scheme

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Prerna Scheme 1. Strategy 2. Important Conditions 3. Certificates Required 4. Check List for Administrators and Organizations Partnering JSK

(Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh)5. Partners 6. Related resources

Strategy

In order to help push up the age of marriage of girls and space the birth of children in the interest of health of young mothers and infants, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (National Population Stabilization Fund) - an autonomous body of the MoHFW, Govt. of India has launched PRERNA, a Responsible Parenthood Strategy in all districts of seven focus states namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

The strategy recognizes and awards couples who have broken the stereotype of early marriage, early childbirth and repeated child birth and have helped change the mindsets of the community.

The scheme is meant only for BPL families.

Important Conditions

1. Couple must belong to BPL family2. Age of lady should not exceed 30 years3. The girl should have been married after 19 years4. First child birth after at least 2 years of marriage5. Second child birth after at least 3 years of the first child birth6. Either parent voluntarily accepts permanent method of family planning within one

year of the second child birth

If above four (S.N. 1-4) conditions are fulfilled then payment of award:

Rs. 10,000/- if boy child Rs. 12,000/- if girl child

If all above six (S.N.1-6) conditions are fulfilled then payment of award:

Rs. 15,000/- if both are boys Rs. 17,000/- if one boy & one girl child Rs. 19,000/- if both are girls

The amount of award is given in the form of National Saving Certificate (NSC).

Certificates Required

BPL certificate of the couple Date of birth certificate of Mother (Schools/Board/Registrar of birth/death) Marriage Certificate of the couple (Registrar of marriages/appropriate govt.

officer/delegated authorities) Birth Cert. of 1st child (Registrar / appropriate govt. officer registering

births/death) Birth Cert. of 2nd child, if any (Registrar / appropriate govt. officer registering

births/death)

Sterilization Certificate (NSV/LTT), if any, (Govt. Hospital) Character Cert. (Gram Panchayat)

Note: Photocopies of all relevant documents should be attested by a gazetted officer.

Check List for Administrators and Organizations Partnering JSK (Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh)

The selection process should involve the community at all stages. However vital events like date of birth and sterilization etc. have to be checked / certified through government sources only. The community should be satisfied about the selection and the selected couples should be worthy of being seen as Role Models for Responsible Parenthood.

While identifying the eligible couples, there is a need to examine the reason for the girl’s marriage at 19 years. If the reason supports the girl’s health, education or skill learning then the selection is worthwhile. In case it was due to extraneous factors, the girl should not be included. It is very important that the PRERNA ‘Role models’ should inspire confidence and not create controversy.

The upper age limit for eligible married women should be below 30 years. There is no age limit for the husband but younger is better.

Care needs to be taken while selecting an eligible couple. The girl’s marriage should be 19 years (not 18) and the first child should be born when the mother’s age is more than 21 years. Likewise the second child should be born after a 3 years gap and there should be documentary evidence of sterilization after the second child.

Marriage and Birth registration is compulsory. In case supporting documents are not available, proper certification regarding birth and marriage from authorized sources is necessary to claim the Award.

The eligible couples should not have any criminal record which points to unsuitability.

Payments are made in the form of a National Saving Certificate to be issued by the local post office and given by the Collector personally along with wide press coverage and messages about the health of the mother and health of the child. (JSK will supply material relevant to the district on request). JSK-Prerna Strategy 3

The strategy can be implemented by NGO’s or Community level organizations or through Anganwadi workers, ANMs, ASHAs. Funds will be released after the couples are selected and documents have been checked by JSK.

Rupees 500 per awardee couple will be paid to the organization that helped identify the couples and got the authentication done on the recommendation of the District Collector/CM&HO. This amount would be paid only at the award ceremony.

The amount of award will be transferred in the dedicated bank account “JSK-PRERNA” opened in respective State Health Society, through cheque/electronic.

Payment to Post Office would be through account payee cheque for purchasing National Saving Certificates (NSCs).

The award ceremony should be organized within the month when award amount received.

A team to be constituted by District Collector for verification of 10% of total cases and verified list sent to JSK.

List of the beneficiaries to be counter signed by the District Collector after verification from CMO/CM&HO/Civil Surgeon.

A verification certificate may be issued by the district collector office.

Partners

Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) (National Population Stabilization Fund) is implementing its strategy in all districts of seven states namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh with different partners.

Child Development 1. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

1. Objectives 2. Services

2. IDA assisted ISSNIP 3. Child Protection

1. Objectives 2. Revised financial norms under ICPS 3. National Tracking System for Missing and Vulnerable Children

4. Child Welfare 1. Awards 2. Publications and Reports 3. Related Links

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

Launched on 2nd October 1975, today, ICDS Scheme represents one of the world’s largest and most unique programmes for early childhood development. ICDS is the foremost symbol of India’s commitment to her children – India’s response to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality, on the other.

Objectives

The ICDS Scheme was launched in 1975 with the following objectives:

To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development

of the child To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout

To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development

To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education

Services

The above objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of services comprising:

supplementary nutrition immunization health check-up referral services pre-school non-formal education Nutrition & health education

The concept of providing a package of services is based primarily on the consideration that the overall impact will be much larger if the different services develop in an integrated manner as the efficacy of a particular service depends upon the support it receives from related services.

Services Target Group Service Provided by

Supplementary NutritionChildren below 6 years: Anganwadi Worker and

Anganwadi HelperPregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)

Immunization*Children below 6 years:

ANM/MOPregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)

Health Check-up*Children below 6 years:

ANM/MO/AWWPregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)

Referral ServicesChildren below 6 years:

AWW/ANM/MOPregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)

Pre-School Education Children 3-6 years AWWFor more Reading  Click here

IDA assisted ISSNIP

IDA assisted ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP)

The World Bank had been supporting the Government of India to improve nutritional status of children through specific projects in ICDS (TINP - I & II, ICDS -I, ICDS-II,

ICDS - III/WCD, Udisha, ICDS - APERC etc.) with an overall investment of about US$712 million till 2005 - 06. Most of these supports had been towards augmenting the Government resources in operationalization of the ICDS projects and Anganwadi Centres, along with additional support on the quality improvement activities (IEC/BCC, M & E, Innovation, training & capacity building, MIS etc.). Evaluation findings of the previous projects offered evidence of improved programme coverage, service delivery and outcomes relating to project specific indicators. Encouraged by these results, the Ministry of Women and Child Development formulated a specific project called “ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP)” (formerly called ICDS - IV Project) for seeking IDA assistance from the World Bank.

Implementation Approach

The project has been designed following Adaptable Program Loan (APL) approach of the World Bank.It will be implemented in two phases – an initial preparatory/formative phase (Phase 1) of 3 years with clearly defined benchmarks, followed by a 4 year full - scale implementation phase (Phase 2) upon meeting of the agreed benchmarks.

For more information, Click here

Child Protection

Integrated Child Protection Scheme is being implemented by Union Ministry of Women and Child Development as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme from 2009-10 with the objective of creating a safe and secure environment for children in conflict with law as well as children in need of care and protection. It is a comprehensive scheme to bring several existing child protection programmes under one umbrella, with improved norms. The Scheme incorporates other essential interventions, which aim to address issues which were, so far, not covered by earlier Schemes. It is based on the cardinal principles of "protection of child rights" and the "best interest of the child".

Objectives

ICPS brings together multiple existing child protection schemes of the Ministry under one comprehensive umbrella, and integrates additional interventions for protecting children and preventing harm. ICPS, therefore, would institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures, enhance capacities at all levels, create database and knowledge base for child protection services, strengthen child protection at family and community level, ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels.

To institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures for emergency outreach, institutional care, family and community based care, counselling and support services at the national, regional, state and district levels

To enhance capacities at all levels, of all functionaries including, administrators and service providers, members of allied systems including, local bodies, police,

judiciary and other concerned departments of State Governments to undertake responsibilities under the ICPS

To create database and knowledge base for child protection services, including MIS and child tracking system in the country for effective implementation and monitoring of child protection services

Undertake research and documentation To strengthen child protection at family and community level, create and promote

preventive measures to protect children from situations of vulnerability, risk and abuse

To ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels, coordinate and network with all allied systems

To raise public awareness, educate public on child rights and protection on situation and vulnerabilities of children and families, on available child protection services, schemes and structures at all levels

Revised financial norms under ICPS

In order to enhance the quality of services provided under Integrated Child Protection Schemes (ICPS), the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has revised the financial norms of the Scheme with effect from 01.04.2014. Some of the major revisions include

Enhanced child maintenance grant from Rs.750/- to Rs.2000/- per month per child for institutional and non-institutional care

The cost of construction of a new Home has been revised from Rs 600/- per square feet to Rs 1000/- per square feet as per the schedule of rates or PWD estimates whichever is lower

For a Home of 50 children, a one-time non-recurring grant of Rs.19.40 lakh for up-gradation of accommodation facilities and a recurring grant of Rs.36.14 lakh per year is being provided. The recurring grant includes child maintenance, bedding, transportation, rent, electricity, water charges and salary of staff in three shifts etc.

For more information, Click here

National Tracking System for Missing and Vulnerable Children

Track Child portal has been designed and developed adhering to the guidelines provided in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and Model Rules 2007 and the provisions laid down in the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). One of the tasks entrusted under ICPS to the State Governments is the setting up of a child tracking system which will facilitate data entry and matching of missing and found children, and also enable follow up of the progress of children who are beneficiaries of the Scheme. Thus, proper monitoring and welfare of the children under the Scheme would also be ensured through the portal. The Homes, Child Welfare Committees are

being equipped with computers staff etc. to facilitate data entry of the children under ICPS.

Child Welfare

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 The National Policy for Children, 2013 National Strategy Document on Child Marriage Draft National Plan of action to prevent Child Marriages in India Report on National Consultation on prevention of Child Marriage held at New

Delhi on 25th May 2012 Working Group Report on Child Rights for 12th Plan(2012-2017) Sectoral Innovation Council on Child Sex Ratio (CSR) UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Status of ratification) National Policy for Children 2013 Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Optional Protocols to the Conservation on the Rights of the Child

o Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography o Involvement of children in Armed Conflict

Child Budgeting Trafficking

Awards

National Awards for Child Welfare National Child Awards for Exceptional Achievement Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Award

Policies and Acts Policies-Acts

1. Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 2. The National Commission for Women Recommendations and suggestions on

Amendments to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 19613. Guidelines governing the Adoption of Children 2011 4. National Policy for the Empowerment of Women 2001 5. The Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (Prohibition of Sex-

section), 1994 and amendments6. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 7. Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 8. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 9. The National Policy for Children, 2013 10. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and

Redressal) Act, 2013

Schemes and Legal Awareness 1. Schemes 2. Legal Awareness -FAQs

Schemes

1. Central Victim Compensation Fund scheme (CVCF) 2. The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) 3. Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) Sabla 4. Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) 5. SWADHAR Greh (A Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances) 6. UJJAWALA : A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and

Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Legal Awareness -FAQs

1. Dowry Prohibition Act 2. Dowry Death 3. Child Marriages 4. Female Infanticide 5. Maternity benefit act 6. Stridhanam 7. Prevention of Sati 8. Domestic cruelty 9. Abetment of Suicide 10. Plea bargaining 11. Rape 12. Molestation 13. Bigamy 14. Obscenity 15. Domestic Violence-Civil Remedies 16. Divorce 17. Restitution of conjugal rights

International Women's Day 1. About International Women's Day 2. IWD theme 2016- Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality 3. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 4. SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

About International Women's Day

The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March during International Women’s Year 1975. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.

Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

IWD theme 2016- Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality

The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”. The United Nations observance on 8 March will reflect on how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

In 2015, countries agreed on the need for comprehensive financing for development; adopted a new sustainable development agenda; and charted a universal and legally binding global agreement on climate change. Concluding a negotiating process that has spanned more than two years and featured the unprecedented participation of civil society, on 2 August 2015, governments united behind an ambitious agenda that features 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets that aim to end poverty, combat inequalities and promote prosperity while protecting the environment by 2030.

Agreed by consensus, the draft outcome document “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, was formally adopted by world leaders at the United Nations Summit for the post-2015 development agenda, held in New York from 25-27 September 2015.

The new agenda is an action plan for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. It will foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies and require the participation of all countries, stakeholders and people. The ambitious agenda seeks to end poverty by 2030 and promote shared economic prosperity, social development and environmental protection for all countries. The new agenda is based on 17 goals, including a stand-alone

goal on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as well as gender-sensitive targets in other goals.

SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Women have a critical role to play in all of the SDGs, with many targets specifically recognizing women’s equality and empowerment as both the objective, and as part of the solution. Goal 5 is known as the stand-alone gender goal because it is dedicated to achieving these ends.

Deep legal and legislative changes are needed to ensure women’s rights around the world. While a record 143 countries guaranteed equality between men and women in their Constitutions by 2014, another 52 had not taken this step. In many nations, gender discrimination is still woven through legal and social norms.

Stark gender disparities remain in economic and political realms. While there has been some progress over the decades, on average women in the labour market still earn 24 per cent less than men globally. As of August 2015, only 22 per cent of all national parliamentarians were female, a slow rise from 11.3 per cent in 1995.

Meanwhile, violence against women is a pandemic affecting all countries, even those that have made laudable progress in other areas. Worldwide, 35 per cent of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.

Women have a right to equality in all areas. It must be embedded across legal systems, upheld in both laws and legal practices, including proactive measures such as quotas. Since all areas of life relate to gender equality, efforts must be made to cut the roots of gender discrimination wherever they appear.

Targets set

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and

private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

For the details on SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,

Girl child welfare

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao 1. Background 2. Overall Goal

1. Districts Identified 2. Objectives 3. Strategies

3. Components 1. Mass Communication Campaign on Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao 2. Multi-Sectoral interventions in 100 Gender Critical Districts

covering all States/UTs low on CSR4. Project Implementation

1. At the National level 2. At the State level 3. At the District level 4. At the Block level 5. At the Gram Panchayat/Ward level 6. At Village level 7. In identified cities/ urban areas

5. Social Media 6. Budget

1. Fund Flow 7. Monitoring Mechanisms 8. Evaluation 9. Related resources

Background

The trend of decline in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR), defined as number of girls per 1000 of boys between 0-6 years of age, has been unabated since 1961. The decline from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 918 in 2011 is

alarming. The decline in the CSR is a major indicator of women dis-empowerment. CSR reflects both, pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender biased sex selection, and post birth discrimination against girls. Social construct discriminating against girls on the one hand, easy availability, affordability and subsequent misuse of diagnostic tools on the other hand, have been critical in increasing Sex Selective Elimination of girls leading to low Child Sex Ratio.

Since coordinated and convergent efforts are needed to ensure survival, protection and empowerment of the girl child, Government has announced Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme has been introduced in October, 2014 to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). The Scheme was launched on 22ndJanuary, 2015 at Panipat in Haryana. It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.

Overall Goal

Celebrate the Girl Child & Enable her Education

Districts Identified

First Phase

The 100 districts have been identified on the basis of low Child Sex Ratio as per Census 2011 covering all States/UTs as a pilot with at least one district in each state. The three criteria for selection of districts are:-

Districts below the national average (87 districts/23 states); Districts above national average but shown declining trend (8 districts/8 states) Districts above national average and shown increasing trend (5 districts/5 states-

selected so that these CSR levels can be maintained and other districts can emulate and learn from their experiences).

Second Phase

The scheme has further been expanded to 61 additional districts selected from 11 States/UT having CSR below 918. To get the list of additional districts covered, click here.

Objectives

Prevent gender biased sex selective elimination Ensure survival & protection of the girl child Ensure education of the girl child

Strategies

Implement a sustained Social Mobilization and Communication Campaign to create equal value for the girl child & promote her education.

Place the issue of decline in CSR/SRB in public discourse, improvement of which would be a indicator for good governance.

Focus on Gender Critical Districts and Cities low on CSR for intensive & integrated action.

Mobilize & Train Panchayati Raj Institutions/Urban local bodies/ Grassroot workers as catalysts for social change, in partnership with local community/women’s/youth groups.

Ensure service delivery structures/schemes & programmes are sufficiently responsive to issues of gender and children’s rights.

Enable Inter-sectoral and inter-institutional convergence at District/Block/Grassroot levels.

Components

Mass Communication Campaign on Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao

The programme will be initiated with the launch of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, a nation-wide campaign to increase awareness on celebrating the Girl Child & enabling her education. The campaign will be aimed at ensuring girls are born, nurtured and educated without discrimination to become empowered citizens of this country with equal rights. The Campaign will interlink National, State and District level interventions with community level action in 100 districts, bringing together different stakeholders for accelerated impact.

Multi-Sectoral interventions in 100 Gender Critical Districts covering all States/UTs low on CSR

Multi-Sectoral actions have been drawn in consultation with MoHFW & MoHRD. Measurable outcomes and indicators will bring together concerned sectors, states and districts for urgent concerted Multi-Sectoral action to improve the CSR. The States/UTs will adapt a flexible Framework for Multi-Sectoral Action through the State Task Forces for developing, implementing and monitoring State/ District Plans of Action to achieve the State/District specific monitorable targets.

Project Implementation

The Ministry of Women and Child Development would be responsible for budgetary control and administration of the scheme from the Centre. At the State level, the Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development will be responsible for overall direction and implementation of the scheme.  The Structure of the proposed Scheme may be seen as follows:

At the National level

A National Task Force for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao headed by Secretary, WCD with representation from concerned ministries namely Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Human Resource Development, National Legal Services Authority, Department of Disability Affairs and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting; Gender Experts and Civil Society representatives. The Task Force will provide guidance and support; finalize training content; review state plans and monitor effective implementation.

At the State level

The States shall form a State Task Force (STF) with representation of concerned Departments (Health & Family Welfare; Education; Panchayati Raj/ Rural Development) including State Level Services Authority and Department of Disability Affairs for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao to coordinate the implementation of the Scheme. As the issue requires convergence & coordination between Departments, the Task Force would be headed by the Chief Secretary. In UTs the Task Force would be headed by Administrator, UT Administration. Some States/UTs have their own mechanism at the State/UT level for Women’s Empowerment, Gender and Child related issues which may be considered and/or strengthened as State/UT Task Force. Principal Secretary, WCD/Social Welfare will be the convener of this body. Department of Women & Child Development will have the responsibility of coordinating all the activities related to implementation of the Plan in the State/UTs through the Directorate of ICDS.

At the District level

A District Task Force (DTF) led by the District Collector/Deputy Commissioner with representation of concerned departments (Health & Family Welfare; Appropriate Authority (PC&PNDT); Education; Panchayati Raj/ Rural Development, Police) including District legal Services Authority (DLSA) will be responsible for effective implementation, monitoring & supervision of the District Action Plan. Technical support and guidance for the implementation of Action Plan in the district would be provided by District Programme Officer (DPO) in the District ICDS Office for formulation of District Action Plan using the Block level Action Plans. A Gender expert/CSO member may also be included in the task force.

At the Block level

A Block level Committee would be set up under the Chairpersonship of the Sub Divisional Magistrate/Sub Divisional Officer/Block Development Officer (as may be decided by the concerned State Governments) to provide support in effective implementation, monitoring & supervision of the Block Action Plan.

At the Gram Panchayat/Ward level

The respective Panchayat Samiti/Ward Samiti (as may be decided by concerned State Governments) having jurisdiction over the concerned Gram Panchayat/Ward would be responsible for the overall coordination & supervision for effectively carrying out activities under the Plan.

At Village level

Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees, (recognized as sub committees of panchayats) will guide and support village level implementation and monitoring of the plan. Frontline workers (AWWs, ASHAs & ANMs) will catalyze action on ground by creating awareness on the issue of CSR, collecting data, dissemination of information about schemes/programmes related to girl child & their families etc.

In identified cities/ urban areas

The plan shall be implemented under the overall guidance & leadership of Municipal Corporations.

Social Media

A YouTube channel on BBBP has been launched for all to access relevant videos on the issue of declining child sex ratio. Videos are being uploaded continuously and shared through this platform for generating awareness and for easy access and dissemination. To watch videos please click on Image

Further, to engage with the nation, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Group has been launched on MyGov platform in order to seek active participation, engagement and whole

hearted support in making this initiative of the Government a grand success. We urge you to subscribe to this group and enrich it with your valuable suggestions, feedback and comments. To subscribe the BBBP Group on MyGov portal is please click on Image.

Budget

A budgetary allocation of  100 Cr. has been made under the budget announcement for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign and  100 Cr. will be mobilized from Plan Outlay of the Planned scheme ‘Care and Protection of Girl Child  - A Multi Sectoral Action Plan’  for the 12th Plan. Additional resources can be mobilized through Corporate Social Responsibility at National & State levels. The estimated cost of the Scheme is  200 cr. Out of  200 cr., 115 cr. is proposed to be released during the current year i.e. 2014-15 (for six month). 45 Cr. and  40 cr. will be released during 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively.

Fund Flow

The MWCD will be responsible for budgetary control and administration of the scheme at the Central level. The MWCD will transfer the funds to the consolidated funds of the State Government after approval of Action Plan of the respective Government.

Monitoring Mechanisms

A Monitoring System will be put in place right from National, State, District, Block and Village levels to track progress on monitorable targets, outcomes and process indicators. At the national level, a National Task Force headed by Secretary MWCD will monitor quarterly progress on a regular basis.  At state level, a State Task Force headed by the Chief Secretary will monitor progress. At the district level, the District Collectors (DC) will lead and coordinate action of all Departments through District-level officials. They shall also undertake monthly review of the progress on the activities listed in the Department Plans of action at the district level. DC will have the overall responsibility for validating the measurable changes in identified indicator related to CSR.

Evaluation

The Scheme would be evaluated at the end of the 12th Five Year Plan to assess its impact and take corrective measures. Mapping of ultra-sonography machines, baseline survey of concurrent assessment of % age of births of male & female child, reporting of complaints under PC & PNDT act will also help in assessing the impact or outcome.

evelopment / Girl child welfare / Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna

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Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna 1. Opening of Account 2. Deposits

1. Mode of Deposit 2. Interest on deposit

3. Operation of account 4. Premature closure of account 5. Pass book 6. Transfer of account 7. Withdrawal 8. Closure on maturity

'Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna’ is a small deposit scheme for girl child, launched as a part of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign, which would fetch an interest rate of 9.1 per cent and provide income tax rebate.

'Sukanya Samriddhi Account' can be opened at any time from the birth of a girl child till she attains the age of 10 years, with a minimum deposit of Rs 1000. A maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh can be deposited during a financial year.

The account can be opened in any post office or authorised branches of commercial banks.

The scheme primarily ensures equitable share to a girl child in resources and savings of a family in which she is generally discriminated as against a male child.

In an effort to motivate parents to open an account in the name of a girl child and for her welfare to deposit maximum of their savings upto the prescribed limits, higher rates of interest at 9.1 per cent is proposed to be given on the deposits on annually compounded basis with income tax concession in this financial year.

The account will remain operative for 21 years from the date of opening of the account or marriage of the girl child after attaining 18 years of age.

To meet the requirement of higher education expenses, partial withdrawal of 50 per cent of the balance would be allowed after the girl child has attended 18 years of age.

The provision of not allowing withdrawal from the account till the age of 18 has been kept to prevent early marriage of girls.

Opening of Account

The account may be opened by the natural or legal guardian in the name of a girl child from the birth of the girl child till she attains the age of ten years and any girl child, who had attained the age of ten years, one year prior to the commencement of these rules, shall also be eligible for opening of the account under these rules.

A depositor may open and operate only one account in the name of a girl child under these rules.

Birth certificate of a girl child in whose name the account is opened shall be submitted by the guardian at the time of opening of the account in post office or bank along with other documents relating to identity and residence proof of the depositor.

Natural or legal guardian of a girl child shall be allowed to open the account for two girl children only:

Provided that the natural or legal guardian of the girl child shall be allowed to open third account in the event of birth of twin girls as second birth or if the first birth itself results into three girl children, on production of a certificate to this effect from the competent medic al authorities where the birth of such twin or triple girl children takes place.

Deposits

The account may be opened with an initial deposit of one thousand rupees and thereafter any amount in multiple of one hundred rupees may be deposited subject to the condition that a minimum of one thousand rupees shall be deposited in a financial year but the total money deposited in an account on a single occasion or on multiple occasions shall not exceed one lakh fifty thousand rupees in a financial year.

Deposits in an account may be made till completion of fourteen years, from the date of opening of the account.

An irregular account where minimum amount as specified in sub-rule (1) has not been deposited may be regularised on payment of a penalty of fifty rupees per year along with the said minimum specified subscription for the year (s) of default any time till the account completes fourteen years.

Mode of Deposit

The deposit in the account opened under these rules may be made

in cash; or By cheque or demand draft drawn in favour of the postmaster of the concerned

post office or the Manager of the concerned bank where the account stands and an endorsement on the back of such instrument shall be made and signed by the depositor indicating name of the account holder and account number in which the deposit is to be credited.

Where deposit is made by cheque or demand draft, the date of encashment of the cheque or demand draft shall be the date of credit to the account.

Interest on deposit

Interest at the rate, to be notified by the Government, compounded yearly shall be credited to the account till the account completes fourteen years.

In case of account holder opting for monthly interest, the same shall be calculated on the balance in the account on completed thousands, in the balance which shall be paid to the account holder and the remaining amount in fraction of thousand will continue to earn interest at the prevailing rate.

Operation of account

The account shall be opened and operated by the natural or legal guardian of a girl child till the girl child in whose name the account has been opened, attains the age of ten years.

On attaining age of ten years, the account holder that is the girl child may herself operate the account, however, deposit in the account may be made by the guardian or any other person or authority.

Premature closure of account

In the event of death of the account holder, the account shall be closed immediately on production of death certificate issued by the competent authority, and the balance at the credit of the account shall be paid along with interest till the month preceding the month of premature closure of the account, to the guardian of the account holder.

Where the Central Government is satisfied that operation or continuation of the account is causing undue hardship to the account holder, it may, by order, for reasons to be recorded in writing, allow pre-mature closure of the account only in cases of extreme compassionate grounds such as medical support in life- threatening diseases, death, etc.

Pass book

On opening an account, the depositor shall be given a pass book bearing the date of birth of the girl child, date of opening of account, account number, name and address of the account holder and the amount deposited.

The pass book shall be presented to the post office or bank, as the case may be, at the time of depositing money in the account and receiving payment of interest and also at the time of final closure of the account on maturity.

Transfer of account

The account may be transferred anywhere in India if the girl child in whose name the account stands shifts to a place other than the city or locality where the account stands.

Withdrawal

To meet the financial requirements of the account holder for the purpose of higher education and marriage, withdrawal up to fifty percent of the balance at the credit, at the end of preceding financial year shall be allowed.

The withdrawal referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be allowed only when the account holder girl child attains the age of eighteen years.

Closure on maturity

The account shall mature on completion of twenty-one years from the date of opening of the account:

Provided that where the marriage of the account h older takes place before completion of such period of twenty-one years, the operation of the account shall not be permitted beyond the date of her marriage: Provided further that where the account is closed under the first proviso, the account holder shall have to give an affidavit to the effect that she is not less than eighteen years of age as on the date of closing of account.

On maturity, the balance including interest outstanding in the account shall be payable to the account holder on production of withdrawal slip along with the pass book.

If the account is not closed in accordance with the provisions of sub-rule (1), interest as per the provisions of rule 7 shall be payable on the balance in the account till final closure of the account

Girls for Secondary Education 1. Objectives 2. Eligibility 3. Financial benefits 4. Implementation Partners

Objectives

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme - National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education was launched in May 2008. It aims to promote enrollment of girl child in the age group of 14-18 at secondary stage, especially those who passed Class VIII and to encourage the secondary education of such girls.

Eligibility

All SC/ST girls who pass class VIII and Girls, who pass class VIII examination from Kastrurba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas

(irrespective of whether they belong to Scheduled Castes or Tribes) and enroll for class IX in State/UT Government, Government-aided or local body schools.

Girls should be below 16 years of age ( as on 31st March) on joining class IX

Married girls, girls studying in private un-aided schools and enrolled in schools run by Central Government are excluded.

Financial benefits

A sum of Rs. 3000 (Rupees three thousand only) would be deposited under term deposit/ fixed deposit in a public sector bank or in a post office in the name of every eligible girl child. The term/ period of the deposit may be counted from the date of deposit to the date on which the girl child attains the age of 18 years. No premature withdrawal will be allowed.

Process followed

An account will be opened in the name of the beneficiary in the nearest public sector bank or in a post office by the implementing agency (State/ UT Governments or the autonomous organizations, as the case may be) and the amount deposited in a Fixed Term Deposit.

A passbook or a certificate would be given to t he student, which will also identify her as a beneficiary of the scheme.

The beneficiary will have to continue her study at least for two years in the secondary school after her enrollment in Class IX in order to avail the benefit under the scheme. The Principal/ Head of the school will furnish a certificate to this effect.

To be eligible to draw the matured amount a pre -condition would be for the beneficiary to pass class X Board examination successfully.

On attaining 18 years of age and production ofo 10th class pass certificate and o a certificate from the Principal / Head of the school that the girl

beneficiary has continued her study for at least two years after enrollment in Class IX the implementing agency will authorize the bank to transfer the matured amount in the interest bearing account to the savings account in the name of the girl beneficiary.

Implementation Partners

State/ UT Governments, Schools controlled and managed by State Governments, Local Bodies and Aided Private Schools and Panchayati Raj Institutions will be the implementing partners. The amount of incentive may be released to the State/ UT Governments for depositing, the same in favour of the eligible girls.

evelopment / Girl child welfare / Girls’ Hostel Scheme in Educationally Backward Blocks

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Girls’ Hostel Scheme in Educationally Backward Blocks

1. Background 2. Objective 3. Eligibility 4. Financial norms 5. Strategy for Construction of Hostels/Schools

Background

This is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2008-09 and is being implemented from 2009-10 to set up a 100-bedded Girls’ Hostel in each of 3479 Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) in the country. The Scheme has replaced the earlier NGO driven Scheme for construction and running of Girls’ Hostels for Students of Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools, under which assistance was provided to voluntary organisations for running Girls’ Hostels.

Objective

The main objective of the Scheme is to retain the girl child in secondary school so that girl students are not denied the opportunity to continue their study due to distance to school, parents’ financial affordability and other connected societal factors. Another objective of the Scheme is to make Secondary and Senior Secondary education accessible to a larger number of girl students.

Eligibility

The girl students in the age group of 14-18 yrs. studying in classes IX and XII belonging to SC, ST, OBC, Minority communities and BPL families.

Students passing out of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) will be given preference in admission in hostels.

At least 50% of girls admitted will be from SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities.

Financial norms

S. No. Item Rs. in lakhs

Non recurring grant

1.

Construction of building including 2 room accommodation for warden

State schedule of rates to be used as per specified detailed norms for a 100-bedded hostel.

2. Boundary wall

3.

Boring Hand Pump (minimum rates prescribed by State Drinking Water department subject to a ceiling of Rs. 1.00 lacs)

4. Electricity

5.

Furniture,Bedding and equipment including kitchen equipments

6.91

Recurring Grant

1.

Food/Lodging Expenditure per girl child @ Rs. 850 per month

10.20

2.

Honorarium of warden @ Rs. 5,000 per month (in addition to her salary as teacher)

0.60

3. Chowkidar @ Rs. 3,000 per month 0.36

4. 1 Head Cook (@ Rs. 3,000 per

0.96

S. No. Item Rs. in lakhs

month) and 2 Astt. Cook (@ Rs. 2,500 per month)

5. Electricity/Water per year 0.60

6. Maintenance per year 0.40

7.Medical care@ Rs. 750 per year per girl

0.75

8.

Toiletries and sanitation @ Rs. 100 per month for each girl

1.20

9.

News paper/ magazines and sports @ Rs. 2,000 per month

0.24

10. Miscellaneous 0.40Total 15.71

Strategy for Construction of Hostels/Schools

It is proposed to construct one hostel with the capacity of 100 girls in each of the 3500 educational backward blocks. Wherever there is space in KGBV compound, the hostels would preferably be constructed there. Such hostels would be under the administrative control of concerned KGBV. Students passing out of KGBV will be given preference in admission in hostel. In case, there i s no spare space in the KGBV compound or in the blocks where no KGBV has been sanctioned, the hostel may be constructed in the compound of a secondary/ higher secondary school selected by the State/UT Government. The hostel will be under the administrative control of the Headmaster / Principal of concerned school. However, students of neighbouring schools will also be eligible for staying in the hostel.

The minimum living space available to each inmate should be 40 sq. feet excluding kitchen, toilet and other common space. The buildings will be designed as earthquake resilient and will be fitted with basic fire safety equipments. Efforts will also be made t o design the buildings with provision for solar energy generation, use of solar cooker and biogas.

Sivagami Ammaiyar Memorial girl child protection scheme

1. Objectives 2. Benefits of the scheme 3. Eligibility 4. Whom to contact

Sivagami Ammaiyar Memorial girl child protection scheme is being implementedf by the Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department, Government of Tamil Nadu to provide financial assistance to the girl children in poor families.

Objectives

The scheme is being implemented to

Promote Family Planning Eradicate Female Infanticide Promote the welfare of girl children in poor families and to raise the status of girl

children.

Benefits of the scheme

1. Scheme I for one Girl Child - Rs.22,200/- Fixed Deposit Receipt in the name of girl child for the family which has only one girl child.

2. Scheme-II for each girl child where the family has two girl children only - Fixed Deposit Receipt for Rs.15,200/- for each girl child where the family has two girl children only.

3. An amount of Rs.150/- as monthly incentive shall be given to the girl child on completion of 5 years from the date of deposit and upto 20th year of deposit for her educational purpose.

Eligibility

Family income should be below Rs.50,000/- per annum for Scheme I and below Rs.12,000 per annum for Scheme - II.

Application should be made before the beneficiary girl child completes 3 years of age, in case of Scheme I for single girl child. In the case of two girl children, application should be made before the second girl child completes 3 years of age.

Either of the parents should have undergone sterilisation within 35 years. Family should have only one/two female children and no male child. In future no

male child should be adopted.

Udaan 1. Salient Features 2. Who Can Join 3. Related Resources

Udaan is an initiative of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to enable girl students to soar to higher education from schools, and to eventually take various leadership roles in future.

The aim is also to enrich and enhance teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics at Senior Secondary level by providing free and online resources to everyone, with a focus on special incentives and support to 1000 selected disadvantaged girls per year.

Salient Features

Free of cost support for Girl students of Classes XI and XII Availability of tutorials, videos, and study material Organization of Virtual contact classes at 60 designated city centres Tablet/Financial Assistance for purchasing the tablets Orientation Session on using technology will be given to all selected students Assessments designed to provide useful feedback on learning Remedial steps to correct learning Peer learning and mentoring opportunities for meritorious students Motivation sessions with students/parents Student helpline services to clarify doubts, monitor student learning and support

technology A Programme To Give Wings To Girl Students Constant monitoring and tracking of student progress with feedback to parents Assistance in application to colleges

Who Can Join

The program is open to Indian citizens residing in India only. All girl students studying in classes XI only from KVs/ NVs/ other Government

run Schools affiliated to any Board in India are eligible to apply based on criteria given below.

o The selection of the students will be based on merit and will be considered against the city option made by the candidate for the weekly personal contact classes.

o Girl students enrolled in Class XI in PCM stream. o Minimum 70% marks in Class X overall and 80% marks in Science and

Mathematics; for Boards which follow CGPA, a minimum CGPA of 8 and a GPA of 9 in Science and Mathematics.

o Reservation as per JEE (Advanced); OBC (NCL) - 27 % , SC – 15 % , ST – 7.5 %, PWD – 3 % of seats in every category

o The annual family income should be less than 6 lakhs per annum

Integrated child Development scheme 1. Objectives 2. Beneficiaries 3. Services under ICDS 4. Funding pattern 5. Population Norms for Setting up of AWCs/Mini-AWCs 6. ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project

(ISSNIP)7. Related resources

The Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) Scheme providing for supplementary nutrition, immunization and pre-school education to the children is a popular flagship programme of the government. It is one of the world’s largest programs providing for an integrated package of services for the holistic development of the child. ICDS is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by state governments and union territories.

Objectives

To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;

To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;

To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout; To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the

various departments to promote child development; and To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and

nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

Beneficiaries

 

Children in the age group of 0-6 years Pregnant women and Lactating mothers

Services under ICDS

The ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services, viz.

Supplementary Nutrition Pre-school non-formal education Nutrition & health education Immunization Health check-up and Referral services

Three of the six services viz. immunization, health check-up and referral services are related to health and are provided through National Health Mission and Public Health Infrastructure. The services are offered at Anganwadi Centres through Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHS) at grassroots level.

The delivery of services to the beneficiaries is as follows: Services Target Group Service provided by

(i) Supplementary Nutrition

Children below 6 years,

Pregnant & Lactating Mothers (P&LM)

Anganwadi Worker and Anganwadi Helper

[Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD)]

(ii) Immunization*

Children below 6 years,

Pregnant & Lactating Mothers (P&LM)

 

ANM/MO[Health system, Ministry of Health

and Family Welfare MHFW]

(iii) Health Check-up*

Children below 6 years,

Pregnant & Lactating Mothers (P&LM)

 

ANM/MO/AWW[Health system, MHFW]

(iv) Referral Services

Children below 6 years,

Pregnant & Lactating Mothers (P&LM)

 

AWW/ANM/MO[Health system, MHFW]

(v) Pre-School Education Children 3-6 years AWW[MWCD]

(vi) Nutrition & Health Education Women (15-45 years) AWW/ANM/MO

[Health system, MHFW & MWCD]

* AWW assists ANM in identifying the target group.

Funding pattern

All components of ICDS except Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) are financed through a 60:40 ratio (central : state). The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) component was funded through a 50:50 ratio. The North East states have a 90:10 ratio.

Under SNP, beneficiaries are given hot meals along with take-home rations. For children, the quantum of rations and meals received depends on their malnutrition levels. SNP is provided for 300 days at the rate of Rs 6 per day for children and Rs 7 for pregnant and lactating mothers. Severely malnourished children are allocated Rs 9 per day.

All AWCs are given an annual grant or flexipool of Rs1,000 per annum for meeting emergency costs like referral arrangements, shortage of medicines and utensils. Mainternance grant of Rs 2,000 per annum is given to AWCs functioning in government owned or non-rental buildings.

For AWWs and AWHs o The AWWs and AWHs are paid fixed honorarium per month as decided

by the Government from time to time.  Presently, AWWs and AWHs are paid honoraria of Rs.3000/- per month and Rs.1500/- per month respectively w.e.f. 01.04.2011.  Workers of Mini-Anganwadi Centres are being paid honoraria of Rs.2250/- w.e.f. 04.07.2013.  Apart from these, additional amount of honoraria is also paid by most of the State Governments /UT Administrations from their own resources.

o AWWs and AWHs are provided a uniform (saris) in kind or cash (an honorarium of Rs 300) every year.

Population Norms for Setting up of AWCs/Mini-AWCs

There will be 1 Anganwadi centre (AWC) for population of 400-800; 2 AWCs for 800-1600; 3 AWCs for 1600-2400 and thereafter in multiples of 800 -1 AWC.

The norms for one AWC for Tribal/Riverine/Desert, Hilly and other difficult areas will be 300-800

Norms for one Mini AWC will be 150-400. Norms for Anganwadi on Demand (AOD) - Where a settlement has at least 40

children under 6 years of age but no AWC

ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP)

The overall goal of the project is to improve nutritional and early childhood development outcomes of children in India. Key objectives of Phase 1 are to support the GoI and the selected States to

strengthen the ICDS policy framework, systems and capacities, and facilitate community engagement, to ensure greater focus on children under three years of age in the project districts; and

strengthen convergent actions for improved nutrition outcomes in the stipulated districts.

The project will be implemented in identified 162 districts having higher proportion of child under - nutrition across eight States, viz. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh . Besides, urban pilots will be undertaken in and around NCR of Delhi and convergent nutrition actions pilots in some selected districts in two non - project States viz., Odisha and Uttarakhand.

Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya 1. The benefits of water sanitation and hygiene to school children 2. Swachh Vidyalaya – The Essential Elements 3. Sanitation 4. Drinking water 5. Operation and maintenance 6. Behaviour change activities 7. Enhanced capacities

Swachh Bharat: Swachh Vidyalaya is the national campaign driving ‘Clean India: Clean Schools’. A key feature of  the campaign is to ensure that every school in India has a set of functioning and well maintained water, sanitation  and hygiene facilities. Water, sanitation and hygiene in schools refers to a combination of technical and human development components that are necessary to produce a healthy school environment and to develop or support  appropriate health and hygiene behaviours. The technical components include drinking water, hand washing, toilet and soap facilities in the school compound for use by children and teachers. The human development components are the activities that promote conditions within the school and the practices of children that help to prevent water, hygiene and sanitation related diseases.

School sanitation and hygiene depend on a process of capacity enhancement of teachers, community members, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and  education administrators. Water, sanitation and hygiene in school aims to make a visible impact on the health and hygiene of children through improvement in their health and hygiene practices, and those of their families and the communities. It also aims to improve the curriculum and teaching methods while promoting hygiene practices and community ownership of water and sanitation facilities within schools. it improves children’s health, school enrolment, attendance and retention and paves the way for new generation of healthy children.  It is the role of policymakers, government representatives, citizens and parents to make sure that every child attends a school that has access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation and hygiene facilities. This is every child’s right.

The benefits of water sanitation and hygiene to school children

The provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in school secures a healthy school environment and protects children from illness and exclusion. It is a first step towards a healthy physical learning environment, benefiting both

learning and health. Children who are healthy and well-nourished can fully participate in school and get the most from the education. Hygiene education  in schools help promote those practices that would   prevent water and sanitation related diseases as well as encourage healthy behaviour in future generations of adults.

Girls are particularly vulnerable to dropping out of school, partly because many are reluctant to continue their education when toilets and washing facilities are not private, not safe or simply not available. When schools have appropriate, gender-separated facilities, an obstacle to attendance is removed. Thus having gender segregated toilets in schools particularly matters for girls. Gender norms and physiology make privacy more important for girls than boys, and biological realities mean that girls need adequate sanitary facilities at school to manage menstruation. Basic facilities that provide for good hygiene and privacy, along with sensitive health promotion assist girls to stay in school and complete their education.

Hygiene in school also supports school nutrition. The simple act of washing hands with soap before eating the school mid day meal assists to break disease transmission routes. Children get the nutritional benefits intended, rather than ingesting bacteria, germs and viruses. Studies show that when hand washing becomes part of a child’s daily routine the benefits to health are evident and the practice does not easily fade. School is therefore an ideal setting for teaching good hygiene behaviours that children can also carry home.

Having safe water, toilet and hygiene facilities in schools promotes equity. All children are equal in their right to access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and all children gain benefits through the improved hygiene practices promoted in schools. By providing gender-segregated toilets, students are assured of privacy and dignity, a particularly important factor for girls’ school attendance. By providing inclusive and accessible facilities, children with special needs are able to attend school and further contribute to the development of their society.

Having a clean school fosters a child’s pride in his or her school and community. It enables every child become an agent of change for improving water, sanitation and hygiene practices in their families and within their community. School water and sanitation clubs encourage students to participate in taking care of latrines and handwashing stations, and in providing safe water where necessary. Club members create rotating lists of responsibilities, sharing sanitation- and water-related chores among both boys and girls. This also fosters pride and ownership, and it counteracts the belief that these tasks are only for women and girls or particular social groups.

Children with disabilities are also vulnerable to dropping out of school. Accessible school facilities are a key to school attendance for children with disabilities. An effective water, sanitation and hygiene programmes seeks to remove barriers by promoting inclusive design – user-friendly, child-friendly facilities that benefit all users, including adolescent girls, small children and children who are sick or disabled. Toilets and handwashing facilities, for example, need to be customised to fit children’s smaller size, and water, sanitation and

hygiene facilities that are traditionally designed for the ‘average’ child must consider the fact that children have a wide range of abilities and needs. The most cost-effective way to improve access for all children is to incorporate accessibility into the design from the outset, rather than making expensive changes later. To make sure facilities are accessible, it is essential to involve children with disabilities in the design process. The cost of making inclusive facilities is minimal compared to the costs of exclusion.

Swachh Vidyalaya – The Essential Elements

Every school in the country must have a set of essential interventions that relate to both technical and human development aspects of a good Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Programme.

Following is a set of these essential elements:

Sanitation

Separate toilets for boys and girls, with one unit generally having one toilet  plus 3 urinals. The ratio to be maintained is preferably one unit for every 40 students.

Menstrual hygiene management facilities including soap, adequate and private space for changing, adequate water for cloth washing and disposal facilities for menstrual waste, including an incinerator and dust bins.

Daily handwashing with soap before mid day meal Sufficient group handwashing facilities allowing groups of 10-12 students to wash

hands at the same time. The handwashing station should be simple, scalable and sustainable, relying on usage of minimum water. These handwashing facilities can be developed using local materials.

Group handwashing with soap sessions are conducted before the mid day meals are served, and are supervised by teachers, who emphasise  good handwashing techniques. The handwashing sessions are used  as an opportunity for delivering hygiene messages, especially the message that hands should be washed at two critical times: before eating and after using the toilet. The sessions can also be used to deliver messages on sanitation and drinking-water safety. Adequate time allocation (preferably 10-12 mins) before the mid day meal time, to ensure that every child and teacher can wash hands with soap, conveniently.

Drinking water

Daily provision of child-friendly and sustainable safe drinking water and adequate water for handwashing. In addition water for school cleaning and also food preparation and cooking. Safe handling and storage of  drinking water should be practiced throughout the school.

Operation and maintenance

All water, sanitation and handwashing facilities need to be clean, functional and well maintained to ensure  that the intended results are achieved and capital investments made in installing these systems are not lost. Annual Maintenance Contracts can be issued, which will include regular maintenance of facilities, regular supply of cleaning materials, consumables like soap, disinfectants, brooms, brushes, buckets etc. The AMC may include identification of repair tasks and arrangement for repair facilities. Alternatively some local arrangements can be made, which can include appointment of local sweepers/cleaners, appointed by the school/district, who are provided with a regular supply of consumables.

Regular/daily inspection of water and sanitation facilities by an appropriate group of persons as appointed by the SMC.

Behaviour change activities

Water, sanitation and hygiene behaviour change communication activities should be part of the daily routine of all children. Hygiene messages may be integrated into the textbook curriculum or may be imparted through supplementary reading materials, activity based learning methodologies or even during the morning assembly sessions.

Girls must be taught menstrual hygiene management by female teachers in a sensitive and supportive manner and also take steps to encourage and support girls during menstruation so they do not miss school. This involves menstrual hygiene education sessions at school, along with steps to ensure that girls have a private place to wash and change their clothes. Existing facilities will be used in some cases; in other situations, a new facility will need to be constructed. Other steps that can be taken to support girls include stockpiling extra sanitary pads and clothes (such as school uniforms) for emergencies, along with enhanced training programmes for teachers.

Enhanced capacities

It is essential that capacities are improved at various levels within the sector, to develop the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience to facilitate, finance, manage and monitor water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in schools effectively. For example teachers  need to understand ways of ensuring equitable use and maintenance of facilities, making sure hygiene is adequately promoted and that monitoring  of these elements take place regularly at the school level. Furthermore, new learnings need to be infused in the sector, along with newer ways of programming and implementing a water, sanitation and hygiene programme in schools.

National tracking system for missing and vulnerable children

1. Objectives of TrackCHild portal 2. Features of TrackChild portal 3. Management and monitoring of TrackChild 4. ‘TrackChild’ Mobile

The centrally sponsored Integrated Child Protection Scheme aims at contributing to the improvement of the children who are in difficult circumstances. The scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. One of the tasks entrusted under ICPS to the State Governments is the setting up of a child tracking system which will facilitate data entry and matching of missing and found children, and also enable follow up of the progress of children who are beneficiaries of the Scheme.

The 'TrackChild’ portal has been designed and developed adhering to the guidelines provided in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and Model

Rules 2007 and the provisions laid down in the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).

Objectives of TrackCHild portal

1. To ensure timely tracking of “Missing Children”2. To ensure ultimate repatriation and rehabilitation of the missing children.3. To ensure proper care and development of the children of the Child Care

Institutes (CCIs).4. To set up a framework for participating organizations involved in the process.

Features of TrackChild portal

Broadly TrackChild software has two modules, the information of the children, who are already covered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Child) Act 2000 and the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is to be entered in the software by the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) functionaries including Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) & Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) members, and the information of the missing children being reported is to be entered and updated at the police stations.

‘TrackChild’ holds the live data base of ‘missing’ & ‘found’ children and tracks the overall progress of the children living in the CCIs. The portal also provides an integrated virtual space for all stakeholders & ICPS bodies which includes Central Project Support Unit (CPSU), State Child Protection Society/Units and District Child Protection Units (DCPU), Child Care Institutions (CCIs), Police Stations, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), etc. in the 35 State/UTs to facilitate tracking of a “Child in distress”.

Management and monitoring of TrackChild

At the State level, SCPS with support of DCPUs set up and manage the Child Tracking System. The DCPUs are responsible for carrying out an exercise to map all services available to children in difficult circumstances and vulnerable children and their families in a district. This would include for example, location and contact details of all police stations, child care institutions, hospitals, primary health care (PHC) systems, paediatricians, members of CWCs and JJBs, Childline Services, etc. The DCPU will also maintain a database of all children in institutional care and non-institutional care at the district level with the ultimate goal of developing a comprehensive, integrated, live database for children in need of care and protection.

‘TrackChild’ Mobile

The citizen interface of ‘TrackChild’ system may be accessed through mobile devices. A citizen can access the portal through mobile devices to use ‘specialised’ light weight interfaces to ‘report a missing’/ ‘report a found’ children or to search a missing/found children. A mobile app has also been developed & made available in ‘Google Play Store’

& ‘NIC App Store’ for downloading. The SMS Alert system sends alert messages to pre-defined stakeholders for initiating prompt action at their end for addressing the issue.

evelopment / Khoya-Paya - tracking missing and found children

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Khoya-Paya - tracking missing and found children

1. Features of Khoya-Paya 2. Related Resources

The Khoya-Paya portal is a citizen based website to exchange information on missing and found children. It has been developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).

Features of Khoya-Paya

The Khoya-Paya website is an enabling platform, where any citizen of India can register and report the following

Missing children, as well as sightings of their whereabouts without wasting much time.

The ‘Found’ children can also be reported on this web portal.

The reporting can be done through text, photographs, videos and other means of transmitting and uploading information to the Khoya-Paya site.

The cases reported in the portal would be made public only after preliminary scrutiny.

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Child Adoption 1. Stakeholders in adoption process 2. Who is eligible to adopt a child? 3. How to adopt a child? 4. Adoption procedure 5. Do's and Don'ts 6. Related Resources

Adoption means the process through which the adopted child becomes the lawful child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to a biological child.

Stakeholders in adoption process

1. Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) - CARA ensures smooth functioning of the adoption process from time to time, issues Adoption Guidelines

laying down procedures and processes to be followed by different stakeholders of the adoption programme.

2. State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) - State Adoption Resource Agency acts as a nodal body within the State to promote and monitor adoption and non-institutional care in coordination with Central Adoption Resource Authority.

3. Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) - Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) is recognized by the State Government under sub-section 4 of section 41 of the Act for the purpose of placing children in adoption.

4. Authorised Foreign Adoption Agency (AFAA)- Authorised Foreign Adoption Agency is recognised as a foreign social or child welfare agency that is authorised by Central Adoption Resource Authority on the recommendation of the concerned Central Authority or Government Department of that country for coordinating all matters relating to adoption of an Indian child by a citizen of that country.

5. District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) - District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) means a unit set up by the State Government at district level under Section 61A of the Act. It identifies orphan, abandoned and surrendered children in the district and gets them declared legally free for adoption by Child Welfare Committee.

Who is eligible to adopt a child?

The prospective adoptive parents should be physically, mentally and emotionally stable; financially capable; motivated to adopt a child; and should not have any life threatening medical condition;

Any prospective adoptive parent, irrespective of his marital status and whether or not he has his own biological son or daughter, can adopt a child;

Single female is eligible to adopt a child of any gender: Single male person shall not be eligible to adopt a girl child; In case of a couple, the consent of both spouses shall be required; No child shall be given in adoption to a couple unless they have at least two years

of stable marital relationship; The age of prospective adoptive parents as on the date of registration shall be

counted for deciding the eligibility and the eligibility of prospective adoptive parents to apply for children of different age groups shall be as under

Age of the child

Maximum composite age of prospective adoptive parents

Maximum age of single prospective adoptive parent

Upto 4 years 90 years 45 yearsAbove 4 upto 8 years 100 years 50 years

Above 8 upto 18 years 110 years 55 years

The minimum age difference between the child and either of the prospective adoptive parents should not be less than twenty five years;

The age for eligibility will be as on the date of registration of the prospective adoptive parents;

Couples with more than four children shall not be considered for adoption;

How to adopt a child?

One can adopt a child only through submission of online application available at www.cara.nic.in and following the procedures provided in the Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children, 2015. For further details please visit the website www.cara.nic.in

It is now mandatory to register online on CARINGS to adopt a child. If you are not familiar / unable to register online, you can approach the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) of your district for registering your online application as per para 9 (11) of the Adoption Guidelines of 2015.

Adoption procedure

In-country

Parents register online on CARINGS (www.cara.nic.in) Select preferred Adoption Agency for HSR (Home Study Report) and State User ID and Password generated Upload documents within 30 days of registration Registration number generated Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) conducts Home Study Report (HSR ) of the

PAPs and uploads it on CARINGS within 30 days from the date of submission of required documents on CARINGS

Suitability of Prospective Adoptive Parent (PAP)s is determined (if not not found suitable, PAPs i nformed with reasons for rejection)

PAPs reserve one child, as per their preference from upto  6 children PAPs visit the adoption agency within 15 days from the date of reservation and

finalise If the child is not finalized within stipulated time, the PAPs come down in the

seniority list On acceptance of the child by the PAPs, SAA completes the referral and and

adoption process (on CARINGS) PAPs take the child in pre - adoption foster care and SAA files petition in the

court Adoption Court order issued Post-adoption follow-up report is conducted for a period of two years.

Parents In-country - Instructions for Online Parent Registration for Adoption

This registration is meant for Indian citizens residing in India Please give your correct residential address and telephone no. with area code You or your spouse must have a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card and you

have to upload PAN card in portable document format (.pdf) – size should not exceed 512 KB

You have to upload your (single parent) or your family photograph (couple) in .jpg format (3.5 x 4.5 cm). – Size should not exceed 1 MB

You must have an email account and mobile number After successful registration, you will receive an online acknowledgement letter

which will contain your registration and credential details In case you misplace your online acknowledgement letter, then it can be

regenerated using Forgot Password link available in Track Status page Please upload the following documents:

o Photograph of person/s adopting a child (Post Card Size) o Birth Certificate o Proof of Residence (Adhaar Card/Voter Card/ Driving License/ Passport/

Current Electricity Bill/ Telephone Bill o Proof of Income of last year (Salary Slip/ Income Certificate issued by

Govt. Department/ Income Tax Return)o In case you are married, please upload Marriage Certificateo In case you are divorcee, please upload copy of Divorce Decreeo In case of death of your spouse, please upload Death Certificate of spouse o Certificate from a medical practitioner certifying that the PAPs do not

suffer from any chronic, contagious or fatal disease and they are fit to adopt.

o In case of incomplete/wrong information, your application is liable to be treated as invalid

o After registration, you should contact the adoption agency o All original documents will have to be produced for verification o Your eligibility for adoption will be decided by the adoption agency.

From In-country to Inter-country

Children would move automatically from in - country adoption to inter - country adoption by CARINGS following time schedule as below :

after 60 days, if the child is below 5 years of age; after 30 days, if the child is above 5 years of age or is a sibling; after 15 days, if the child has any intellectual or physical disability .

Do's and Don'ts

Key Points to Remember for Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs)

Do's Don'ts

Only adopt from Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) recognised by State Governments.

Do not approach any nursing home, hospital, maternity home, unauthorised institution or individual for adoption.

Read the Guidelines carefully on the website and follow the due procedure.

Do not upload any incorrect document, else your registration will be cancelled.

Follow the steps for completing your registration.Do not pay any additional adoption charges other than what is prescribed in CARA Guidelines.

Please upload documents as per instructions.

Keep away from touts/middlemen. There is no role of touts/middlemen in adoption. They will mislead you to adopt a child illegally.

For adoption related charges, please refer Schedule-13 of the Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children (2015). Always make payment by cheque or draft and collect your receipt.

Through illegal adoption, you may unintentionally become part of child trafficking network. Save yourself from legal ramifications.

Model Guidelines for Foster Care 1. What is foster care 2. Fundamental Principles of Foster Care 3. Categories of Children Eligible for Foster Care 4. Rights of a Child under Foster care 5. Rights and Responsibilities of Foster Carers/Parents 6. Criteria for Selection of Foster Carers/Parents

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued Model Guidelines for Foster care. These guidelines have been developed through a consultative process involving representatives from States/UTs, Non-governmental organizations, civil society, academicians, experts and organizations working on alternative care.

The Model Guidelines on Foster Care detail the procedures, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, along with various aspects related to the implementation of the foster care program in the districts.

Under the guidelines brought by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, children in the age group of 6-18 years, whose parents are unable to take care of them due to reasons such as mental illness, poverty or imprisonment and those staying in child care institutions will be placed in foster care. Children in the age group 0-6 years will not preferred to be considered for placement in foster care as such small children will be encouraged for adoption.

The Guidelines however do not cover Pre-adoption Foster Care as in such cases Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children, 2015 will apply.

What is foster care

Foster care is an arrangement whereby a child lives, usually on a temporary basis, with unrelated family members. A child shall be preferably placed with child’s extended

family or with close friends of the family who are known to child and when such options are either not available or not willing to take care of the child, the child may be placed in foster care. While placing a child in foster care, preference shall be given to those families that share similar cultural, tribal and /or community connection.

Group Foster is defined as a family setting where a group of unrelated children are placed with a set of parents may/may not be having their own biological children.

Fundamental Principles of Foster Care

Family or a family like environment is most conducive for a child and every child has the right to grow in such an environment;

All decisions, initiatives and approaches falling within the scope of the present Guidelines are to be made on a case-by-case basis, with a view, to ensuring child’s safety and security, and must be grounded in the best interests of the child;

All decisions, initiatives and approaches falling within the scope of the present Guidelines must respect the child’s right to be consulted and to have his views duly taken into account in accordance with his evolving capacities;

Siblings and twins should preferably be placed in one family; Recognizing that every child has the right to grow in a family environment, every

attempt must be made to reunite the child with his biological family by strengthening the biological family through a planned process.

Categories of Children Eligible for Foster Care

The following categories of children shall be considered for Foster Care:

Children in the age group 0-6 years shall not ordinarily be considered for placement in long term Foster care as such small children should be preferably provided a permanent family through adoption; Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children, 2015 shall apply.

Children in the age group of 6-18 years who have been staying in child care institutions; shall be placed in foster care based on their individual care plan developed in the institution;

Children whose parents are terminally ill and have submitted a request to the Committee or the District Child Protection Unit for taking care of their child as they are unable to take care of their child;

Children identified by DCPU through PO(NIC) o whose parents are mentally ill and are unable to take care of the child;o whose one or both parents are in jail; o who are victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, natural disasters

and domestic violence.

Rights of a Child under Foster care

The Child Welfare Committee, in conjunction with district and state functionaries shall ensure that the foster child’s best interest is upheld and his views are taken into consideration as far as possible in his placement.

The Child shall have access to information on the situation of his biological family

Rights and Responsibilities of Foster Carers/Parents

The foster carers/parents have following rights:

o Right to be heard and respected; o Right of non-discrimination on the basis of their social origin o Right to adopt the same child, after keeping that child in foster care for a

minimum period of five years and the child has no claimant of his own, after following due procedures prescribed in the Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children, 2015

The foster carers/parents have following responsibilities towards the child placed in their care: i. General Responsibilities:

o Provide adequate food, clothing and shelter; o Provide care, support and treatment for child’s overall physical, emotional

and mental health; o Ensure education and vocational training according to the age,

developmental needs and interests of the child; o Protection from exploitation, maltreatment, harm, neglect and abuse; o Respect the privacy of the child and his biological family, and

acknowledge that any information provided about them is confidential and is not to be disclosed to another party without prior consent.

o Provide treatment in emergency situations and then inform PO(NIC)

Criteria for Selection of Foster Carers/Parents

Following criteria shall apply for selection of individual and group foster carers/parents by the District Child Protection Unit:

Both the spouses must be Indian citizens; (It is felt that at present single parent should not be encouraged for foster care as they are likely to enter matrimony and this may result in problems);

Both the spouses must be willing to foster the same child; Both the spouses must be above the age of 35 years and must be in good physical,

emotional and mental health; (No upper limit is being fixed for foster carers/parents as Home Study report will consider their suitability);

Ordinarily should have an income in which they are able to meet the needs of the child and are not dependent on the foster care maintenance payment for the child;

Medical reports of all the members of the foster care family residing in the premises should be obtained including checks on Human Immuno Deficiency

Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis B to determine that they are medically fit;

Should have adequate space and basic facilities; vii. Should be willing to follow rules laid down including regular visits to doctors, maintenance of child health and their records;

Should be willing to attend foster care orientation programes organized by the DCPU;

Must be without criminal conviction or indictment; Should have supportive community ties with friends and neighbors

One Stop Centre Scheme 1. Objective 2. Target group 3. Services offered in OSCs 4. Accessing One Stop Centre 5. Implementing Agency 6. Funds

Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a global health, human rights and development issue that transcends geography, class, culture, age, race and religion to affect every community and country in every corner of the world. The Article 1 of UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence 1993 provides a definition of gender - based abuse, calling it "any act of gender - based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”.

In India, gender based violence has many manifestations; from the more universally prevalent forms of domestic and sexual violence including rape, to harmful practices such as, dowry, honour killings, acid attacks, witch - hunting, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, child marriage, sex selective abortion, sati etc.

Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), has formulated a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up One Stop Centre, a sub - scheme of Umbrella Scheme for National Mission for Empowerment of women including Indira Gandhi Mattritav Sahyaog Yojana. These Centres will be established across the country to provide integrated support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces in phased manner.

Objective

One Stop Centres (OSC) are intended to support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace. Women facing physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse, irrespective of age, class,

caste, education status, marital status, race and culture will be facilitated with support and redressal. Aggrieved women facing any kind of violence due to attempted sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, honour related crimes, acid attacks or witch-hunting who have reached out or been referred to the OSC will be provided with specialized services.

The objectives of the Scheme are:

To provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces under one roof.

To facilitate immediate, emergency and non - emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychological and counselling support under one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.

Target group

The OSC will support all women including girls below 18 years of age affected by violence, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation or marital status.

Services offered in OSCs

The Centres will be integrated with a Women Helpline to facilitate access to following services.

Emergency Response and Rescue Services - OSC will provide rescue and referral services to the women affected by violence . For this, linkages will be developed with existing mechanisms such as National Health Mission (NHM ), 108 service, police (PCR Van) so that the woman affected by violence can either be rescued from the location and referred to the nearest medical facility (Public/ Private) or shelter home.

Medical assistance - Women affected by violence would be referred to the nearest Hospital for medical aid/examination which would be undertaken as per the guidelines and protocols developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Assistance to women in lodging FIR /NCR/DIR Psycho - social support/ counselling - A skilled counsellor providing psycho -

social counselling services would be available on call. This c ounselling process will give women confidence and support to address violence or to seek justice for the violence perpetuated. Counsellors shall follow a prescribed code of ethics, guidelines and protocols in providing counselling services.

Legal aid and counselling - To facilitate access to justice for women affected by violence, legal aid and counselling would be provided at OSC through empanelled Lawyers or National/ State/District Legal Service Authority. The aggrieved woman would be provided with an advocate of her choice in case she wants to engage the same to assist the State Prosecutors in trying her case. It would be the responsibility of the Lawyer /Prosecutor to simplify legal procedures for the

aggrieved woman and advocate for her exemption from court hearings. In case the trial or inquiry relates to an offence of rape as defined under section 376, 376A - D IPC, it would be the duty of the Prosecutors trying the case to complete the inquiry or trial as far as possible within a period of two months from the date of filing of charge sheet.

Shelter - The OSC will provide temporary shelter facility to aggrieved women. For long term shelter requirements, arrangements will be made with Swadhar Greh/Short Stay Homes (managed/affiliated with government/NGO). Women affected by violence along with their children (girls of all ages and boys up till 8 years of age) can avail temporary shelter at the OSC for a maximum period of 5 days. The admissibility of any woman to the temporary shelter would be at the discretion of Centre Administrator.

Video Conferencing Facility - To facilitate speedy and hassle free police and court proceedings the OSC will provide video conferencing facility (through Skype, Google Conferencing etc.). Through this facility if the aggrieved woman wants, she can record her statement for police/ courts from OSC itself using audio - video electronic means as prescribed under sections 161(3), 164(1) and 275(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and section 231(1) in line with Order XVIII Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This facility will be provided only after consultation among Superintendent of Police, District and Sessions Judge of the concerned district (place of incident).

Accessing One Stop Centre

A woman affected by violence can access OSC in the following manner:

By herself; or Through any person including any public spirited citizen, public servant (as defin

ed under section 21 of Indian Penal Code, 1860), relative, friend, NGO, volunteer etc. , or

Through Women Helpline integrated with police, ambulance and other emergency response helplines.

As soon as the complaint is registered a text message ( SMS /Internet ) would be sent to the DPO/PO/ CDPO/ SHO/ DM/ SP/ DYSP /CMO /PO of the district/area as required. When an aggrieved woman approaches the OSC for help either in person or if anybody approaches on her behalf, the case details will be fed in to a system as per the prescribed format and a Unique ID Number will be generated.

Implementing Agency

State Government/ UT Administration.

Funds

The Scheme will be funded through Nirbhaya Fund . The Central Government wi ll provide 100% financial assistance to the State Government /UT Administrations under the Scheme.

Swadhar Greh 1. Objectives 2. Beneficiaries 3. Implementing Agencies and Eligibility Criteria 4. Components of the Scheme 5. Addresses of Swadhar Greh

The scheme envisions a supportive institutional framework for women victims of difficult circumstances so that they could lead their life with dignity and conviction. It envisages that shelter, food, clothing, and health as well as economic and social security are assured for such women. It also envisions that the special needs of these women are properly taken care of and under no circumstances they should be left unattended or abandoned which could lead to their exploitation and desolation

Objectives

Under the Scheme , Swadhar Greh will be set up in every district with capacity of 30 women with the following objectives:

To cater to the primary need of shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment and care of the women in distress and who are without any social and economic support.

To enable them to regain their emotional strength that gets hampered due to their encounter with unfortunate circumstances.

To provide them with legal aid and guidance to enable them to take steps for their readjustment in family/society.

To rehabilitate them economically and emotionally To act as a support system that understands and meets various requirements of

women in distress. To enable them to start their life afresh with dignity and conviction.

For big cities and other districts having more than 40 lakh population or those districts where there is a need for additional support to the women, more than one Swadhar Greh could be established. The capacity of Swadhar Greh could be expanded up to 50 or 100 on the basis of need assessment and other important parameters.

Beneficiaries

The benefit of the component could be availed by women above 18 years of age of the following categories:

Women who are deserted and are without any social and economic support; Women survivors of natural disasters who have been rendered homeless and are

without any social and economic support; Women prisoners released from jail and are without family, social and economic

support; Women victims of domestic violence, family tension or discord, who are made to

leave their homes without any means of subsistence and have no special protection from exploitation and/ or facing litigation on account of marital disputes; and

Trafficked women/girls rescued or runaway from brothels or other places where they face exploitation and Women affected by HIV/AIDS who do not have any social or economic support. However such women/ girls should first seek assistance under UJJAWALA Scheme in areas where it is in operation.

Women affected by domestic violence could stay up to one year. For other categories of women, the maximum period of stay could be up to 3 years. The older women above the 55 years of age may be accommodated for maximum period of 5 years after which they will have to shift to old age homes or similar institutions.

Swadhar Greh facilities could also be availed by the children accompanying women in the above categories. Girls up to the age of 18 years and boys up to the age of 8 years would be allowed to stay in the Swadhar Greh with their mothers. (Boys of more than 8 years of age need to be shifted to the Children Homes run under JJ Act/ICPS.)

Implementing Agencies and Eligibility Criteria

Any of the following agencies/organizations can seek assistance under the Scheme:

State Government agencies including Women Development Corporations established by the State Governments

Central or State autonomous bodies. Municipal Bodies Cantonment Boards Panchayati Raj Institutions and Co-operative institutions Departments of Women and Child Development/Social Welfare of the State

Governments which may construct Swadhar Greh and run them on their own or lease them to organization(s) having requisite experience for such period as deemed fit, for managing the operations under this scheme

Public Trusts registered under any law for the time being in force Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) such as NGOs etc. having proven track

record of working in the fields of women’s welfare/social welfare/ women’s education subject to the condition that such organization is registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860 or any relevant State Act;

The organization - Public Trusts and CSOs should meet the following criteria:

It should be either recognized by the State/ UT Administration under existing Scheme/law or should be well known with the experience of working in the field for at least 3 years and its work should be reported to be satisfactory by the State Government/Union Territory Administration concerned,

It should ordinarily have been engaged in the field of women’s welfare/social welfare/women’s education for a minimum period of two years prior to the request for grant-in-aid under the scheme,

It should have facilities, resources, personnel and experience to undertake the management of such a project,

Its financial position should be sound to take care of expenditure for a few months in case the grant is delayed.

It should run the Swadhar Greh on a no – profit basis. The organization should have facilities like computers, internet connection etc. at

Swadhar Greh.

Components of the Scheme

Construction grant for construction of the building will be admissible to State Governments, Municipal Corporations, Cantonment Boards and Panchayati Raj Institutions only. Land for this purpose is to be provided by the implementing agency free of cost. The grant shall be subject to a ceiling of Rs.1,33,000/- per resident.

Rent for Swadhar Greh, if run in a rented building. The maximum rent admissible for a Swadhar Greh intended for 30 residents is Rs. 50,000/- per month in grade ‘A’ cities, Rs. 30,000/- per month in

grade ‘B’ cities and Rs. 18,000/- at other places.

Assistance for recurring and non recurring expenditure for management of Swadhar Greh

Provision for food, shelter, clothing, medical care, pocket expense for residents and children

Provision of counseling, legal aid, vocational training and guidance.

Guidelines for construction of Anganwadi Centers under MGNREGS in convergence with ICDS Scheme

1. Context 2. Objectives 3. Activities that can be undertaken in accordance with these guidelines 4. Designs / Specifications 5. Non-negotiables in work execution

6. Conformity to MNREGS processes in planning and execution 7. Mode of expenditure 8. Use of eco-friendly designs and materials 9. Monitoring and Report

Context

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

The Government is committed to repositioning the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) as a "vibrant ECD centre" to become the first village outpost for health, nutrition and early learning. Towards this end, several steps have been taken for improvement and strengthening of ICDS scheme covering programmatic, management and institutional areas.

Whereas intensive efforts are being made for improving the service delivery at the Anganwadi centres, an estimated 2 lakh AWCs have no building to locate their activities. There is therefore an urgent need to take up construction of buildings for these AWCs. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has issued guidelines stating that AWCs should be child friendly with all relevant infrastructures and the space should be at least 600 sq. ft. Although there is a scheme for construction of AWCs at a unit cost of @ Rs. 4.5 lakh per unit under ICDS, it was felt that this can best be done through convergence of schemes like MGNREGA.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

The MGNREGA 2005 aims to provide unskilled manual work to any rural household on demand and employing them on construction of productive assets. The list of works that can be taken up has been enclosed in Schedule - I of the Act under which, construction of Anganwadi centres has been notified as an approved activity vide notification No. S.O. 27 54(E), dated 21st November, 2012. ln order to ensure that the focus of these works would remain on creation of wage employment, there is a statutory limit on the cost of material component including the wages of the skilled and semiskilled workers at forty percent of the total project cost at the level of each Gram panchayat for all GP executed works and at the District level for works taken up by other agencies. In view of this provision, it would be possible to take up construction of AWCs under MGNREGA.

The focus of interventions in MGNREGA has been in the 2,534 most backward Blocks in the country. Though these Blocks are located primarily in the central tribal belt, they are found in every state, identified through objective criteria. MGNREGA has been undertaking systematic planning exercise in these areas to ensure that the assets identified match the requirements of the local people. The process of Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) is undertaken every year between September and December with the participation of more than 2 lakh stakeholder youth in about 1 lakh Gram Panchayats in these Blocks.

These joint guidelines aim at building a systematic convergence between ICDS and MGNREGS so that every AWC in these 2,534 most backward Blocks is provided with own buildings. Each year, there shall be at least 50,000 AWCs constructed under this convergence for the next 4 years, resulting in construction of 2 lakh AWCs by 2019. MWCD, to begin with, would identify the location for 50000 AWCs in 2534 IPPE Blocks/ high burden districts of 8 World Bank assisted ISSNIP states besides Assam, Odisha and Telangana.

Objectives

The following are the objectives of this convergence:

To ensure that every AWC in these 2,534 Blocks are provided a pucca building under MGNREGA.

To serve the objectives of pre-school, nutrition centre, semi-formal public health unit, community centre located in the heart of settlements.

To support generation of human and social capital at the micro level. To create durable assets in rural areas and improve the infrastructure at village

level. To provide creche facility to MGNREGA workers.

Activities that can be undertaken in accordance with these guidelines

Construction of Anganwadi centres (AWCs) as per instructions/ guidelines of ICDS, administrated by Ministry of Women & child Development (MowCD). Assistance from MGNREGA for AWCs will however, be limited to provisions mentioned below.

Designs / Specifications

The MWCD has issued guidelines stating that AWCs should be child friendly with all relevant infrastructures, separate sitting room for children, women, separate kitchen, store for storing food items and child friendly toilets and space for playing of children (indoor and outdoor activities) and the space should be at least 600 sq. ft. However, the designs/ specifications would adhere to instruction/guidelines issued by Ministry of Women & Child Development, GOI, time to time.

Local design variation depending on the geo climatic conditions and construction material will also follow instructions/ guidelines of Ministry of Women & Child Development, GOI.

If any Gram Panchayat chooses to make an AWC of a bigger dimension, same will also be allowed. However, payment from MGNREGA will be restricted to provisions given in these guidelines.

The Building so constructed will be the property of the Gram Panchayat, which will be responsible for its proper maintenance.

Non-negotiables in work execution

There shall be no contractors in execution. The work shall be undertaken by the implementing agency, working with the job card holders.

Only Job Card holders will be employed for the unskilled part of work. Muster Rolls will be maintained on the worksite, with copies in the Gram

panchayat. All data will also be in public domain and will be entered on nrega.nic.in

Wage payments will be done through banks/ post office accounts only unless exempted by MoRD.

Only eco-friendly building technologies that reduce the use of steel and cement, while constructing pucca buildings shall be used.

Conformity to MNREGS processes in planning and execution

Planning

Functionaries of ICDS will participate in the IPPE exercise being undertaken to identify works with the community participation.

Village wise and year wise list of AWCs proposed for construction under ICDS phased programme will be put up in the Gram Sabha for approval and inclusion in shelf of projects.

All AWCs proposed for construction under MGNREGS shall be part of the District plan, approved by the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat and shall also be a part of the annual shelf of projects.

MoWCD would facilitate that wherever Panchayats have their own land, they would make it available for the purpose of construction of AWCs preferably near primary schools in the respective villages.

Estimates

An electronic estimate module shall be made available under NREGASoft, formulated with standard estimate, design and specifications.

After approval of the Gram Sabha and the Gram panchayat, the concerned Technical Assistant/ Junior Engineer of the Panchayat/ Line department will prepare e-estimate for the AWC works using the estimate module following the prevailing SOR for MGNREGA works in the area.

The Technical Sanction will be issued by the concerned authority electronically as per norms/ power delegated for MGNREGA works.

After the TS issued, AS/FS will be issued by the concerned as per norms/ power delegated for MGNREGA works.

Execution

The Project Implementing Agency (PIA) for the construction of the AWC would be decided by the State Govemment.

On receipt of a request from the GP, the PO will issue muster rolls. Every AWC will be treated as an independent work with work I.D. No. and

muster roll issued accordingly. A mate may be deployed for every AWC proposed to be taken up in a Gram

Panchayat at one time. The designated mate will be responsible for the following:o Maintain muster for all the AWCs in the GP/Village/locality assigned to

him. o Record attendance for skilled and unskilled labour.o Ensure that the construction is as per the design/drawing specified in the

TS and will certify to that effect.o The mate will sign the muster roll for attendance and hand it over to the

Junior Engineer/Technical Assistant for further processing. The PIA would be responsible for supply of the material in advance and as per

requirement at the site, so that work can be taken up continuously, without a break.

The building material required for the building can be produced on the site as a part of the estimate. It shall be ensured that building material shall be ecofriendly minimizing the use of cement and steel.

The TA/JE shall record the MB for all such units. The measurement of the work will be made weekly by the concerned TA/ JE as per the norms under MGNREGA. The entries of measurement with assessment of work will be entered in measurement book as well in the muster roll.

The completion period of each AWC building shall not be more than 11 months from the date of commencement of the work.

Mode of expenditure

The construction of AWC building will be taken up under MGNREGS using appropriate building technologies, through muster rolls as per MGNREGA process

Under MGNREGA expenditure up to Rs. 5 lakhs will be allowed for construction of an AWC building. Beyond this, the expenditure will be borne from the ICDS scheme of the MWCD, including finishing of the building consisting of flooring, painting, plumbing, electrification and wood work etc., as a separate work. For this purpose, concerned authorities at District/ Block level shall release the funds, to the PIA concerned. Apart from this, funds from State Finance Commission, Scheduled Castes Sub plan (SCSP), Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), l4th Finance Commission (for water supply & sanitation) or any other suitable scheme may be used for the construction of a AWC building.

The Ministry of Panchayat Raj would facilitate to provide drinking water facilities and sanitation structures at the AWC wherever the gaps regarding these facilities exist.

Use of eco-friendly designs and materials

The buildings taken up under this project shall be model buildings using eco-friendly materials that conform to the following

The appropriate technologies for the AWC buildings shall, be in accordance with the local building traditions, while keeping in view the durability

The use of cement, sand and steel in construction shall be substantially reduced through:

o Use of local material, local practices for stub foundations or arch foundations or under reamed piles, with suitable design and specifications to address the needs of the relevant seismic zone.

o Avoiding the use of concrete columns and beams wherever the span of construction is less than 6 meters in a single-storied structure (or 4 meters in case of more than 2 floors) by using alternate technologies, wherever the soils permit.

o Use of rat-trap bond in all walling work using bricks or blocks 250 mm X 120 mm X 85 mm or equivalent sizes as locally adopted.

o Avoiding cement plastering to the extent possible on both sides of the wall.

o Use of filler slabs using tiles or local material to.reduce the concrete. o Avoiding RCC sunshades (chajjas) and replacing with stone / ferro cement

or suitable materials Iocally available. o Replace windows with honeycomb structures wherever local climate

permits. o Use of local material like stone etc. for door and window frame and the

minimise the use of woodo Use of local material for flooring like local stone and bricks etc.o Use of appropriate mud-based technology

Suitable building materials shall be selected for each building (indicative list below) and produced at the site of construction (using MGNREGA workers) such that the labour component in the building shall be maximised

o Mud blockso Stone and renewable wood (e.g. casuarina) o Compressed and stabilized earth blocks (after due treatment and curing)o Bamboo material o Fal-G bricks using the flv ash o Filler blockso Micro concrete roofing o Funicular roofing, etc.

Monitoring and Report

Progress of construction of AWCs under MGNREGS shall be the responsibility of the District Programme coordinator (DPC) and the agency implementing ICDS Scheme as mentioned in the respective guidelines. The construction of all AWCs under MGNREGS will be subject to social audit as per MGNREGA and ICDS regulation/guidelines.

Operation Smile 1. Operation Smile - the beginning 2. Activities taken up as part of Operation Smile 3. Past Operation Smile campaigns and their outcomes

Operation Smile is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to rescue/rehabilitate missing children. It is a dedicated campaign for a month where several activities are taken up by the State Police personnel to trace and rescue the missing children and reunite them with their families.

The “Operation Smile-II” is being rolled out from 1st January, 2016 to 31st January, 2016 throughout the country as a follow up of the earlier campaigns to rescue/rehabilitate the missing children.

Operation Smile - the beginning

The present Union government's initiative is based on a successful operation titled "Operation Smile" taken up by the Ghaziabad Police, Uttar Pradesh during September 2014. As part of the operation, 227 missing children of Ghaziabad were rescued from different parts of the country in just one month.

Salient points of Operation Smile

Approximately 100 plus Police officers of various ranks were sensitized and trained about the issues related to missing children Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) JJ Act, Protection of Child Right Act, relevant sections of Cr.PC & IPC and Advisories issued by MHA etc.

The trained officers visited various parts of the country to recover missing children in connection with various FIRs lodged at police stations in Ghaziabad

One of the major findings was that children residing in shelter homes, on railway platforms, at bus stands and religious places and on the roads, etc. were part of the missing children.

Support of print and electronic media were also used to share the information of missing children. Police personnel from respective places as well as parents approached the Ghaziabad police for taking the children back.

Activities taken up as part of Operation Smile

All children residing in shelter homes, platforms, bus stands, roads, religious places, etc. are to be screened by trained police personnel.

Before the operation, the Police personnel from each State are properly trained in methodology to extract information from such children tactfully without they getting intimidated, as well as in various provisions of Protection of Children

from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) JJ Act, Protection of Child Right Act, relevant sections of Cr.PC & IPC and Advisories issued by MHA etc.

To know the magnitude of the problem, data with full details of number of cases of missing children will be maintained and shared at intra-State and Inter-state level. Information about Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) would be prepared and shared among all rescue teams and stakeholders.

During the operation, the particulars of such identified children will be uploaded on the 'Missing child' portal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development by the respective State Police.

Rehabilitation measures whenever needed are to be taken up in coordination with the other line Departments like Department of Women & Child Development, Police, Labour, etc so that scope of re-victimization is eliminated.

Public awareness to be increased by way of national campaign, advertisement on national media, etc.

Past Operation Smile campaigns and their outcomes

Earlier all States/UTs were advised to take up a one month campaign titled ‘Operation Smile’ in the month of January, 2015 to rescue/rehabilitate the missing children. Similarly, another dedicated campaign titled ‘Operation Muskaan’ was launched in the month of July, 2015 throughout the country.

The States have so far reported that 9146 children under Operation ‘Smile’ and 19742 children under Operation “Muskaan” were rescued/rehabilitated. A large number of missing children have been reunited with their families which is a remarkable achievement made by the field offices. In order to motivate the policemen to take up such causes with sincerity and empathy, 44 Police Officers from different States/UTs who had played a commendable role during Operation “Smile” in January 2015 were recognized and rewarded by the Union Home Ministry.

Scheduled TribeDefinition

The term 'Scheduled Tribes' first appeared in the Constitution of India. Article 366 (25) defined scheduled tribes as "such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this constitution". Article 342, which is reproduced below, prescribes procedure to be followed in the matter of specification of scheduled tribes.

Article 342

The President may, with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a state, after consultation with the Governor there of by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall, for the purposes of this constitution, is deemed to be scheduled tribes in relation to that state or Union Territory, as the case may be.

Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled tribes specified in a notification issued under clause(1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community, but save as aforesaid, a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.

Thus, the first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State/ Union Territory is by a notified order of the President, after consultation with the State governments concerned. These orders can be modified subsequently only through an Act of Parliament. The above Article also provides for listing of scheduled tribes State/Union Territory wise and not on an all India basis.

The criterion followed for specification of a community, as scheduled tribes are indications of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness. This criterion is not spelt out in the Constitution but has become well established. It subsumes the definitions contained in 1931Census, the reports of first Backward Classes Commission 1955, the Advisory Committee (Kalelkar), on Revision of SC/ST lists (Lokur Committee),

1965 and the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes orders (Amendment) Bill 1967 (Chanda Committee), 1969.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 342 of the Constitution of India, the President, after Consultation with the State Governments concerned have promulgated so far 9 orders specifying the Scheduled Tribes in relation to the state and union territories. Out of these, eight are in operation at present in their original or amended form. One order namely the Constitution (Goa, Daman & Diu) Scheduled Tribes order 1968 has become defunct on account of reorganization of Goa, Daman & Diu in 1987. Under the Goa, Daman & Diu reorganization Act 1987 (18 of 1987) the list of Scheduled Tribes of Goa has been transferred to part XIX of the Schedule to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 and that of Daman & Diu II of the Schedule of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Union Territories) Order, 1951.

S. No.  Name Of Order  Date Of

Notification  Name Of States/ Ut(S) For Which

Applicable 1

The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950 (C.O.22)

6-9-1950

Andhra Pradesh, Arunanchal Pradsh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura And West Bengal.

2

The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Union Territories) Order, 1951 (C.O.33)

20-9-1951 Daman & Diu, Lakshdweep

3

The Constitution (Andaman And Nicobar Islands) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1959 (C.O. 58)

31-3-1959 Andaman And Nicobar Islands

4

The Constitution (Dadra & Nagar Haveli) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1962 (C.O. 65)

30-6-1962 Dadra & Nagar Haveli

5

The Constitution (Uttar Pradesh) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1967 (C.O. 78)

24-6-1967 Uttar Pradesh

6

The Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970 (C.O.88)

23-7-1970 Nagaland

7

The Constitution (Sikkim) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1978 (C.O.111)

22-6-1978 Sikkim

S. No.  Name Of Order  Date Of

Notification  Name Of States/ Ut(S) For Which

Applicable 8

The Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1989 (C.O. 142)

7-10-1989 Jammu & Kashmir

No community has been specified as Scheduled Tribe in relation to the State of Haryana and Punjab and Union Territories of Chandigarh, Delhi and Puducherry.

Article 342 provides for specification of tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which are deemed to be for the purposes of the Constitution the Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State or Union Territory. In pursuance of these provisions, the list of Scheduled Tribes are notified for each State or Union Territory and are valid only within the jurisdiction of that State or Union Territory and not outside.

The list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State. The inclusion of a community as a Scheduled Tribe is an ongoing process.

The essential characteristics of these communities are:

Primitive Traits Geographical isolation Distinct culture Shy of contact with community at large Economically backward

Tribal communities live, in various ecological and geo-climatic conditions ranging from plains and forests to hills and inaccessible areas. Tribal groups are at different stages of social, economic and educational development. While some tribal communities have adopted a mainstream way of life, at the other end of the spectrum, there are certain Scheduled Tribes, 75 in number known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), who are characterised by

pre-agriculture level of technology stagnant or declining population extremely low literacy subsistence level of economy

Distribution of Tribes

The Scheduled Tribes are notified in 30 States/UTs and the number of individual ethnic groups, etc. notified as Scheduled Tribes is 705. The tribal population of the country, as

per 2011 census, is 10.43 crore, constituting 8.6% of the total population. 89.97% of them live in rural areas and 10.03% in urban areas. The decadal population growth of the tribal’s from Census 2001 to 2011 has been 23.66% against the 17.69% of the entire population. The sex ratio for the overall population is 940 females per 1000 males and that of Scheduled Tribes 990 females per thousand males.

Broadly the STs inhabit two distinct geographical area – the Central India and the North- Eastern Area. More than half of the Scheduled Tribe population is concentrated in Central India, i.e., Madhya Pradesh (14.69%), Chhattisgarh (7.5%), Jharkhand (8.29%), Andhra Pradesh (5.7%), Maharashtra (10.08%), Orissa (9.2%), Gujarat (8.55%) and Rajasthan (8.86%). The other distinct area is the North East (Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh).

More than two-third of the ST population is concentrated only in the seven States of the country, viz. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. There is no ST population in 3 States (Delhi NCR, Punjab and Haryana) and 2 UTs (Puducherry and Chandigarh), as no Scheduled Tribe is notified .

Literacy rate

The progress over the years on the literacy front may be seen from the following :

  1961   1971   1981  1991   2001  

Total literate population 24 % 29.4 % 36.2 % 52.2 % 64.84%Scheduled Tribes (STs) population 8.5 % 11.3 % 16.3 % 29.6 % 47.10%Total female population 12.9 % 18.6 % 29.8 % 39.3 % 53.67%Total Scheduled Tribes (STs) female population 3.2 % 4.8 % 8.0 % 18.2 % 34.76%

Constitutional provisions for development of Scheduled Tribes

1. Important constitutional provisions 2. Other provisions applicable in specific states

Important constitutional provisions

Several provisions have been incorporated in the Constitution for safeguarding and promoting the interests and rights of the Scheduled Tribes in various spheres so as to enable them to join the national mainstream. An overview of the provisions is as follows.

I.A-Definition and Specification of STs

Art. TitlePreamble342 Scheduled Tribes366 Definitions

II.B - Educational, Economic and Public Employment-related Safeguards

15 Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth

16 Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment19 Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc

46 Promotion of Educational and Economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections

335 Claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and postsII.C- Political Safeguards

330 Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People

332 Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of the States

334 Reservation of seats and special representation to cease after sixty years243D Reservation of seats (in Panchayats)243T Reservation of seats

II.D- Agency for monitoring safeguards338A National Commission for Scheduled Tribe

Article 46 of the Constitution provides that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the society and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.

Reservation in educational institution has been provided in Article 15(4) while reservation in posts and services has been provided in Article 16(4), 16(4A) and 16(4B) of the Constitution.

Article 23 which prohibits traffic in human beings and beggar and other similar forms of forced labour has a special significance for Scheduled Tribes. In pursuance of this Article, Parliament has enacted the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. Similarly, Article 24 which prohibits employment of Children below the age of 14 years in any factory or mine or in any other hazards activity is also significant for Scheduled Tribes as a substantial portion of child labour engaged in these jobs belong to Scheduled Tribes.

Article 243D provides reservation of Seats for Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats.

Article 330 provides reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People.

Article 332 provides reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Legislative Assemblies of the States.

Article 334 provides that reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and the State Vidhan Sabhas (and the representation of the Anglo-Indian Community in the Lok Sabha and the State Vidhan Sabhas by nomination) would continue up to January, 2020.

Other specific safeguards have been provided in Article 244 read with the provisions contained in Fifth and Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.

For more details on each of the provisions, click here.

Other provisions applicable in specific states

Article 164(1) provides that in the States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha there shall be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare who may in addition be in charge of the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and backward classes or any other work.

Article 371A has special provisions with respect to the State of Nagaland. Article 371B has special provisions with respect to the State of Assam. Article 371C has special provisions with respect to the State of Manipur. Article 371F has special provisions with respect to Sikkim.

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Approach and Methodology 4. Organizational Chart 5. Functions of the Commission 6. Powers of the Commission 7. Consultations by Union and States 8. Constitutional Safeguards for STs

1. Educational & Cultural Safeguards 2. Social Safeguard 3. Economic Safeguards 4. Political Safeguards

9. Safeguards under Various laws

Introduction

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003. By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely- (i) the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and (ii) the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) w.e.f. 19 February, 2004.

Background

Certain Communities suffering from Extreme Social & Economic Backwardness- like Untouchability Primitive Agri-Practices, Lack of Infrastructural facilities, Geographical Isolation- needed special consideration for safeguarding their interests;

These communities were notified as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as per provisions of Art. 341(1) and 342(1) of the Constitution respectively;

Under the original provisions of Art.338 of the Constitution, Special Officer (Commissioner) for SC&ST appointed was assigned the duty to investigate all matters relating to the Safeguards for SCs and STs in various Statutes and to report to the President upon the working of these Safeguards;

To facilitate working of the Commissioner for (SCs&STs),17 Regional Offices were set up in different parts of the Country;

In 1978 the Govt. (through a Resolution) decided to set up a Multi-Member Commission (Non-Statutory) for SCs and STs with Sh. Bhola Paswan Shastri as Chairperson and having 4 Members (with 3 year tenure ); Office of Commissioner for SCs & STs also Continued to exist;

The 17 Regional Offices earlier transferred to DG (Backward Classes Welfare), were brought back under the  control of the new Multi Member Commission;

In 1987, the Govt. (through another Resolution) modified functions of the Commission (making it as a National Level Advisory Body) to advise the Govt. on Broad Policy Issues and levels of Development of SCs and STs;

The statutory National Commission for SCs & STs came into being on 12-3-92 (after the Constitutiona (65th )Amendment); Act 1990. Notified on 8-6-1990), it was headed by Sh. Ram Dhan as Chairperson and had Sh. Bandi Oraon as VC, Sh.  B. Sammaiah, Dr. Sanojni  Mahishi, Chaudhary Hari Singh, Sh..N.  Brahma and Sh. Jina Bhai Darjee as Members, replacing the Special Officer for SCs and STc.

The 2nd Commission was constituted on 5-10-95 with Sh..H. Hanumanthappa as Chairperson Smt. Omem Moyong Deori   as VC and Sh. N.C. Chaturvedi, Sh. Anand Mohan Biswas, Ven. Lama Lobzang, Sh. Nar Singh Baitha, and Sh. B. Yadaiah as Members;

The 3rd Commission was constituted in Dec-1998 comprising Sh. Dileep Singh Bhuria as Chairperson, Sh. Kameshwar Paswan as VC, and Sh. Harinder Singh Khalsa, Ven Lama  Lobzang, Sh. Chhotray Majhi, Sh.M. Kannan, Smt. Veena Nayyar as Members. On resignation of Sh. M. Kannan, Sh. C. Chellapan became Member;

The 4th Commission was constituted in March 2002 comprising Dr. Vijay Sonkar Shastri as Chairperson, Ven Lamma Chosphel Zotpa as VC, and Sh. Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Sh. Narayan Singh Kesari, Sh. Tapir Gao as Members, while Smt. Veena Nayyar and Sr. C. Chellapan continued till completion of their respective tenures of 3yrs. In Aug, 02, Smt. Veena Prem Kumar also became a member in place of Smt. Veena Nayyar. On completion of term by Sh. Chellapan, Sh. Sampath Kumar became Member on 30-9-2003;Consequent upon implementation of the provision of the Constitution (89th) Amendment Act.2003, as per notification dated 19-2-2004, the Erstwhile National Commission for SC & ST was replaced by two Commissions viz;  National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). The composition of the first National Commission for Scheduled included Sh. Kunwar Singh as Chairperson (w.e.f 15/3/04) Sh. Gajendra Singh   Rajukheri as Vice- Chairperson (w.e.f 29.05.06), Ven. Lama Lobzang (w.e.f.2-3-04) Smt. Prema Bai Mandavi (w.e.f 4.3.04) Sh. Buduru Srinivasulu (w.e.f 11.3.04) as Members. Chairperson,V.C. and Members have a tenure of 3 years each. Chairperson has the status of Union Cabinet Minister, while V.C has the status of Minister of State and Members have the Status of Secretary to Government of India. Shri Kunwar Singh, resigned from his post in February, 2007 and Shri Gajendra Singh Rajukheri resigned in May 2007 while other Members demitted their office after completion of their tenure in March 2007.

The  second commission  comprised of  Smt. Urmila Singh, Chairperson, (assumed office from 18.06.2007 to 24.01.2010), Shri Maurice Kujur, Vice Chairperson, (assumed office on 25.04.2008 to 24.04.2011), Shri Tsering Samphel, Member (assumed office from 14.06.2007 to 13.06.2010) and Shri Oris Syiem Myriaw, Member, (assumed office on 17.04.2008 to 16.04.2011).

Approach and Methodology

Keeping in view its Constitutional obligations and the issues that are now critical, after almost half a century of independence, for the overall development and mainstreaming of the Scheduled Tribes, the present Commission, constituted in February, 2004 has adopted a more vigorous approach in its functioning.  The meetings of the Commission are held regularly and the implementation of decisions taken is monitored keenly.

In order to monitor and evaluate the impact of development schemes, the Commission has decided to interact with the State/UT Governments more actively by holding State level review meetings with the Chief Secretaries and other senior officers and conducting field level visits.  The Commission feels that as a result of these visits and meetings, the State/UT Governments will become more conscious of the genuine problems of the Scheduled Tribes and would take the necessary initiative in working out remedial measures and adopting appropriate strategies.

The Commission, through its Headquarters and State Offices has also conducted field level inquiries and studies.  This process has been given a renewed vigour with a view to ensure prompt relief, especially in matters, relating to crimes and atrocities on Scheduled Tribes and the grant of development benefits.

The procedure for investigating into complaints, especially with reference to violation of service safeguards, has also been streamlined to ensure prompt and speedy disposal of cases and relief in genuine cases.  By calling officers and concerned Liaison Officers to the Commission with all relevant records, many long pending cases are being decided in one or two sittings.    The Commission has also used its powers of Civil Court to summon documents and enforcing attendance in conducting the inquiries.

The Commission is of the view that it is only through proper planning and effective implementation of appropriate schemes for development that the Scheduled Tribes can hope to catch up with the rest of the population and realize their full potential.  The Commission has, thus, made a beginning by actively associating itself and participating in the planning process at the National and State levels.  Regular communication is being maintained with the Planning Commission, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the State/UT Governments.  The Annual Plans of the Central Ministries, States and UT Governments are being analysed in the Commission to this end with the support of its State Offices.

Organizational Chart

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes functions from its Headquarters at New Delhi and from the Regional Offices of the Commission located in six States.

There are following six Units at the Hqrs.:

1. Administration2. Coordination Unit3. Research Unit-I4. Research Unit - II5. Research Unit-III6. Research Unit-IV

The main functional units are Research Unit-I, Research Unit-II, Research Unit-III, Research Unit-IV, which deal with all matters pertaining to socio-economic and educational development, service safeguards and atrocities in relation to STs as per distribution of the Ministries/ Departments (including CPSEs and other Organisation/ Offices under their administrative control) and the States and UTs among these four Research Units.

There are 6 Regional offices of the National Commission for Scheduled tribes which work as ‘eyes and ears’ of the Commission. They keep a watch on the formulation of policy and issue of guidelines relating to the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the States/UTs and keep the Commission’s Headquarters informed about the developments periodically.  Policy decisions taken by any State Government/UT Administration affecting the interests of the Scheduled Tribes are brought to the notice of the concerned authorities for necessary action.

For Organisation Chart

Functions of the Commission

(Under Clause (5) of Art. 338A)

1. To investigate & Monitor matters relating to Safeguards provided for STs under the Constitution or under other laws or under Govt. Order, to evaluate the working of such Safeguards.

2. To inquire into specific complaints relating to Rights & Safeguards of STs;3. To participate and advise in the Planning Process relating to Socio-economic

development of STs, and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;

4. To submit report to the President annually and  at such other times as the Commission may  deem  fit, upon/ working of Safeguards, Measures required for effective implementation of Programmers/ Schemes relating to Welfare and Socio-economic development of STs;

5. To discharge such other functions in relation to STs as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify;

6. The Commission would also discharge the following other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development & advancement of the Scheduled Tribes, namely:-

o Measures that need to be taken over conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce to the Scheduled Tribes living in forest areas.

o Measures to be taken to safeguard rights to the Tribal Communities over mineral resources, water resources etc. as per law.

o Measures to be taken for the development of tribals and to work for move viable livelihood strategies.

o Measures to be taken to improve the efficacy of relief and rehabilitation measures for tribal groups displaced by development projects.

o Measures to be taken to prevent alienation of tribal people from land and to effectively rehabilitate such people in whose case alienation has already taken place.

o Measures to be taken to elicit maximum cooperation and involvement of Tribal Communities for protecting forests and undertaking social afforestation.

o Measures to be taken to ensure full implementation of the Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (40 of 1996).

o Measures to be taken to reduce and ultimately eliminate the practice of shifting cultivation by Tribals that lead to their continuous disempowerment and degradation of land and the environment

Powers of the Commission

(Under Clause (8) of Art. 338A)

For Investigation and Inquiry, the Commission is vested with powers of a civil court having authority to:

Summon and enforce attendance of any person and examine on oath; Discovery & production of any documents; Receive evidence on affidavits; Requisition any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; Issue Commissions for examination of witnesses and documents; and Any matter which President, by rule, may determine.

Consultations by Union and States

(Under Clause (9) of Art. 338A)

Union and every State Govt. to consult the Commission on all major Policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes.

Constitutional Safeguards for STs

Educational & Cultural Safeguards

Art. 15(4) - Special provisions for advancement of other backward classes    (which includes STs);

Art. 29 - Protection of Interests of Minorities (which includes STs); Art. 46 - The State shall 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 shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation,

Art. 350 - Right to conserve distinct Language, Script or Culture; Art. 350 - Instruction in Mother Tongue.

Social Safeguard

Art. 23 - Prohibition of traffic in human beings and beggar and other similar form of forced labour

Art. 24 - Forbidding Child Labour.

Economic Safeguards

Art.244 - Clause(1) Provisions of Fifth Schedule shall apply to the administration & control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State other than the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura which are covered under Sixth Schedule, under Clause (2) of this Article.

Art. 275 - Grants in-Aid to specified States (STs &SAs) covered under Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution.

Political Safeguards

Art.164 (1) - Provides for Tribal Affairs Ministers  in Bihar, MP and Orissa Art. 330 - Reservation of seats for STs in Lok Sabha Art. 337 - Reservation of seats for STs in State Legislatures Art. 334 - 10 years period for reservation (Amended several times to extend the

period Art. 243 - Reservation of seats in Panchayats Art. 371 - Special provisions in respect of NE States and Sikkim

Safeguards under Various laws

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,1989 and the Rules 1995 framed there under.

Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 (in respect of Scheduled Tribes); The Child Labour  (Prohibition and Regulation) Act1986; States Acts & Regulations concerning alienation & restoration of  land belonging

to STs; Forest Conservation Act 1980; Panchayatiraj (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996; Minimum Wages Act 1948.

elfare / Acts and Rules

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Acts and Rules

1. Forest Rights Act - 2006 2. Protection of Civil Rights Act 3. SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 4. The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the scheduled Areas) Act,

1996

Forest Rights Act - 2006

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, was passed on December 15, 2006, in the Lok Sabha and December 18, 2006, in the Rajya Sabha. It was signed by the President on December 29, 2006, but only notified into force on December 31, 2007 (one year later). The Rules to the Act - which provide for some of the operational details - were notified into force on January 1, 2008.

Prior to being passed, the original Bill was subjected to a lengthy process of examination by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The Committee's historic report marked a huge step forward for the struggle for forest rights.

1. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006

2. Rules 3. Forest Rights Act Monitoring System 4. NIC-Coordinators for Tribal Welfare Dept 5. Procedure for Diversion of Forest Land 6. State Websites

Protection of Civil Rights Act

An Act to prescribe punishment for the [preaching and practice of - "Untouchability"] for the enforcement of any disability arising therefrom for matters connected therewith.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:

1. This Act may be called [the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955].2. It extends to the whole of India.3. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may by

notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

[(a) "civil rights" means any right accruing to a person by reason of the abolition of "untouchability" by article 17 of the Constitution]

[(aa)] "hotel" includes a refreshment room, a boarding house, a lodging house, a coffee house and a cafe

[(b)] "place" includes a house, building and other structure an premises; and also includes a tent, vehicle and vessel

(c) "place of public entertainment" includes any place to which the public are admitted and in which an entertainment is provided or held.

Explanation: "Entertainment" includes any exhibition, performance, game, sport and any other form of amusement.

(d) "place of public worship" means a place, by whatever name known, which is used as a place of public religious worship or which is dedicated generally to, or is used generally by, persons professing any religion or belonging to any religious denomination or any section

Rules and Acts:

1. Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 2. Protection of Civil Right Rules, 1977

SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act

An Act to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, to provide for Special Courts for the trial of such offences and for the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of such offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fortieth Year of the Republic of India as Follows:

This Act may be called the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled extent and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by

notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Definitions

1. In this Act unless the context otherwise requires –o "Atrocity" means an offence punishable under section 3o "Code" means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)o "Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes" shall have the mean-ings

assigned to them respectively under clause (24) and clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution

o "Special Court" means a Court of Session specified as a Special Court in section 14

o "Special Public Prosecutor" means a Public Prosecutor specified as a Special Public Prosecutor or an advocate referred to in section 15

o words and expressions unsed but not defined in this Act and de-fined in the Code or the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) shall have the meanings assigned to them respectively in the Code, or as the case may be, in the Indian Penal Code.

2. Any reference in this Act to any enactment or any provision thereof shall in relation to an area in which such enactment or such provision is not in force, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area.

Rules and Acts:

1. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 2. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act,

1989)3. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)

Amendment Ordinance, 2014

The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the scheduled Areas) Act, 1996

Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 or PESA is a law enacted by the Government of India to cover the "Scheduled areas", which are not covered in the 73rd amendment or Panchayati Raj Act of the Indian Constitution. It was enacted on 24 December 1996 to enable Gram Sabhas to self-govern their natural resources. It is an Act to provide for the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas.

Definition

“Scheduled Areas” means the Scheduled Areas as referred to in Clause (1) of Article 244of the Constitution. The Act extended the provisions of Panchayats to the tribal areas of nine states that have Fifth Schedule Areas.

Provisions A state legislation on panchayats in the scheduled area should take care of the

customs, religious practices and traditional management practices of community resources

Every village shall contain a grama sabha whose members are included in the electoral list for the panchayats at village level

The recommendation of the gram sabha is mandatory for granting mining licenses in the scheduled areas

Planning and management of minor water bodies are entrusted to the panchayats

Schemes 1. Education

1. Top Class Education for ST Students

2. Upgradation of Merit of ST Students 3. Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas 4. National Overseas Scholarships for Scheduled Tribe Students 5. Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for ST Students 6. Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) for ST students 7. Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Hostels for ST boys and ST Girls 8. PRE-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP 9. Establishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas

2. State Grant 1. Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP) 2. Allocation under SCA to TSP 3. Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India 4. Allocation under Article 275 -1 of the Constitution for the year

2013-20145. Eklavya Model Residential School 6. Development of Forest Village

3. NGO/Public Cooperation 1. Scheme of Coaching for Scheduled Tribes 2. Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for

welfare of STs3. Scheme of Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

(PTGs)4. Schemes of strengthening education among Scheduled Tribes Girls

in a low literacy Districts5. Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas

Education

Top Class Education for ST Students

This is a Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for ST students introduced from the academic year 2007-08 with the objective of encouraging meritorious ST students for pursing studies at Degree and Post Graduate level in any of the Institutes identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the purpose.

Salient features:

It supports meritorious ST students who gain admission in 213 identified quality educational institutions.

Scholarship once awarded will continue till completion of the course subject to satisfactory performance.

Amount of Scholarship covers tuition fees, boarding and lodging expenses, book grant and a onetime grant for purchase of a Computer along with its accessories.

100% funding is provided by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs according to the norms.

Each identified Institute has been allocated 5 awards, however, it can be increased subject to an overall cap of 625 scholarships per year.

Fund is released by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the concerned Institution directly.

Eligibility:

The total family income of the student from all sources should not exceed Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum.

Only those Scheduled Tribe students who have secured admission in notified Institutions will be eligible for the scholarship.

If the number of the ST students admitted in a particular Institution exceeds the number of awards allocated to that Institutions than the scholarship will be restricted to that number of students who occupied top slots in the inter-se merit list.

Benefits:

Full amount of tuition fee and other non-refundable dues in respect of Government/Government-funded institutions are paid.

In case of students studying in private sector institutions a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum per student will apply normally.

In case of students in private sector flying clubs for Commercial Pilot Training the ceiling is Rs. 3.72 lakh per annum per student.

Living expenses are paid as per actual, subject to maximum ceiling of Rs. 2200/- per month per student.

Expenditure on Books and stationery is paid @ Rs. 3000/- per annum per student. Cost of a latest computer along with accessories limited to Rs. 45,000/- as one

time assistance during the entire course is paid to the student.

PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME

Under the Scheme, during the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-08 to 2011-12), an amount of Rs. 13.83 crore was released to cover 814 students.

Upgradation of Merit of ST Students

The objective of the scheme is to upgrade the merit of ST students by providing them remedial and special coaching in classes IX to XII. While remedial coaching aims at removing deficiencies in various subjects, special coaching is provided with a view to prepare the students for competitive examinations for seeking entry into professional courses like Engineering and Medical disciplines. The scheme was revised from time to time. The last revisions in the Scheme were made during 2008-09.

Salient features:

The State Government/UT Administration selects certain schools in different Districts/towns with hostel facilities which show excellence in performance of students from class IX to XII.

The Ministry fixes the total number of awards for each State annually. Coaching starts from class IX in the identified schools and continues till the

awardees complete class XII. Coaching is provided in languages, science, mathematics as well as special

coaching for admission to professional courses like engineering and medicine. While selecting the ST students the aim is to include at least 30% girl students

and 3% disabled students. The scheme provides for 100% central assistance to the States/UT’s.

Benefits:

A package grant of Rs. 19,500/- per students per year comprising the following:

Rs. 11,500/- per students per year as under: Boarding & lodging charges @ Rs. 700/- Per monthe for 10 months

Rs. 7,000/-

Pocket Money @ Rs. 200/- for 10 months Rs. 2,000/-Books and Stationery Rs. 2,500/-

Rs. 8,000/- per year per student for honorarium to Principal, Experts and other incidental charges.

Besides the amount of scholarship, students with disabilities are also eligible for the additional grants provided in the Scheme.

Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas

The main aim of this scheme is to upgrade the skills of the tribal youth in various traditional/ modern vocations depending upon their educational qualification, present economic trends and the market potential, which would enable them to gain suitable employment or enable them to become self-employed. This scheme was introduced in 1992-93 revised with effect from 1.4.2009.

Salient features:

The Scheme is being implemented through the State Governments/UT Administrations, Institutions or Organizations set up by Government as autonomous bodies, educational and other institutions like local bodies and cooperative societies and Non-Governmental Organizations etc.

The scheme is exclusively for benefit of the Scheduled Tribes as well as PTGs and can be taken up anywhere in the country but priority will be given to remote tribal areas, inhabited by particularly vulnerable tribes and areas affected by extremist activities.

The capacity of each vocational training center is 100 or more trainees i.e. for one trade there should be at least 20 candidates. As far as possible, minimum 33% seats will be reserved for tribal girl candidates.

Each center may cater to five vocational courses in traditional or other skills depending upon the employment potential of the area.

Each tribal boy/girl is trained in one trade of his/her choice, the course being of maximum six months’ duration.

Each trainee is attached at the end of six months to a Master Craftsman in a semi-urban area for a period of six months to learn his skill by practical experience.

Each Vocational Training Centre set up under the Scheme running five trades will provide training to 100 or more trainee i.e. for one trade there should be atleast 20 candidates.

The funding under this scheme is provided in following two ways: o By setting up and running VTCs mainly in remote areas/ rural areas

deficient in facilities,o By supporting vocational training for ST as also PTG candidates in

already existing institutions in townships/ districts, etc. like it is, Polytechnics, computer training centres, and other private recognized institutions

Benefits:

The following Expenses are paid under the Scheme:

(a) Recurring

The maximum assistance of Rs.30,000/- per annum per ST trainee comprising the following:

Stipend top trainee @ Rs. 700/- per month Rs. 1600/- per trainee per annum for procurement of tools, raw martial etc. Monthly honorarium to faculty/supporting staff etc. Boarding/lodging of trainees, electricity and water charges, etc.

Additional payment of annual rent as per actual subject to a limit of Rs. 10,000/- per month is admissible in case of rented building.

(b) Non-recurring:

Non-recurring expenses @ Rs. 0.48 lakh per trade for five years is admissible under the scheme.

National Overseas Scholarships for Scheduled Tribe Students

It is a Central Scheme to provide financial assistance to meritorious students for pursuing higher studies in foreign university in specified files of Master Level Courses, Ph.D and Post-Doctoral research programmes, in the field of Engineering, Technology and

Science. The Scheme was introduced during the year 1954-55 and has since been revised from time to time. This was Non-Plan Scheme, which became a Plan Scheme from 2007-08.

Salient features:

Financial assistance is provided to 15 meritorious students (13 for ST and 2 for PTG) for pursuing higher studies abroad at the Masters level and Ph. D and Post-Doctoral research programmes in 35 specified disciplines of Engineering, Technology and Sciences.

The Scheme attempts at enhancing the employment avenues for ST candidates. 100% Central Assistance is provided directly to the candidates. The prescribed financial assistance is provided till completion of the course/

research or the following period, whichever is earlier:- o Post-Doctoral Research - 1&1/2 years (One and a half year)o Ph.D. - 4 years (four years)o Master’s Degree –3 years ( three years)

The extension of stay beyond prescribed period for levels of courses as mentioned above, may be considered without financial assistance of any kind except the air passage to return to India, on the recommendation of the competent authority in the educational institution/ university as well as the Indian Mission abroad.

Eligibility Criteria:

The candidate should belong to Scheduled Tribe community. The candidate should be First Class with 60% marks or equivalent grade in

relevant degree for Master Degree, Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research. The age of the candidate should below 35 years. Total income from all sources of the employed Candidates or his/her

parents/guardian should not exceed Rs. 25000/- per month (excluding such allowances as are not treated as part of the total income for the purpose of income tax).

Not more than one child of the same parents/guardian is eligible. Candidates who are in employment must forward their applications through their

employer alongwith their NOC. The finally selected candidates are required to obtain admission and join an

accredited university/ institution abroad within three years from the date of communication of selection.

Benefits:

The selected candidates are given cost of tuition and other educational fees charged by the foreign university etc., maintenance and other grants along with travel expenses.

Only Passage Grants are available to four ST candidates every year who are in receipt of merit scholarship for Postgraduate studies, Research or Training abroad

(excluding attending Seminars, Workshops, Conferences) from a Foreign Government/ Organization or under any other schemes where cost of passage is not provided.

The awardees are permitted to supplement their prescribed allowances by undertaking Research/Teaching Assistantship up to prescribed ceilings. Where income earned is beyond the ceiling, the maintenance allowance under the scheme shall be correspondingly reduced by the Indian Missions abroad.

PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME:

11th Five Year Plan period Releases (Rs.in crore)2007-08 to 2011-12 1.5412th Five Year Plan period2012-13 12013-14 0.6722014-15 (BE) 1

Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for ST Students

This is a Central Scheme to providing fellowship to Scheduled Tribe students for pursuing higher studies such as M.Phil and Ph.D. The scheme was introduced in the year 2005-06.

Salient features:

UGC is a nodal agency for implementation of the Scheme. It supports ST students in their higher studies such as M.Phil and Ph.D in all the

Universities/Institutions recognized by the UGC. The fellowship is on the pattern of UGC fellowship awarded to regular full time

research students in M.Phil and Ph.D courses. The total number of fresh fellowships each year is 667. In case, number of candidates exceed number of awards, UGC select the

candidates based on percentage of marks obtained by the candidates in Post-Graduation examination.

The distribution of fellowships amongst different States/UTs would primarily be in the proportion of ST population in the respective States/UTs.

UGC may divert slots from a particular State if eligible candidate are not available in that States.

Scholarship amount is disbursed to the candidates by the UGC through Bank Smart Cards.

Amount of Scholarship covers fellowships, contingency expenses, expenses for departmental assistance, escorts/reader assistance for disable candidates and HRA on UGC pattern.

100% funding is provided by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on the basis of the norms.

Average cost of fellowship is Rs. 2.16 lakh for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and Rs. 2.40 lakh Senior Research Fellow (SRF).

Eligibility:

A Scheduled Tribe candidate should have passed Post Graduation examination and the requirement of 50% marks at post-graduation level will not be insisted by UGC.

The student should get admission and registration for regular full time M.Phil/Ph.D degree courses in University/Academic Institutions as per the prescribed norms and advertisement of UGC.

If the number of the ST students exceeds the number of available awards UGC selects the candidates based on percentage of marks in the Post Graduate examination.

Benefits:

The maximum duration for which the scholarships are available is given below:o M.Phil - 2 years (JRF)o Ph.D - 2 years (JRF) and 3 years (SRF)o M.Phil + Ph.D – 2 years (JRF) and 3 years (SRF)

Fellowship for JRF is provided @ Rs. 16000/- per month and for SRF @ Rs. 18000/- per month.

Contingency for Fellows in Humanities and Social Science is provided @ Rs. 10000/- per annum for two year and Rs. 20500/- per annum for the rest of the period.

Contingency for Fellows in Science is provided @ Rs. 12000/- per annum for two years and @ 25000/- per annum for the rest of the period.

Departmental assistance @ Rs. 3000/- per annum is provided to the host institution.

Escorts/Reader assistance @ Rs. 2000/- per month is provided in case of physically and visually handicapped candidates.

HRA on the UGC pattern.

PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME:

Under the Scheme, during the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-08 to 2011-12), an amount of Rs. 232.64 crore was released.

Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) for ST students

The scheme covers professional, technical as well as non-professional and non-technical courses at various levels including correspondence courses covering distance and continuing education. The Scheme was introduced during the year 1944-45 and has since been revised from time to time. The last revision of the scheme has been made w.e.f. 01.04.2013.

Salient features:

A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

100% Central assistance over and above the committed liability of the States Governments/UTs Admn. from the Government of India.

The Scheme provides financial assistance to the Scheduled Tribe students studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage.

Scholarships are available for studies in India only. The State Government and UT to which the applicant actually belongs award the

scholarship. The scheme also covers central assistance to States/UTs for setting up Book

Banks.

Eligibility:

Scholarships are paid to students whose parents’/guardians’ income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 2.50 lakh per annum.

All children of the same parents/guardian are eligible. Scheduled Tribe candidates who have passed the matriculation or higher

secondary or any higher examination of a recognized University or Board of Secondary Education are eligible.

The scholarships are available for the study of all recognized post matriculation or post-secondary courses in recognized institutions except certain identified training courses like Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Courses, Private Pilot Licence courses etc.

Students studying through correspondence courses are eligible. Employed students on leave without pay for the entire duration of a full time

course are eligible for course. The scholarship holder under this scheme will not hold any other

scholarship/stipend. Students who have received coaching in any of the pre-examination training

centres with financial assistance from the Government will not be eligible.

Benefits:

Scholars are paid :- o Fees for enrolment/registration, tuition, games, Union, Library, Magazine,

Medical Examination and such other fees compulsorily payable by the scholar to the Institution or University/Board.

Study tours charges upto a maximum of Rs. 1600/- per annum. Thesis typing and printing charges upto a maximum of Rs. 1600/- for the research

scholars. Additional allowances to the ST students with disabilities at the prescribed rates

for different degree of disability.

Annual allowance of Rs.1200/- for essential/prescribed books, besides reimbursement of course fees to correspondence course students.

Maintenance allowance as mentioned below:-

GroupsRate of Maintenance allowance (in Rupees per month)

Group Courses Hostellers Day Scholars

Group-I

(i) Degree and Post Graduate level courses including M.Phil., Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral research in Medicine (Allopathic, Indian and other recognized systems of medicines), Engineering, Technology, Planning, Architecture, Design, Fashion Technology, Agriculture, Veterinary & Allied Sciences, Management, Business Finance /Administration, Computer Science/ Applications.

1200 550(ii) Commercial Pilot License (including helicopter pilot and multiengine rating) course.(iii) Post Graduate Diploma courses in various branches of management & medicine.(iv) C.A./I.C.W.A./C.S./I.C.F.A. etc.(v) M.Phil., Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Programmes (D. Litt., D.Sc. etc.) –a) In existing Group II coursesb) In existing Group III courses(vi) L.L.M.

Group - II (i) Graduate/ Post Graduate courses leading to Degree, Diploma, Certificate in areas like Pharmacy (B Pharma), Nursing (B Nursing), LLB, BFS, other para-medical branches like rehabilitation, diagnostics etc., Mass Communication, Hotel Management & Catering, Travel/Tourism/Hospitality Management, Interior Decoration, Nutrition & Dietetics, Commercial Art, Financial Services (e.g. Banking, Insurance, Taxation etc.) for which

820 530

entrance qualification is minimum Sr. Secondary (10+2).(ii) Post Graduate courses not covered under Group-I e.g. M.A./M.Sc./M.Com./M.Ed./M.Pharma etc.

Group - IIIAll other courses leading to a graduate degree not covered under Group I & II eg. BA/B Sc/B Com etc.

570 300

Group- IV

All post-matriculation level non-degree courses for which entrance qualification is High School (Class X), e.g. senior secondary certificate (class XI and XII); both general and vocational stream, ITI courses, 3 year diploma courses in Polytechnics, etc.

380 230

Central assistance to States/UTs for setting up of Book Banks is given @ prescribed rates. For the degree courses maximum limit is Rs. 7500/- for a set of books for two students and for Post-Graduate course @ Rs. 5000/- per student.

Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Hostels for ST boys and ST Girls

Background

Article 16 of the Constitution enables the Central government to make special provisions for the socio-economic development of the deprived sections of the society to enable them to share the facilities at par with the rest of the society. Education is the foundation for any kind of socio-economic development. Education of Scheduled Tribes assumes added importance in the sense that it elevates their social status and equips them with the acumen to take advantage of the emerging opportunities both in employment and other economic activities.

While illiteracy is a general problem for the country cutting across caste, religion, region and such other barriers, its total effect on the life and status of the Scheduled Tribes stands out prominently as an area of national focus. The women among the Scheduled Tribe groups suffer from triple jeopardy in as much as that they suffer from social barriers as STs, then as females and then also as the least literate segment of the society.

Thus, there is a felt need for making a proactive discrimination in favor of ST girls while modifying the present scheme of hostel constructions so as to facilitate preferred proliferation of the educational infrastructure for them through, State Governments/UTs and Universities.

The existing scheme of construction of hostels aims to supplement the efforts of the State Governments for creating a congenial study atmosphere free from the shackles of domestic shores, so as to encourage students belonging to the target groups to purse their education career without dropping out. Such hostels are immensely beneficial to the students of ST community hailing from rural and remote areas.

While the Scheme of Hostels for ST Girls is in operation since the 3rd Five Year Plan, the Scheme for of ST Boys was started with effect from the year 1989-90.During the 10th Five Year Plan both the schemes have been merged into a single scheme.

Applicability of The Scheme and Objectives of The Modification

The scheme is for ST boys and girls (including Primitive Tribal Groups). The primary objective of the modification is to attract the implementing agencies for undertaking hostel construction programme for ST Girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities towards the broader vision of containment and reduction of their dropout rate.

Implementing Agencies and Eligibility

The Scheme will be implemented through the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and the Central/other Universities.

Location and Scope of Hostels

The hostels under the Scheme should be constructed at a place where the educational institutions concerned are situated, keeping in view the concentration of ST population in a particular area or place. Further, the hostels under the scheme would be sanctioned as far as possible as a part of the established educational institutions or in close vicinity of such institutions. The hostels for Vocational

Training Centres (VTCs) can be constructed only in those tribal areas where State Governments/UT Administrations take initiative to run these centres efficiently.

The hostels under the Scheme can be constructed for middle, secondary, college and university level of education and also for Vocational Training Centres.

The construction of boundary walls, two rooms set for hostel warden, a kitchen, a toilet, a common room and one room set for Chowkidar would be an integral part of the hostel scheme.

The expenditure on maintenance of the hostels will be borne by the implementing agencies concerned from their own funds.

Strength of the Hostels

Generally, the number of inmates for whom the accommodation can be provided in a hostel under the Scheme should not exceed 100 but may exceed if there is a requirement of additional seats.

Funding Pattern

Hostels for ST Girls

For construction/extension of hostels for ST Girls under the Scheme, 100% central assistance would be provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations and the Central/other Universities.

Hostels for ST Boys

For construction/extension of hostels for ST Boys, the central assistance to the implementing agencies would be provided as detailed below:-

(a) The State Governments will be eligible to receive central assistance on 50:50 matching basis. However naxal-affected states (specified districts as identified by Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time-list of specified districts annexed) will be eligible for 100% central assistance. Also 100% financial assistance would be provided to the UT Administrations;

(b) The Central Universities would be eligible for 90% financial assistance;

(c) Other Universities would be eligible on the basis of 45% central share, 45% State share and the remaining 10% to be borne by the Universities concerned themselves;

(d) In case the State Governments concerned do not contribute their share of 45% to the Universities as prescribed in (c) above, the share of the former will also have to be borne by the Universities concerned, thereby raising their contribution to 55%.

The hostels for Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) for ST Girls and Boys will be funded on the same criteria as other hostels for (girls and boys) schools/colleges.

Manner of release of central assistance

The grants-in-aid shall be released after ensuring physical release of requisite matching share by the State Government/UT Administration/University concerned.

General Provisions

(a) The central assistance will be limited only to the cost of construction/extension of the Hostels for ST Girls and Boys (including Primitive Tribal Groups) as indicated above.

(b) Unencumbered land will be made available free of cost by concerned State Government/UT Admn./University for construction of the hostel.

(c) The application for the grant shall be supported by the utilization certificate as well as details of physical and financial progress in respect of hostels sanctioned earlier by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs along with details of location of proposed hostel and number of seats in each hostel.

(d) Plan of the Hostel duly approved by the competent authority in the State    Govt./UT Administration/University.

(e) A certificate to the effect that matching provision wherever necessary exists in the State Budget for the Scheme.

(f) The hostels shall be completed within a period of 2 years from the date of release of the central assistance. However the period for completion of the extension of existing hostels shall be 12 months.

(g) A few rooms/blocks of the hostels should be constructed barrier free and facilities like ramps etc. should be included in the design of the construction for the convenience of the ST students with disabilities.

(h) The cost of construction of hostels will be worked out on the basis of State/UT PWD/CPWD schedule of rates prescribed for such type of construction.

(i) In case, any State Government is unable to provide the required matching share from its budget, any MP/MLA can provide the State’s share from his/her MPLADS/MLALADS fund.

(j) Preference will be given to State Governments who commit annual maintenance expenditure, as per reasonable norms.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The implementing agencies shall closely supervise the construction of hostels regularly and shall submit quarterly progress reports, both physical add financial, to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, New Delhi till the completion of the hostels.

For the purpose of effective monitoring, the ministry may itself conduct or cause field visits to be conducted by appropriate agencies/authorities to inspect the projects. The expenditure on evaluation/monitoring and administration of the scheme shall be met out of the funds provided for this scheme.

PRE-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP

BACKGROUND

Article 46 of Part IV (“Directive Principles of State Policy”) of the Constitution enjoins upon the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, in particular, of the

Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Article 38(2) of the same Part also enjoins upon the State to minimize inequities in income and to endeavor to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations.

OBJECTIVES

Objectives of the scheme are:

To support parents of ST children for education of their wards studying in classes IX and X so that the incidence of drop-out, especially in the transition from the elementary to the secondary stage is minimized, and

To improve participation of ST children in classes IX and X of the pre-matric stage, so that they perform better and have a better chance of progressing to the post-matric stage of education.

SCOPE

Scholarship under the Scheme will be available for studies in India only and will be awarded by the Government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant belongs i.e. where she/he is domiciled.

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

Student should belong to Scheduled Tribe Her/his Parents’/Guardian’s income should not exceed Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum. She / he should not be getting any other Centrally-funded Pre-Matric Scholarship. She/ he should be a regular, full time student studying in a Government School or

in a School recognized by Govt. or a Central/State Board of Secondary Education. Scholarship for studying in any class will be available for only one year. If a

student has to repeat a class, she / he would not get scholarship for that class for a second (or subsequent) year.

Annual Parents’/Guardian’s Income

Scholarships will be paid to the students whose parents/guardians’ income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupees two lakh only) per annum.

NOTE 1: So long as either of the parents is alive, only income of the parents, as the case may be, from all sources has to be taken into account only and of no other member even though they may be earning. In the form of income declaration, income is to be declared on this basis. Only in the case where both the parents have died, the income of the

guardian who is supporting the student in his/her studies has to be taken. Such students whose parent’s income is affected due to unfortunate death of one of earning parents and resultantly comes within the income ceiling prescribed under the scheme, shall become eligible for scholarship, subject to their fulfilling other conditions of eligibility, from the month in which such sad incidence takes place. Applications for scholarships from such students can be considered even after lapse of last date of receipt of applications, on compassionate grounds.

NOTE 2: House rent allowance received by the parents of a student shall be exempted from the computation of ‘income’ if the same has been permitted to be exempted for the purpose of Income tax.

NOTE 3: Income certificate is required to be taken once only i.e. at the time of admission to courses which are continuing for more than one year.

Establishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas

Objective:

The objective of the scheme is to provide residential schools for Scheduled Tribes including PTGs in an environment conducive to learning to increase the literacy rate among the tribal students and to bring them at par with other population of the country.  The scheme is in operation since 1990-91 and has been revised w.e.f. the financial year 2008-09.

Salient features:

This is a centrally sponsored scheme and is operational in the Tribal sub-Plan States/UT Administrations.

The scheme covers primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary level of education.

Under the revised scheme, State Governments are eligible for 100% funding for establishment of Ashram Schools (i.e. school buildings, hostels, kitchen and staff quarters) for girls in TSP areas and also for construction of Boys’ Ashram Schools in TSP areas in naxal affected areas (identified by Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time).

The funding pattern for the other Boys’ ashram Schools is on 50:50 basis, while cent percent assistance is given to UTs for construction of both Girls’ and Boys’ Ashram Schools.

Financial assistance on 50:50 basis is given for other non-recurring items of expenditure i.e. purchase of equipment, furniture and furnishing, purchase of few sets of books for a small library for use of inmates of the hostels etc.

Benefits:

The ST boys and girls can study in residential schools in an environment conducive to learning.

State Grant

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing two Special Programmes viz. Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan (SCA to TSP) and Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.  The SCA to TSP is meant for filling up critical gaps in the family-based income-generating activities of TSP and to cover employment-cum-income generation activities and infrastructure incidental thereto.  Besides family-based activities, other activities run by the Self-Help Groups (SHGs)/Community are also to be taken up.  The Grants under under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India are for promotion of the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and up gradation of the levels of administration in Scheduled Areas to bring them at par with the rest of the State and for welfare of the tribal people.  The grants under Article 275(1) can also be utilized to construct and run Eklavya Model Residential School for promotion of quality middle and high level education to ST students.

Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP)

The Special Central Assistance (SCA) is provided by the Ministry of tribal Affairs to the State Government as an additive to the State TSP. SCA is Primarily meant for family-oriented income-generation schemes in sectors of agriculture, horticulture sericulture and animal husbandry cooperation. A part of SCA (not more than 30%) is also permitted to be used for development of infrastructure incidental to such income generating schemes.

SCA is intended to be additive to State Plan efforts for tribal development and forms part of TSP strategy. The objective of the strategy is two folds:-

Socio-economic development of STs Protection of trials against exploitation. of the above, SCA primarily funds schemes/projects for economic development of STs.

The GOI guidelines broadly lay down the following norms:-

SCA is primarily meant for income generating family oriented schemes and infrastructure incidental thereto (not more than 30% of the total outlay)

Wherever a scheme is provided for any Central Sector/Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), SCA should not be utilised for the same. Rather, the allocations available under specific schemes can be availed of major infrastructure development should be supplemented from the TSP flow, rather than being catered out SCA like roads, electrification etc.

Schemes for funding demonstration units should not be financed out of SCA. Rather, the follow-up of demonstrations should be catered to looking to the Special disadvantages that the tribal funds themselves with.

Tribal populace Below Poverty Line should alone be supported with SCA financed activities.

In any specific schematic projects financed by outside agencies, both national and international, normally a part of the outlay is proposed as State Government contribution. Such contribution should flow from normally State Plan and not out of SCA.

Wherever State Government Organizations like Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations (TDCCs) or Forest Development Corporations (FDCs) are dealing with schemes related to tribal welfare and development, the equity based should not be financed out of SCA, without prior approval of the GOI. This will lead to better monitoring of the concerned activities.

Specific sectors related to the Tribal need to be givers a fillip by special schemes in the areas like sericulture, horticulture, etc out of SCA.

Wherever conjunctional flow of funds can be ensured from other ongoing development programmes, this must be dovetailed so as to have a better spatial and demographic coverage.

Allocation under SCA to TSP

State-wise Allocation under the Programme SCA to TSP’ during 2013-14

S.N. States Allocation1 Andhra Pradesh 57892 Assam 62333 Bihar 13064 Chhattisgarh 94785 Goa 2376 Gujarat 84487 Himachal Pradesh 17688 J & K 21639 Jharkhand 1218710 Karnataka 247111 Kerala 54912 Madhya Pradesh 1752513 Maharashtra 772814 Manipur 158315 Odisha 1332116 Rajasthan 837717 Sikkim 43718 Tamil Nadu 65119 Tripura 214520 Uttarakhand 19821 Uttar Pradesh 89422 West Bengal 4512

Total 108000Total B.E. - (Rs. In lakh)

Rs.120000.00 lakhFor normal projects 108000For Incentive Projects 12000Total 120000

SCA is released for the economic development of the following:-

Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) area contiguous large area in which ST population is 50% or more out of a total population.

Modified Area Development Approach (MADA) pockets identification of pockets containing 50% or more of ST population out of a total population of 10000 and above

Clusters-identified pockets containing 50% or more ST Population out of a total population of 5000.

Primitive Tribes-identified isolated communities among the STs Charactarised by the low rate of population, pre-agricultural level of technology and extremely low levels of literacy (so far 75 Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) have been identified.

Displaced tribal population outside (a),(b),(c) and (d) above. Assistance for Margin Money Loan Programme (MMLP) for Tribal Finance and

Development Corporations in the States to implement MMLP. Special Projects-Specific Project proposals are also received and sanctioned.

So far as the procedural aspect is concerned, the guidelines are as follows:-

SCA should be allocated by the State Governments/UT Administrations to the ITDPs and no part of SCA should be released to any department at the State level, Transfer of funds to implementing departments/agencies if required should be done by the ITDP. to the corresponding officer of the implementing agency/line.

ITDP should prepare 5 year/Annual Plans depending upon the local parameters. Activities of, non-plan nature should not be catered to from SCA.

To fulfill the constitutional provisions, the schemes on which SCA is proposed to the utilized, should be specified in the annual TSPs of the States/UTs and administrative approval of the Government of India be obtained financial sanctions however need not be obtained on a case by case basis.

SCA is released to the States normally in three installments and the entire amounts expected to be made available by the end of third quarter. The releases would be subject to the performance by the State Governments and the utilization of previously released funds.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs issued guidelines for release and utilization of SCA to TSP in May, 2003.  There was a minor modification in the guidelines in January, 2008.

Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India

Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India provides such sums as Parliament may by law provide shall be charged on the consolidated Fund of India in

each year as grants-in-aid of the revenues of such States as Parliament may determine to be in need of assistance, and different sums may be fixed for different States:

Provided that there shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of India as grants-in-aid of the revenues of a State such capital and recurring sums as may be necessary to enable that State to meet the costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by the State with the approval of the Government of India for the purpose of promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in that State or raising the level of administration of the Scheduled Areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State”.

Funding Pattern:

This is a Central Sector Scheme and 100% grants are provided to the States.

Coverage:

The scheme covers States namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal having Scheduled Tribe Population..

Features

The grants are provided to the States on the basis of ST population percentage in the State to the total tribal population of the Country.

The funds are released to the State Governments against specific projects for the welfare of Scheduled     Tribes and   strengthening of administration of tribal areas from the year 2000- 2001. A part of funds are also utilised to establish Eklavya Model residential Schools to provide quality education to ST students from class VI to XII

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs issued revised guidelines, in super session of the earlier circulars/ letters/ guidelines on the subject, under No.14011/ 9/ 2001-SG&C dated 2.7.2002 for adoption during 10th Five Year Plan.  There was a minor modification in the guidelines in January, 2008.

Main Features of the Revised Guidelines dated 2.7.2002

The following are the main features of the revised guidelines issued by this Ministry on 2.7.2002.

Grant under Article 275(1) is additionally to Normal Central Assistance to the State Plan.

Adoption of the project approach and prior approval of the Ministry is necessary.

The projects under the first proviso to Article 275(1) are part of the overall TSP and the Annual State Plans.

Micro-plans for each ITDA/ MADA are to be prepared through multi-disciplinary teams.

Thrust areas are to be identified so that resources are better targeted rather than spreading too thin.

Provision for utilization of 2% of the funds for project management   has    been made.

Provision of expenditure up to 10% of the funds for maintenance and infrastructure with prior approval of the Ministry has also been made.

Proportionate, at least 30% coverage of women is necessary. TSP Component of the Annual State Plan is to be put in a separate budget head

under the administrative      control of their respective Tribal Development Department.

Earmarking of 10% of funds out of the overall allocation under the first proviso to Article 275(1) for innovative projects has been provided which will be sanctioned amongst only those States who provide TSP in the State Plan in proportion to the ST population of the State in a single budget head and then have spent at least 75% in previous three years on an average

Proposed Activities

States can take up activities for strengthening the infrastructure in the sectors critical to enhancement of human development indices such as education, income generation, health irrigation, roads, bridges, forests, forests villages,  electrification, communication, rural marketing, agriculture, animal husbandry, food processing, processing of MFPs, human resource development in technical and vocational spheres, water harvesting, resettlement of displaced persons, tribal land management, sports promotion. Generation of community welfare assets like residential schools, Maintenance of schools,   Providing skilled teaching including in tribal language,  Nutritional support to needy: children, mothers and elderly people, Community Grain Storage,   Assured Drinking Water, and Other activities meant for welfare of Tribal population different from conventional development etc.

Provision under Article 275 of the Constitution of India

275.  Grants from the Union to certain States. – (1)Such sums as Parliament may by law provide shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India in each year as grants-in-aid of the revenues of such States as Parliament may determine to be in need of assistance, and different sums may be fixed for different states:

Provided that there shall be paid out of the consolidated fund of India as grants-in-aid of the revenues of a state such capital and recurring sums as may be necessary to enable that state to meet the costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by the State with the approval of the government of India for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the scheduled tribes in that state or raising the level of scheduled tribes in that state or

raising the level of administration of the scheduled areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that state:

Provided further that there shall be paid out of the consolidated fund of India as grants-in-aid of the revenues of the state of Assam sums, capital and recurring, equivalent to –

the average excess of expenditure over the revenues during the two years immediately preceding the commencement of this constitution in respect of the administration of the tribal areas specified in Part I of the table appended to paragraph 20 of the sixth schedule and

The costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by that state with the approval of the Government of India for the Purpose of raising the level of administration of the said areas to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that state.

[(1A) on and from the formation of the autonomous state under article 244A, -

(i) Any sums payable under clause (a) of the second provision to clause (1) shall, if the autonomous state comprises all the tribal areas referred to therein, be paid to the autonomous State, and, if the autonomous State comprises only some of those tribal areas, be apportioned between the state of Assam and the autonomous state as the President may, by order, specify.

(ii) There shall be paid out of the consolidated fund of India a grants-in-aid of the revenues of the autonomous state sums, capital and recurring equivalent to the costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by the autonomous state with the approval of the Government of India for the purpose of raising the level of administration of the rest of the state of Assam.]

(2) Until provision is made by Parliament under clause (1), the powers conferred on Parliament under the clause shall be exercisable by the President by order and any order made by the President under this clause shall have effect subject to any provision so made by Parliament:

Provided that after Finance commission has been constituted no order shall be made under this clause by the president except after considering the recommendations of the Finance Commission.

Allocation under Article 275 -1 of the Constitution for the year 2013-2014State-wise Allocation under the Programme Grants Under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution of India during 2013-14S.N. States/UTs Allocation (Rs. In lakh)1 Andhra Pradesh 69582 Arunachal Pradesh 9723 Assam 4587

4 Bihar 10555 Chhattisgarh 91746 Goa 2257 Gujarat 103718 Himachal Pradesh 4749 Jammu & Kashmir 152910 Jharkhand 982611 Karnataka 480012 Kerala 51013 Madhya Pradesh 1695014 Maharashtra 1188915 Manipur 103116 Meghalaya 276217 Mizoram 116218 Nagaland 245419 Orissa 1128420 Rajasthan 983821 Sikkim 28422 Tamil Nadu 90123 Tripura 137524 Uttar Pradesh 165925 Uttarakhand 35626 West Bengal 6104

Eklavya Model Residential School

Introduction

In the context of the trend of establishing quality residential schools for the promotion of education in all areas and habitations in the country, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for ST students take their place among the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and the Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.

States/UTs are free to apportion funds out of their Article 275 (1) Grants to   construct and run additional EMRS over the number sanctioned by the Ministry.

The State Governments/UT Administration will ask for new EMRS after ensuring that all the existing EMRSs have been made functional.

The Ministry’s support to the States/ UTs for the EMRSs programme  and its expansion will be subject to the States/UTs ensuring high quality of management and running of the schools. Quality management indicates timely and smooth transition of funds allocated from the State Government/UT Administration to the management societies/schools; ensuring the recruitment of the desired number of

teachers; ensuring the provision of medical facilities to staff and students; clean and hygienic surroundings and food for the children and providing a healthy, happy environment for the academic and overall development of the children. If the progress in the EMRSs is seen to be poor as a direct result of poor management and lack of adherence to standards the States/ UTs concerned would be unable to claim any more funds from the Ministry for this programme.

Objectives of EMRS

The objective of EMRS is to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population. This would be achieved by:

Comprehensive physical, mental and socially relevant development of all students enrolled in each and every EMRS. Students will be empowered to be change agent, beginning in their school, in their homes, in their village and finally in a larger context.

Focus differentially on the educational support to be made available to those in Standards XI and XII, and those in standards VI to X, so that their distinctive needs can be met,

Support the annual running expenses in a manner that offers reasonable remuneration to the staff and upkeep of the facilities.

Support the construction of infrastructure that provides education, physical, environmental and cultural needs of student life.

Structure of EMRSs

Admission to these schools will be through selection/competition with suitable provision for preference to children belonging to Primitive Tribal Groups, first generation students, etc.

Sufficient land would be given by the State Government for the school, play grounds, hostels, residential quarters, etc., free of cost.

The number of seats for boys and girls will be equal. In these schools, education will be entirely free. Every class can have maximum 60 students preferably in 2 sections of 30 students

each and the total sanctioned strength of the school will be 480 students. At the Higher Secondary level (class XI & XII), there will be three sections per

class for the three streams in Science, Commerce & Humanities. The maximum sanctioned strength of the each section may be 30 students.

Management and Running of EMRS

The EMRSs may be affiliated either to the State or Central Boards of  Secondary Education as desired fit by the State Governments/UT Administration.

The norms and standards for a school class VI to class VIII in respect of the number of teachers to be appointed, as provided in the Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 shall be strictly followed.

Efforts may be made to recruit maximum no. of women teachers. At the time of recruitment, preference may be accorded to candidates whose spouses also qualify for selection as teachers. Women should be given preference for employment among the non-teaching staff and in any case women be deployed in the posts of cook, helper and cleaner.

Each State Government/UT Administration would be solely responsible for the management   and effective functioning of the EMRSs.

State Governments/UT Administration may opt for any feasible/ suitable mode of management whether by autonomous education societies; public-private partnership with reputed educational institutions; in arrangement with the State Department of Education or any other mode found suitable.

All State Governments/UT Administration are encouraged to set up a society/use an existing registered education society for the management of the EMRSs. Such a society will be eligible for accepting donations, contributions and grants from individuals and institutions, for the purposes of augmenting the infrastructure/ facilities/ educational resources of the schools in the interest of quality education.

A Management Committee may be constituted for each EMRSs which could include, among others, reputed local NGOs involved with education. Help of such NGOs may be taken to organize socially relevant, development/ welfare extension programmes.

The tasks of school admissions, appointment of teachers, appointment of staff, personnel matters and day-to-day running of the schools would be handled entirely by the society chosen by the State Government/UT Administration and in the manner deemed most suitable.

The State Governments/UT Administration shall ensure and maintain the highest quality in the selection of teachers and staff for academic and extra-curricular excellence.

The Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs shall not accept any responsibility for the management of the School including student admission, staff recruitment, personnel policy / administration estate management etc.

Building Design and Layout

The land allocation for each school should be 20 acres of which upto 3.5 acres may be used for the construction purposes. The remaining area must be maintained properly and a reasonable portion may be earmarked for sports/ games.

The plan of the school must indicate a layout of the compound, including the kitchen, vegetable garden and plantation (fruits and nutritional trees like drumsticks (moringa/Sahjan), citrus) areas. States/UTs are encouraged to use fuel saving or renewable energy technologies in the school by availing of the schemes of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.

The design of the EMRS must take certain essential components into account as well as local, environmental characteristics. A list of suggested essential components is at Annexure.

The norms and standards of a school in respect of ‘Building’ as laid down in the Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, shall be strictly ensured.

Costs & Budget

Capital Cost (non-recurring)

The capital cost for the school complex, including hostels and staff quarters will now be Rs. 12.00 crore with a provision to go up to Rs.16.00 crore in hill areas, deserts and islands. Any escalation will have to be met by State Government/UT.

Recurring Cost

Recurring cost during the first year for schools would be @ Rs. 42000/- per child. This may be raised by 10% every second year to compensate for inflation etc.

For procurement of essential, non-recurring items like furniture/equipment including for the kitchen, dining, hostel, recreation, garden etc. @ Rs.10 lakh per school - will be allowed once in every 5 years, allowing for inflation.

The annual budget for recurring expenditure shall be formulated and placed before the Management Committee for approval at the end of the each financial year for the next year. The rates for calculation of recurring costs may be based on the prevailing rates sanctioned for the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya from time to time.

The amount under recurring cost, due to each functioning EMRS, would be released by the State/UT Government to the bank account of the EMRS. The bank account of each EMRS for this purpose may be opened jointly in the name of the Principal of the EMRS and any Member of the Management Committee who is also a Government official.

Review and Monitoring

The progress of implementation of the scheme will be reviewed by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs through periodic reports from the State Government/ implementing agencies.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will conduct review meetings during which States/UTs would be required to make presentations on the progress of their EMRSs.

The guidelines for the use of the grants under Article 275 (1) provide for an amount up to 2% of the total allocation to be used for administration of the programme. This would be applicable in case of EMRS.

A centralized mechanism for the online monitoring of the EMRSs would be developed. Meanwhile States/UTs may strength their own systems/methods.

The Government of India is free to make any modification in the aforesaid conditions in consultation with selected State Governments/ UTs whenever deemed necessary.

Development of Forest Village

After the enactment of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, State Governments faced problems in taking up non-forestry developmental activities relating to infrastructure for improving socio-economic conditions of people living in the villages located in the forest areas.  Consequent to the intervention of this Ministry, steps like stopping of illegal eviction of genuine tribal people living in the forests, allowing diversion of forest lands for providing the basic and essential developmental facilities to the tribal/forest villages etc. have been achieved.

This programme was launched during the 10th Plan as a onetime measure with for integrated development of 2690 forest villages originally identified with about 2.5 lakh tribal families with a view to:

Raise the Human Development Index (HDI) of the inhabitants of the Forest Villages

provide basic facilities and services like food, safe drinking water, health care, primary education, approach roads, other infrastructural facilities etc.

During the 10th Five Year Plan, Rs. 450 crore was allocated to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the development of forest villages under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP).

Presently there are 2,474 forest villages/ habitations (reduced from the original 2,690) spread over 12 States (reduced from the original 13 States). As per the latest information available in the Ministry of Environment and Forests on forest villages / habitations based on reports received from States, details are as under:-

S. No. Name of the State No. of forest villages/habitations

1 Assam 4992 Chhattisgarh 4253 Gujarat 1994 Jharkhand 245 Meghalaya 236 Madhya Pradesh 8937 Mizoram 858 Orissa 209 Tripura 6210 Uttarakhand 61 habitations11 Uttar Pradesh 1312 West Bengal 170

Total 2474

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has approved proposals covering 2423 forest villages in 12 States and also released Rs.65379.04 lakh (upto 2011-12).  No funds were released in 2012-13.

Activities

Under the programme, infrastructure work relating to basic services and facilities viz. approach roads, healthcare, primary education, minor irrigation, rainwater harvesting, drinking water, sanitation, community halls, etc. and activities related to livelihood are taken up for implementation

Process of approval

The project proposals received from the States for the activities to be undertaken in the villages are scrutinized by the Ministry of Environment & Forests and put up for the consideration of the Project Appraisal Committee constituted for the purpose. Joint Secretary in the MTA acts as the chairperson of the Committee in the normal course.  As per recommendation of Project Appraisal Committee, the proposals are approved and funds released after getting the financial concurrence.

Implementing Agency:

Forest Development Agency (FDA) - forest division level Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) - village level, composed of all

willing adult members of the village

Funding pattern

The funding is done under the programme of ‘Special Central Assistance to the Tribal Sub-Plan’ Fund flows from Ministry of Tribal Affairs to Department of Tribal Welfare/ Tribal Development of the States and then to the implementing agencies.

Since forest villages are most backward and are located in forest   areas, they have not got benefits of development over the years.  To enable these settlements/forest villages to get the fruits of development, to begin with 100% financial assistance is provided under this special Programme.  As a first step, funding of proposals for each forest village has been generally given for Rs.15 lakh each.  Additional funding of Rs 15 lakh per village has been initiated in the second phase during 2006-07.

Year-wise release of the funds so far is as under:

Year Release (Rs. in crore*)

2005-06 191.812006-07 220.972007-08 46.472008-09 149.512009-10 Nil2010-11 30.032011-12 15Total 653.79

Impact

Teams comprising of Director/ Dy. Secretary/ Under Secretary level officers of the Ministry had been deputed to various States to get a first hand information on the progress of the activities undertaken in the forest villages for which funds were released by the Ministry. The reports received from the teams has been very encouraging and based on the same and other factors, extension of the programme was done so that sufficient developmental activities could take place in these villages, which were comparatively backward.

NGO/Public Cooperation

The prime objective of public cooperation is to enhance the reach of welfare schemes of Government and fill the gaps in service deficient tribal areas in sectors such as education, health, sanitation, drinking water, agro-horticultural productivity, social security, etc., through the efforts of Voluntary Organizations (VOs) and Non – Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and to provide an environment for socio economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Any other innovative activity having direct impact on the socio economic development or livelihood generation of STs may also be taken up through partnership with VOs/NGOs. While the ultimate objective is delivery of services to remote and unreached tribal areas, the standard of services provided is equally important. Each partner VO/NGO is, therefore, expected to strive towards delivery of quality services

Scheme of Coaching for Scheduled Tribes

The Scheme was started during 4th Plan period. The last revision took place in the year 1998-99 in the scheme.

Objective of the scheme

The scheduled tribes coming from deprived families and disadvantaged environment find it difficult to compete with those coming from a socially and economically advantageous background. To promote a

More level playing field, and give ST candidates a better chance to succeed in competitive examinations, the Ministry ofTribal Affairs supports a scheme for coaching for disadvantaged ST candidates in quality

Coaching institutions to enable them to appear in competitive examinations and succeed in obtaining an appropriate job in the public/private sector.

Implementation of the scheme and Courses to be covered

Pre-Examination Coaching Centres (PECs) run by State Governments/Universities/Registered Private Institutions shall be covered under the scheme. However the State Government/Union Administration shall make efforts to shift focus from Government run institutions to quality private coaching institutions.

There shall be no restriction on a coaching institution, located in a particular State/UT, on the admission of ST students belonging to other States/UTs.

Financial assistance will be given for only the eligible ST candidates who undergo coaching.

The courses for which the coaching will be imparted shall be as follows:

Civil Services Examination/State Civil Services Examination. Entrance Exams for Medical, Engineering, MBA and other professional courses. Other exams conducted by U.P.S.C. like CDS, NDA, etc./Staff Selection Commission Exams/Subordinated/Lower Subordinate Services Exam, Central

Excise, etc. BSRBs/RRBs, General Insurance Corporation, etc.

For the purpose of implementation, the Ministry will publish an advertisement in the month of November during 2007-08 and in the month of April from 2008-09 onwards, in the leading national dailies to invite applications from the new coaching institutions.

If any Coaching Institution runs coaching at different centres in different districts/cities, separate proposal (s) shall be submitted for each district/city.

The proposals will be examined by the Committee asprescribed in para VI and the institution will be given an opportunity to present their case before the Committee.

The coaching institutions will be selected for a period of 5 years.

The coaching institution once selected by the Ministry, will not have to apply afresh in response to the advertisement as prescribed in para II (iv) above during the project period unless they are asked to do so.

The coaching institutions shall have to submit the proposals within the prescribed financial norms in the prescribed Application Form.

The total number of students including non ST students shall not exceed 40 per class, admission being based on merit. The total number of ST students admitted shall preferably contain 30% women ST candidates and 5% disabled ST candidates.

In case number of applications received by a coaching institution is more than the available seats, a selection procedure based on merit-cum-performance in qualifying exams, shall be adopted.

Within one week of start of coaching classes, the institute shall furnish the course-wise names of the candidates with photographs enrolled for coaching along with other details and full address in the prescribed format.

Eligibility of the Coaching Institution

The Pre-Examination Coaching Centres (PECs) run by State Governments, Union Territories, universities and registered private institutions shall be covered under the scheme, for coaching of ST candidates.

The institution should have the experience to run coaching for competitive examinations for at least three years. Its past performance vis-à-vis intake and success rates will be taken into consideration in selection.

The institution should have not been declared bankrupt at any point of time. The institution should have not been blacklisted by any debarment or body of the

Government at any point of time. The institution should have the capacity to manage the building/space to run

coaching classes from its own resources.

Eligibility of the Candidates

Any candidate having the eligible qualifications for that particular competitive exam can apply to the coaching institutions financially assisted by this Ministry. The institutions will have to take these candidates on first come first serve basis till all the seats are filled.

Candidates can avail coaching once only under the scheme for a particular competitive exam and a maximum of two coaching courses in all. The candidate will have to furnish an undertaking to the institution that he is not availing/has not availed more than one such coaching with the assistance of this Ministry in any institution earlier.

For More Information : Scheme of Coaching for Scheduled Tribes

Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for welfare of STs

Objective

The prime objective of the scheme is to enhance the reach of welfare schemes of Government and fill the gaps in service deficient tribal areas, in the sectors such as

education, health, drinking water, agro-horticultural productivity, social security etc. through the efforts of voluntary organizations, and to provide an environment for socio- economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Any other innovative activity having direct impact on the socio-economic development or livelihood generation of STs may also be considered through voluntary efforts.

Scope and Eligibility

Organizations eligible for assistance shall be as follows:-

Any registered voluntary organization (VO) / non-governmental organization (NGO) engaged in the conduct and promotion of social welfare of STs. The organization should have been registered for at least three years.

Institutions or organizations set up by Government as autonomous bodies either under a statute or as a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

A Public Trust registered under any law for the time being in force. The trust must have been registered for at least three years.

In addition to the above eligibility conditions, the following criteria would be kept in view while selecting the VOs/NGOs:

Experience of at least three years in the relevant field. Aptitude and experience in welfare work pertaining to weaker sections. The location of the project proposed by the organization in service deficient tribal

areas. Preference will be given to programmes that benefit the Primitive Tribal Groups or naxal affected aareas/remote/interior/backward areas notserviced by Government Institutions or other established NGOs.

Financial viability of the organization to contribute its share, and ability to continue the work for limited periods in absence of assistance from the Ministry.

Good reputation and credentials. Capability to mobilize community. Networking with other institutions for optimum utilization of resources allocated

and assets created

For more Information: Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for welfare of STs

Scheme of Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs)

Primitive Tribal Groups

Among scheduled tribes, there are certain tribal communities who have declining or stagnant population, low level of literacy, pre-agricultural level of technology and are economically backward. 75 such groups in 17 States and 1 Union Territory have been identified and categorized as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). States/UT-wise list of

PTGs is at Annexure. Most of these groups are small in number, have not attained any significant level of social and economic progress and generally inhabit remote localities having poor infrastructure and administrative support. Therefore, they become the most vulnerable sections among the scheduled tribes and priority is required to be accorded for their protection, checking the declining trend of their population and their development. Such an approach may also strengthen the few MADA a nd such micro-projects in operation in our country.

Objective

Since PTGs constitute the most vulnerable section among tribals and inhabit isolated, remote and difficult areas in small and scattered hamlets/habitats, the scheme aims at planning their socio-economic development in a holistic manner by adopting habitat development approach and intervening in all spheres of their social and economic life, so that the quality of life of PTGs is improved and a visible impact is made.

Scope

The scheme will cover only the 75 identified Primitive Tribal Groups. The scheme is extremely flexible because it enables every State to focus on areas that they consider is relevant to their PTGs and their socio-cultural environment. Activities under it may include housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, cattle development, construction of link roads, installation of non-conventional sources of energy for lighting purpose, social security including Janshree Beema Yojana or any other innovative activity meant for the socio-economic development approach for the comprehensive socio-economic development of PTGs, more particularly for the PTGs who are nomadic in nature. Whether efforts should be made to bring nomadic PTGs to the settled mode of life, will be carefully addressed. The funds under this scheme would be made available only for those items/activities which are very crucial for the survival, protection and development of PTGs and are not specifically catered to by any other scheme of State or Central Government or by guidelines governing the utilization of funds under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan and Article 275(1) of the Constitution. The general principle of convergence of funds and functionaries will apply.

For More Information: Development of PTG Scheme

Schemes of strengthening education among Scheduled Tribes Girls in a low literacy Districts

OBJECTIVE

The scheme aims to bridge the gap in literacy levels between the general female population and tribal women, through facilitating 100% enrolment of tribal girls in the identified Districts or Blocks, more particularly in naxal affected areas and in areas inhabited by Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), and reducing drop-outs at the elementary level by creating the required ambience for education. Improvement of the literacy rate of

tribal girls is essential to enable them to participate effectively in and benefit from, socio-economic development.

COVERAGE

The scheme will be implemented in 54 identified Districts (Appendix-I) where the ST population is 25% or more, and ST female literacy rate below 35%, or its fractions, as per 2001census.

Any other tribal block in a district, other than aforesaid 54 identified districts, which has scheduled tribe population 25% or above, and tribal female literacy rate below 35% or its fractions, as per 2001 census, shall also be covered (Appendix-II, Blocks intimated by West Bengal and Karnataka so far. Such Blocks fulfilling the criteria in other States may also be considered as and when reported).

In addition, the scheme will also cover areas below a Block level (e.g. Gram Panchayats) inhabited by the notified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) (Appendix-III).

Out of all the aforesaid areas, the naxal affected areas shall be given priority

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY

The scheme will be implemented through Voluntary Organizations (VOs)/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and autonomous society/institutions of State Government/Union Territory Administration.

The existing multidisciplinary “State Committee for Supporting Voluntary Efforts” (SCSVE) constituted by various States/Union Territories will be responsible for identification and scrutiny of the projects of Non-Governmental Organizations under this scheme also. No.22040/10/2006/NGO/Education Government of India Ministry of Tribal Affairs

ELIGIBILITY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS

Organizations including autonomous society/institutions of State Government/UnionTerritory Administration shall maintain women project staff for the projects run under this scheme.

Voluntary Organization (VO)/Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) have to fulfill the following requirements (through certificates from the District or Panchayati Raj administration):

Registered for at least three years for the conduct and promotion of social welfare of scheduled tribes.

Experience of at least three years in successfully running and maintaining hostels and/or educational complexes.

Financial viability to continue the work for limited periods in the case of delay or absence of assistance from the Ministry.

Good reputation and credentials, especially for guaranteeing the security and safety of the hostellers.

Networking with other institutions including Panchayati Raj for optimum utilization of resources allocated and assets created

For More Information:

Strengthening education among Scheduled Tribes Girls Application Format-Appendix

Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas

OBJECTIVE

Scheduled Tribes are the most marginalized section of the society, therefore to assist their socio-economic development, there is an imperative need to provide more employment avenues and income generation opportunities. It is aimed at upgrading the skills of the tribal youths in various traditional/ modern vocations depending upon their educational qualification, present economic trends and the market potential, which would enable them to gain suitable employment or enable them to become self-employed.

SCOPE AND ELIGIBILITY

Under the scheme of Vocational Training, grants will be available for organizing vocational trainings in recognized institutes or in Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) subject to terms and conditions revised from time to time of the scheme.

The agencies eligible for such grants are:

State Governments and UT Administrations; Institutions or Organisations set up by Government as autonomous bodies, either

under a statue, or as a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860;

Educational and other institutions of the likes of local bodies and cooperative bodies.

A Public Trust registered under any law for the time being in force. The trust must have been registered for at least three years.

Any Private Recognized Institution, registered and conducting such vocational courses for at least three years.

Any industry or an association of industries like ASSOCHAM, CII, FICCI, etc. who are willing to run such skill upgradation training centres as per the financial norms of the scheme with a proper plan for placements.

Voluntary Organization (VO)/Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) which fulfill the following requirements:

Any registered voluntary organization/non-governmental organization engaged in the conduct and promotion of social welfare of STs. The organization should have been registered for at least three years.

Experience of at least three years in the relevant field. Aptitude and experience in welfare work pertaining to weaker sections. Preference will be given to programmes that benefit the Particularly Vulnerable

Tribal Groups (PTGs) or remote/interior/ backward areas not serviced by Government Institutions or other established NGOs.

Financial viability of the organization and ability to continue the work for limited periods in absence of assistance from the Ministry.

Good reputation and credentials. Capability to mobilize community. Networking with other institutions for optimum utilization of resources allocated

and assets created.

National Institutes 1. National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations

1. Objectives 2. Functions 3. Schemes

2. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)

1. Roadmap of 12th Five year plan

National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations

Objectives

1. Identification of economic activities of importance to the Scheduled Tribes so as to generate employment and raise their level of income.

2. Upgradation of skills and processes used by the Scheduled Tribes through providing both institutional and on the job training.

3. To make the existing State/U.T Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations who are nominated as the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) for availing assistance from NSTFDC and other developmental agencies engaged in the economic development of Scheduled Tribes more effective.

4. To assist SCAs in project formulation implementation of NSTFDC assisted Schemes and in imparting necessary training to their staff.

5. To provide financial support for meeting the working capital requirement of the Central / State government owned agencies for undertaking procurement and marketing of minor forest produces agricultural produces and other products grown/made or collected by the Scheduled Tribes.

6. To innovate experiment and promote rather than replicate the work of the existing agencies.

Functions

1. To finance viable Income Generating Scheme(s)/ Project(s) costing up to Rs.10.00 Lakhs through the State Channelising Agencies / affiliated banks and RRBs  for the economic development of eligible Scheduled Tribes.

2. To provide grants through the SCAs for undertaking training programmes for the skill and entrepreneurial development of eligible Scheduled Tribes.

3. To upgrade skills of officials of the SCAs through periodic training

Schemes

Term Loan

Unit Cost: NSTFDC provides Term Loan for viable Scheme(s)/ Project(s) costing upto Rs.10.00 lakh per unit/ profit centre.

Quantum of Assistance: NSTFDC provides Term Loan upto 90% of the cost of Scheme(s)/ Project(s) subject to the condition that the SCAs contribute their share of loan as per the scheme and provide eligible subsidy. The SCAs may endeavour to tie up financial assistance from other sources if any.

Working Capital:Entire Working requirement is treated as a part of the project cost for scheme(s) having cost upto Rs. 1.00 lakh.For Scheme(s) /Project (s) having unit cost above Re.1.00 lakh Working Capital requirement upto 30% of the cost of Scheme (s) /Project (s) subject to a maximum of Rs. 3.00 lakhs per unit/profit centre is considered as part of the cost of project.

Promoter’s Contribution:Cost per Unit/ Profit Centre Minimum Promoter’s Contribution (as %age of cost of project)

1. Upto Rs. 1.00 lakh :  not to be insisted upon2. Above Rs. 1.00 lakh and upto Rs. 2.50 lakh : 2%3. Above Rs. 2.50 lakh and upto Rs. 5.00 lakh : 3%4. Above Rs. 5.00 lakh : 5%

Interest Rates:Amount of Loan Interest per AnnumPer Unit/Profit Centre Chargeable To**(NSTFDC’S SHARE)  SCAs Beneficiary (ies)a) Upto Rs.5.00 lakh        :  3%  -  6%b)  Above Rs.5.00 lakh    :  5%  -  8%** The above rates of interest are not on slab basis

Repayment Period:(a) The loan is to be repaid in quarterly/ half yearly installments as the case may be within a maximum period of 10 years including suitable moratorium period.(b) The repayment period of the scheme is fixed by NSTFDC based on nature of activity and cash generating capacity of unit.(c) SCAs are allowed extra repayment period of one year over and above the repayment period allowed to the beneficiaries.

Bridge Loan

Unit CostBridge loan may be provided by the NSTFDC against subsidy/capital incentives etc available for the Scheme(s)/Project(s) through the SCAs to meet the gap in funding requirement of Scheme(s)/ Project (s) costing upto Rs. 10.00 lakhs per unit/ profit centre.

Interest RatesInterest rate on bridge loan are at par with rates of interest for term loan as at A (v) above.

Repayment PeriodThe SCA is to ensure that loan is repaid to NSTFDC within a maximum period of 2 years from the date of first release of Bridge Loan by NSTFDC to SCA.

Scheme For Women

Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran YojanaAn exclusive  concessional scheme for the economic development of eligible Scheduled Tribe Women.

Unit CostNSTFDC provides Term Loan for Scheme(s)/Project(s) costing upto Rs. 50000/- per unit/profit centre.

Quantum of AssistanceNSTFDC provides term loan upto 90% of the cost of the Scheme(s)/ Project(s) subject to the condition that the SCAs contribute their share of loan as per their scheme and provide the eligible subsidy. The SCAs may endeavor to tie-up financial assistance from other sources if any.

Promoter’s ContributionMinimum promoter's contribution may not to be insisted upon.

Interest RateNSTFDC charges highly concessional interest @ 2% p.a. from the SCAs. The SCAs may charge a maximum interest @ 4% p.a. from the ultimate women beneficiaries.

Repayment Period(a) The loan is to be repaid in quarterly/ half yearly instalments as the case may be within a maximum period of 10 years including suitable moratorium period.(b) The repayment period of the scheme is fixed by NSTFDC based on nature of activity and cash generating capacity of unit.(c) SCAs are allowed extra repayment period of one year over and above the repayment period allowed to the beneficiaries.

Self Help Groups

Unit Cost: NSTFDC provides financial assistane for Scheme(s)/ Project(s) having unit cost upto Rs. 25.00 lakh per SHG.

Quantum of Assistance: NSTFDC provides term loan upto 90% of the cost of the Scheme/Project subject to investment per member not exceeding Rs. 50000/- per unit.This is further subject to the condition that the Channelising Agencies (SCAs) contribute their share of loan as per their norms and arrange/provide the eligible subsidy. The SCAs may also endeavour to tie up financial assistance from other sources if any.

Working Capital: Upto 30% of the cost of the scheme/ project is considered as part of the cost of project/scheme.Minimum Contribution from SHG's: At the rate of 10% of the cost of the project/ scheme.

Interest Rate: NSTFDC shall charge interest @ 5% per annum (on NSTFDC’s share) from the     SCAs and in turn SCAs may charge upto 8% p.a. from the SHGs.New/ Existing Profit Making SHG's: SHGs shall be extended the financial assistance for the viable unit(s) by NSTFDC through the SCAs subject to fulfilling the primary condition of income limit for ST members.Note: The other lending norms as applicable under Term Loan scheme having unit cost upto Rs. 10.00 lakh shall also be applicable for funding to SHGs.

Micro Credit

This Scheme is meant to provide small loans to the eligible Scheduled Tribes for undertaking Self Employment Ventures/Activities only through the existing profit making Self Help Groups.

Quantum of Assistance:

NSTFDC provides loans upto Rs.35000/- per Member and maximum Rs.5.00 lakh per SHG.. SCAs shall provide eligible amount of Margin Money/Subsidy as

per their norms for the target group and remaining amount may be provided as Term Loan by NSTFDC.

NSTFDC may provide upto 100% of  the funds required as Term Loan in case the SCA is/are not able to provide Margin Money/Subsidy loan.

Repeat Loans:  Repeat Loans  may be given to the Members by the SHGs.  However Repeat Loan to the SHGs by the SCAs shall be given only after the entire dues of earlier loan taken under NSTFDC scheme are repaid by the SHG(s) to SCA(s) and in turn by the SCA(s) to NSTFDC.

Interest rates:

NSTFDC to SCAs: NSTFDC shall charge interest from the SCAs @ 3% p.a. SCAs to SHGs:  SCAs  shall charge  interest at the rate of  6% p.a. from  the 

eligible Self Help Groups. SHGs to Members: Members of respective SHGs to decide the rate of  interest to

be     charged by SHGs from its member  but not exceeding 15% p.a.

REPAYMENT PERIOD:

SHGs to SCAs :  Depending on the nature of activity(ies) repayment period shall be recommended  by the SCAs. However loan is to be repaid by the SHGs to the SCAs within     a maximum period of 04 years including a standard moratorium period of six months to be allowed to the SHGs by the SCAs from the date of disbursement of funds by the SCAs to SHGs.

SCAs to NSTFDC: On quarterly basis by SCAs within a period of 05 years from the date of disbursement of funds by  NSTFDC to  SCAs including  a standard moratorium period of six months allowed by the SCAs to SHGs.

Education Loan

To extend loan at concessional rate of interest to the eligible Scheduled Tribe candidates for pursuing professional / technical courses including Ph.D. in India.

Eligibility Criteria

Student should be from a Scheduled Tribe community. The annual family income of the student should not exceed Double the Poverty

Line (DPL) limit. Present limit is Rs. 81,000/-p.a. for the rural areas and Rs. 1,04,000/- p.a. for the urban areas (this is revised from time to time based on the norms of the Planning Commission of India.

The applicant should have been selected for admission / secured admission for an eligible course in a college / institution recognized by an Indian Government Body.

No other loan is availed by the applicant from any other source for education purpose. An affidavit to this effect shall be submitted by the applicant to the concerned SCA.

Courses Covered

Education loan may be provided for the professional and technical courses including Ph.D. conducted by colleges / universities approved by UGC / Govt. / AICTE / ICMR etc.

Expenses Considered For Loan

Educational Loan is meant to cover expenditure on account of the following: Admission fee, Examination fee, Library fee, Laboratory fee & Tuition fee

payable to the Institute. Caution deposit, Building fund/refundable deposit supported by Institution bills/receipts subject to the condition that the amount does not exceed 10% of the total tuition fees for the entire course.

Boarding and Lodging expenses:  On actuals as charged by the concerned Government College/ Institute. For private boarding and lodging arrangements, the same would be payable at the rates of the Govt. Colleges / Institutes. However, if the said institute is not having boarding/lodging facilities, payment would be regulated on the rates applicable in the Government hostels in the respective areas.

Travel expenses, books, stationery, computer, equipments/ instruments etc.  essential for completion of the course.

Insurance premium for student borrower taking comprehensive insurance cover during the currency of the loan.

Any other expense required to complete the course - like study tours, project work, thesis etc

Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme

Govt. of India has enacted the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Under this act, Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers have been given the right to hold the forest land for habitation and/ or for self-cultivation or for any other traditional activity for generating livelihood.

The objective of the Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme is to generate awareness, provide training to beneficiaries, give NSTFDC’s concessional financial assistance, assist in market linkage, etc. to the Scheduled Tribes Forest Dwellers for facilitating productive utilisation of land.

A Scheduled Tribe, who has received land right under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 is eligible for availing financial assistance under this scheme.

Quantum of assistance: Unit cost of the scheme can be upto Rs. 1 Lakh. Upto 90% assistance from NSTFDC as concessional loan and the balance by way of promoters’ contribution/margin money/subsidy.

Handholding Support/ Training: Forest Right Holders seeking financial assistance from NSTFDC will be entitled to handholding support and need based training in the relevant field.

Rate of Interest: 6% p.a. chargeable from beneficiary. Repayment Period: The loan is to be repaid in quarterly installments within a

maximum period of 5 years, including a moratorium period of six months.

Indicative Activities

Minor irrigation Vermi Compost Sericulture/ Bee keepingHigh yielding variety seeds Medicinal/ Ornamental Plants FloricultureHorticulture Poultry Goat/ sheep rearingRubber plantation Piggery Fruit OrchardsBetel Nut Cultivation Dairy Minor Forest ProduceSource: National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)

Tribals constitute 8.61% of the total population of the country, numbering 104.28 million (2011 Census) and cover about 15% of the country’s area. The fact that tribal people need special attention can be observed from their low social, economic and participatory indicators. Whether it is maternal and child mortality, size of agricultural holdings or access to drinking water and electricity, tribal communities lag far behind the general population.

These indicators underline the importance of the need of livelihood generating activities based on locally available resources so that gainful employment opportunities could be created at the doorstep of tribal people. Recognizing this need for initiating such livelihood generating activities in a sustained and focused manner, the Ministry of Welfare (now Ministry of Tribal Affairs) established an organization to take up marketing development activities for Non Timber forest produce (NTFP) on which a tribal spends most of his time and derives a major portion of his/her income. In 1987, the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) was set up with an aim to serve the interest of the tribal community and work for their socio-economic development by conducting its affairs in a professional, democratic and autonomous manner for undertaking marketing of tribal products.

Further to achieve the aim of accelerating the economic development of tribal people by providing wider exposure to their art and crafts, TRIBES INDIA, the exclusive shops of tribal artifacts were set up all over India by TRIFED. They showcase and market the art and craft items produced by the tribal people and thus demonstrate the magical mystique of tribal India espousing tribal cause.

Roadmap of 12th Five year plan

The Roadmap of 12th plan period from (2012-13 to 2017-18) assigns the following four main activities to TRIFED:-

1. Retail Marketing Development2. Minor Forest Produce Marketing Development3. Skill up-gradation & Capacity Building of ST Artisans and MFP Gatherers4. R&D Development/Intellectual Proprietary Rights (IPR) Activity

Retail Marketing Development :

The activity of marketing development of tribal products envisages TRIFED’s role as a facilitator, service provider and market developer. This involves exploring marketing possibilities in national as well as international markets, creating opportunities for marketing tribal products on a sustainable basis, creating a brand and skill upgradation & capacity building of the tribals. The ultimate objective of TRIFED is socio-economic development of tribal people in the country by way of marketing development of the tribal products on which the lives of tribals depend. In order to achieve its objective, TRIFED is marketing tribal products through its 37 own showrooms by the name of “Tribes India” Outlets and 7 consignment showrooms in association with State level Organisations promoting handicrafts.

TRIFED has been undertaking sourcing of various handicraft, handloom and natural & food products from individual tribal artisans, tribal SHGs, Organisations/Agencies/NGOs working with tribals. The same is being sold through its Outlets and Exhibitions.

Aadishilp: TRIFED has been organizing National Tribal Craft Expo “Aadishilp”, wherein tribal artisans/groups/organizations are invited to participate in this Expo and showcase their rich tribal heritage. The main objective in holding these events is to provide an opportunity to tribal artisans to showcase their ethnic crafts and to interact directly with art lovers to learn about their taste and preferences. This helps them in adapting their product designs and creations accordingly. It is an attempt to present tribal art and culture in holistic manner, which has been receiving encouraging response from all quarters.

Aadichitra: TRIFED also organises Áadichitra’- an exhibition of tribal paintings, in which tribal paintings are exclusively displayed and sold. The tribal artists are also invited to demonstrate their art in these exhibitions. Encouraged by the response, TRIFED has been organizing such exhibitions at various locations across the country.

OCTAVE: TRIFED participates in the OCTAVE - a dance festival of North Eastern Region, organized by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. TRIFED is associated with this event from 2008-09 onwards. TRIFED facilitates participation of artisan from North Eastern Region and provide them the opportunity to showcase and market their products.

Besides participating in various domestic exhibitions across the country, TRIFED also participates in international exhibitions/trade fairs through Export Promotion Council For Handicrafts (EPCH) and India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in various countries for promotion of tribal products. During the current year TRIFED participated in two International Exhibitions i.e., Import Shop Berlin, Germany and AFL, Milan, Italy.

Minor Forest Produce Marketing Development:

Timated 100 Million people derive their source of livelihood from the collection and marketing of MFP (Report of the National Committee on Forest Rights Act, 2011). The importance of MFPs for this section of the society can be gauged from the facts that around 100 million forest dwellers depend on MFPs for food, shelter, medicines and cash income. It is important for them for food, shelter medicines and case income beside providing critical subsistence during the lean seasons, particularly for primitive tribal groups such as hunter gatherers, and the landless. Tribals derive 20-40% of their annual income from MFP on which they spend major portion of their time. This activity has strong linkage to women’s financial empowerment as most of the MFPs are collected and used/sold by women. MFP sector has the potential to create about 10 million workdays annually in the country.

Minimum Support Price (MSP) FOR MFPs:

Govt. of India has taken a number of initiatives for socio economic development of tribals and recognizing the critical importance which MFP hold for tribals and its potential to create large scale employment opportunity thereby, helping in reducing poverty and increasing empowerment of tribals particularly women and poor people of the poorest and backward districts of the country, Govt. of India has decided to introduce an ambitious scheme of providing fair price for the MFP collected by tribals through Minimum Support price (MSP). The scheme has been started with the objective of providing fair returns to MFP gatherers, enhance their income level and ensure sustainable harvesting of MFPs. The MSP scheme seeks to establish a framework to ensure fair prices for the produce collected by tribals, assurance of buying at a particular price, primary processing, storage, transportation etc while ensuring sustainability of the resource base. The scheme envisages fixation of MSP for the following items, procurement and marketing operation of which shall be undertaken by State procurement agencies at the pre fixed MSP.

(i) Tendu, (ii) Bamboo, (iii) Mahuwa Seed, (iv) Sal Leaf (v) Sal Seed, (vi) Lac (vii) Chironjee (viii) Wild Honey (ix) Myrobalan, (x) Tamarind (xi) Gums (Gum Karaya) (xii) Karanj.

Any de-nationalised MFP / items removed from the purview of monopoly procurement in future will also qualify for coverage under the Scheme. Similarly any nationalized/ monopolized procurement MFP will disqualify for coverage under the Scheme. Mahuwa Flower which is for self consumption by the tribals will also be excluded from the purview of MSP. However, if any State willingly wants any nationalised items to be

included in MSP, then it shall have to change its nationalized status accordingly. The scheme shall initially be implemented in the following PESA States (except Himachal Pradesh):-

Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra & Rajasthan.

Objective: - The scheme has been started with following objectives a. To provide fair price to the MFP gatherers for the produce collected by them and enhance their income level b. To ensure sustainable harvesting of MFPs. c. The Scheme will have a huge social dividend for MFP gatherers, majority of whom are tribals.

It is a holistic scheme for development of MFP trade including its value chain and necessary infrastructure at local level. The MSP scheme seeks to establish a framework to ensure fair returns for the produce collected by tribals, assurance of buying at a particular price, primary processing, storage, transportation etc while ensuring sustainability of the resource base.

Salient Features of the scheme:

Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India shall be the Nodal Ministry for implementation and monitoring of the scheme. Ministry of Tribal Affairs shall announce Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the selected MFPs with the technical support from TRIFED.

TRIFED shall be Central Nodal Agency for implementation of the scheme through State level implementing agencies.

The basic component of the scheme includes declaration of MSP for notified MFPs by the Central Government based on the recommendation of the Pricing Cell set up within TRIFED. The Pricing Cell has already been under the Chairmanship of Managing Director, TRIFED comprising representatives of Planning Commission, Commission for Agricultural Cost & Price, Ministry of Rural Development, Indian Institute of Forest Management , Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, National Council for Applied Economic Research and experts in the relevant field. In addition, Chief Executive Officers of designated States Procurement agencies will also be invited as a Special Invitees for the purpose.

State designated agencies will undertake procurement of notified MFPs directly from MFP gatherers (individual or collectives) at haats /village/pre notified procurement centres at prefixed Minimum Support Price and ensure full & timely payment to MFP gatherers across the country. States will ensure setting up of adequate number of Procurement Centres with necessary manpower and storage facility to meet the needs of MFP gatherers and thereby minimize exploitation by middle men. The State Procurement Agency will ensure proper collection, transportation, handling and storage arrangements to avoid deterioration in the quality. Appropriate guidelines for efficient and transparent procurement,

supervision and monitoring of the operations will be issued by the Procurement Agency to the field level functionaries.

Revolving fund: The State Governments Agencies will undertake procurement and marketing operations of MFPs under MSP Scheme. A revolving fund shall be provided to each designated State for procurement of MFPs from the gatherers at the prefixed MSP. The revolving fund requirement for each State shall be assessed based on a Procurement Plan every year. A provision of Rs.345 Crore has been made for revolving funds as central share and remaining 25% shall be arranged by State Govts.

Subsidy Requirement: Subsidy is required for the States to compensate for the losses if incurred, during the MSP operation. It is essentially an anti poverty measures, as it addresses the livelihood of some of the poorest communities in the country. The designated State Procurement Agency will finalize the accounts related to each commodity on yearly basis and based on the certified accounts subsidy shall be released to State Procurement agencies to the extent of 75% and remaining 25% shall be borne by the State. A provision of Rs.285 Crores has been made in the budget for this purpose.

The Scheme shall provide training to 1,00,000 tribal MFP gatherers on sustainable harvesting and value addition activities including facilitation for marketing of the produces.

Market information system: The existence and dissemination of complete and accurate market information is the key to achieve both operational and pricing efficiency. Therefore, MFPNET a portal dedicated to MFPs is being established to implement information and communication technology based schemes. The basic objectives is to establish nationwide information network for speedy collection and dissemination of market information and data for its efficient and timely utilization.

Modernization of Haats, storage facility at aggregation points and establishment of Multipurpose Centers for training and capacity building, value addition ,storage etc. also forms part of the scheme. (j) To ensure transparency and their accountability to Gram Sabhas, all Procurement Agencies will share full information about MSP operation and local accounts with the Gram Sabhas.

The total outlay for the Scheme is Rs.967 Crore as Centre’s share for the plan period during 2013-14 to 2016-17.

Trainings:

TRIFED in its endeavor to develop the marketing of minor forest produce is engaged in skill up gradation and capacity building of MFP gatherers with the objective of improving their income by way of organizing training for non-destructive harvesting, primary processing, value addition and marketing of MFPs. During the last few years, TRIFED has organized intensive training on sustainable collection, cultivation, primary processing, value addition and marketing of Honey, Gum Karaya, Mahua flower, Lac, Donna Pattal making, Hill Grass, Bamboo cultivation covering 56000 Gatherers. The trainings are organized through empanelled implementing agencies working in the field of tribal development.

It has been observed that without value addition of MFP, possibility of providing remunerative prices to the MFP gatherers is limited. Accordingly, TRIFED has now designed its training programmes to include forward & backward linkages as an integral part of the training. Now the objective is to empower the beneficiaries through training, provide information and handhold them by including them as a supplier of TRIFED as far as possible or link them to different marketing channels. TRIFED’s training programmes can be divided in two categories.

One that leads to production of marketable product as an outcome of the training based on which an enterprise can be started with the assistance of State. Such trainings are value addition trainings on Hill Grass, Tamarind, Dona Pattal, Amla, Honey & some Agro based items like spices, herbs, cashew, etc. The trainees shall be supported in establishing marketing linkages and establishing their enterprise. While TRIFED propose to provide them with initial tool kits but for long-term sustenance of their initiative they will be converted into an enterprise with the active support of State Government. State Government’s participation will help ensure convergence by expanding the beneficiary base and can also compliment & supplement these initiatives in a positive manner by arranging to provide financial & administrative support in the form of working capital loans, Grants, subsidy, infrastructural support etc. wherever possible to help beneficiaries in establishing their enterprise and providing marketing linkages. Initial marketing linkages are also proposed to be provided as part of the training programme by marketing their products through TRIBES INDIA outlets established by TRIFED or any other outlet locally, directly by them. They will be encouraged to market their products locally in a systematic manner so that they can take control of their enterprise without continuous support from any outside agency. A brand is also proposed to be established for such MFP products that can be sold in Retail to help provide a distinct identity to such products.

Second is purely skill development training under which inputs are provided to the tribals to cultivate, collect and harvest MFP items in a scientific manner so that it not only improves the quantity & quality of the produce but also protects the environment. These trainings will result in earning livelihood through Lac cultivation, Processing of TBOs & Mahuwa Flower business activity in a scientific manner. These are purely skill development training under which they will be trained to enhance quantity collects and its quality so that their income improves. They will be encouraged to work in SHG mode for these training and work collectively to improve their incomes.

MFP Development

YEAR BENEFICIARIES OUTLAY (Rs.in Lakhs)

2007-08 11866 6042008-09 8026 6502009-10 9217 4502010-11 7263 362

2011-12 5775 1702012-13 6720 3652013-14 3520 952

Skill up-gradation & Capacity Building of ST Artisans and MFP Gatherers

Since time immemorial, craft sector in India has grown in its spontaneity from one generation to the next by the inherent creative aptitude of the people to work with natural resources of our country. Later, the subsistence needs of the people have ensured more dependence on the sector and made it a flourishing economic activity. Notwithstanding the phenomena of worldwide recession, industrial sickness, natural calamities etc. all over, this sector has been registering steady growth in terms of export and foreign exchange earning besides providing gainful employment (both fulltime and part-time) to around 8 million artisans of the country of which a large section belong to socio-economically poor and marginalized population.

At present, craft sector has assumed 1/5th share of the total house-hold industry in the country. But unfortunately the revenues earned from this sector are not adequately reaching the artisans and crafts persons who remain at the mercy of middleman, trader and exporter for both sustained earning and exposure to the marketable designs with change frequently with time. In order to address this problem and safeguard as well as promote the craft and tribal artisans involved in this sector, TRIFED has envisaged undertaking Skill Up gradation Trainings and Design Development Workshops.

Out of the handicraft artisans of disadvantaged communities, tribal artisans are the target beneficiaries as per the mandate of the TRIFED. These tribal beneficiaries pursue handicraft activity on individual basis in their house-hold set up. Thus, their family income is abysmally less as against the effort made by them in producing and selling the handicraft items. Hence there is a necessity to organize them into producer groups and offer them a platform so that they can leverage the benefits of various interventions made by Govt. organizations including TRIFED. Towards this end, TRIFED has been implementing the following activities:-

1. Skill Up-gradation Training & Design Development Workshop for the tribal artisans.

2. Networking with other organizations to gather the tribal artisans and give them technological and marketing support.

3. Collaborating with premier Design Institute for providing training to artisans on current design trends as per market taste and preference.

4. Institutionalizing tribal artisan group in the form of Federation.5. Tribal Artisan Mela (TAM).6. Multipurpose Tribal Development Center (MTDC)

R&D Development / Intellectual Proprietary Rights (IPR) Activity:

TRIFED has been undertaking R&D activities by sponsoring research on number of NTFPs. In TRIFED’s context, R&D is an important aspect as tribals from diverse income levels, age groups, and cultural backgrounds harvest NTFPs for household subsistence, maintaining cultural and family traditions, obtaining spiritual fulfillment, maintaining physical and emotional well-being, scientific learning, and earning income but they still use traditional collection, processing techniques with limited applications and market it as raw or with minimum processing. Most of the NTFPs are underutilized and there are few organizations which are working on the Minor forest produces in the country. It is in this background that R&D on NTFP assumes critical importance for enhancing the income of tribal collector gatherers, reducing drudgery & waste and increasing efficiency of tribals. TRIFED being the apex organization for providing marketing support for tribal products is carrying on the task of sponsoring R&D projects with the financial support of Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Objectives: Objectives for initiation of the R&D project on NTFPs by TRIFED are:

Research and development of an innovative low cost process/ technology for optimum utilization of the available NTFPs so that Tribals get direct benefit.

Development of tools, implements, methodologies, processes etc. which result in increased harvesting and collection of Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs) on a sustainable basis, which result in reducing drudgery & waste, increasing efficiency etc of the tribals.

Development of appropriate technologies for post harvest management of NTFPs concerning sorting, grading, cleaning, dusting, scientific storage, preliminary primary level processing for increasing shelf life /value addition , reducing wastage etc.

Sustainable harvesting techniques to ensure long term survival of forests. Enhance income through value addition of the NTFPs

TRIFED sponsors R&D projects through various reputed institutions like IITs. IICT, Hyderabad, CFTRI, Mysore, Universities etc to find out new & innovative product(s)/ process(s) development so that it can enhance the value of Minor forest produce and livelihood of tribals.. During the last few years TRIFED has sponsored 10 R&D Projects which are under various stages of its completion & commercialization.

Status of R&D Projects:

Projects Successfully Completed:

Development of Integrated post – harvested technology for production of quality minor forest produces by Institution of Minerals & Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar - The research study resulted in development of low cost hybrid dryer that can be useful for enhance the shelf life of Minor forest produces and can be utilized by the tribals.

Production of Nutra beverages from Mahuwa flower by JUIT, Solan (Jointly with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)): A blended Mahuwa Guava wine has been

developed which has enhanced flavor and antioxidant property. Further action regarding validation, patenting and market trial of developed products are under consideration.

Preparation of Health Products from Bael Fruit: Evaluation of Antiulcer, Anti-diabetic and Anticancer potentials by CFTRI, Mysore: The project has been completed and Bael juice fruit has been test marketed which received an encouraging response. Modalities of including the product into our productline are being finalsed.

Ongoing R&D Projects on value addition of Minor Forest Produces : Nutraceutical and Cosmaceutical from Tamarind seeds, Sal seeds oil and Karanj

oil using low cost technology by BIT, Mesra – This project was started in March 2013 and is under study. It is a two year project.

Completed projects requiring financial support for validation/ commercialization of Research findings:

Some of the earlier R&D study / Research have resulted in development of innovative products and processes. However, validation of the research study is needed on a large-scale before introduction in the market. TRIFED is exploring the possibility of financial support from other agencies to conduct validation of the following projects:

Exploration of Sal Seed oil cake as source of Organic manure, biopesticides and nitrification inhibitor: The research resulted in development of Sal manure and application of same resulted in higher productivity of crops. The validation study of the result need to be done before the commercialization of Sal manure.

Process Development for Isolation of Starch and Tannin from Sal cake (by BESTU, Howrah): The project has resulted in development of isolation/ extraction process of tannin, protein and soluble carbohydrate from Sal DOC. Isolated Tannin, Starch & Protein can be utilised in many industry sectors.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups 1. The need for identification 2. How they are identified 3. The characteristics of PVTGs 4. Population 5. Social conditions and declining population 6. Livelihoods 7. Health conditions 8. Scheme for PVTGs, 2008

Tribal communities are often identified by some specific signs such as primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness to contact with the community at large and backwardness. Along with these, some tribal groups have some specific features such as dependency on hunting, gathering for food, having pre-agriculture level of technology,

zero or negative growth of population and extremely low level of literacy. These groups are called Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

The need for identification

PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds, because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development. In this context, in 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category,making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes, spread over 17 states and one Union Territory(UT), in the country (2011 census).

How they are identified

Government of India designed a procedure to identify PVTGs. According to the procedure, the state governments or UT governments submit proposals to the Central Ministry of Tribal Welfare for identification of PVTGs. The Central Ministry then examines the proposals in consultation with the Planning Commission.After ensuring the criteria is fulfilled, the Central Ministry selects those groups as PVTGs.

State / UT Name PVTGs Name

Andhra Pradesh1. Bodo Gadaba 2. Bondo Poroja 3. Chenchu 4. Dongria Khond 5. Gutob Gadaba 6. Khond Poroja 7. Kolam 8. Kondareddis 9. Konda Savaras 10. Kutia Khond 11. Parengi Porojal2. Thoti

Bihar 13. Asurs 14. Birhor 15. Birjia 16. Hill Kharia 17. Konvas 18. Mal Paharia 19. Parhaiyas 20. Sauda Paharia 21. Savar

Jharkhand Same as above

Gujarat 22. Kathodi 23. Kohvalia 24. Padhar 25. Siddi 26. Kolgha

Karnataka 27. Jenu Kuruba 28. Koraga

Kerala 29. Cholanaikayan (a section of Kattunaickans) 30. Kadar 31. Kattunayakan 32. Kurumbas 33. Koraga

Madhya Pradesh 34. Abujh Macias 35. Baigas 36. Bharias 37. Hill Korbas 38. Kamars 39. Saharias 40. Birhor

Chhattisgarh Same as aboveMaharashtra 41. Katkaria (Kathodia) 42. Kolam 43. Maria GondManipur 44. Marram Nagas

Odisha45. Birhor 46. Bondo 47. Didayi 48. Dongria-Khond 49. Juangs 50. Kharias 51. Kutia Kondh 52. Lanjia Sauras 53. Lodhas 54. Mankidias 55. Paudi Bhuyans 56. Soura 57. Chuktia Bhunjia

Rajasthan 58. Seharias

Tamil Nadu 59. Kattu Nayakans 60. Kotas 61. Kurumbas 62. Irulas 63. Paniyans 64. Todas

Tripura 65. ReangsUttar Pradesh 66. Buxas 67. RajisUttarakhand Same as aboveWest Bengal 68. Birhor 69. Lodhas 70. TotosAndaman & Ni- cobar Islands

71. Great Andamanese 72. Jarawas 73. Onges 74. Sentinelese 75. Shorn Pens

The characteristics of PVTGs

In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). PVTGs have some basic characteristics -they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, social institutes cast in a simple mould, absence of written language, relatively simple technology and a slower rate of change etc.

Population

In India, tribal population makes up for 8.6% of the total population. Tribal people live in about 15% of the geographical area of the country. The places they live vary from plains,forests, hills, inaccessible areas etc. PVTGs are scattered in different geographical areas of the country.According to the 2001 census, the PVTGs population is approximately. 27,68,322. There are 12 PVTGs having a population above 50,000 and the remaining groups have a population of 1000 or less. The PVTG of Sahariyas has the highest population of 4,50,217, while the PVTGs of Sentinelets and Andamanese has a very small population of 39 and 43, respectively.

Social conditions and declining population

The cultural practices, systems, self governance and livelihood practices of PVTGs have a lot of variations, depending on the group and locality. These tribal groups are widely different culturally. The level of inequalities in social and economical conditions is very high amongst PVTGs. Their problems are also very different from group to group.The growth of PVTGs' population is either stagnating or declining, compared to the general population growth, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where the declining rate is very high. There are five PVTGs in the Andaman islands such as Great Andamanese, Jarawas, Onges, Sentineles and Shom Pens. In 1858, the Great Andamanese were estimated at nearly 3500,in 1901 their number declined to 625. According to the2001 Census, the Great Andamanese stood at just 43, Jarawas are 241, Onges are 96, Sentineles are 39 and Shom Pens are 398.

Livelihoods

PVTGs depend on various livelihoods such as food gathering,Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), hunting, livestock rearing, shifting cultivation and artisan works.Most of their livelihoods depend on the forest. The forest is their life and livelihood. They collect various NTFP items such as honey, gum, amla, bamboo, shrubs, fuel wood,dry leaves, nuts, sprouts, wax, medical plants,roots and tubes. Most of the NTFP items they gather are for consumption and they sell the remaining to middle men. But due to the shrinking forests, environmental changes and new forest conservation policies, their NTFP collection is getting hampered. Because of the lack of awareness about the value of NTFP produce, PVTGs have been exploited by the middle men.

Health conditions

Health is a prerequisite for human development and it is an essential component in well-being of humankind.Health problems of any community are influenced by different factors such as social, economical and political factors. The health status of PVTGs is in an awful condition because of multiple factors like poverty,illiteracy, lack of safe drinking water, bad sanitary conditions, difficult terrain, malnutrition, poor maternal and child health services, unavailability of health and nutritional services, superstition and deforestation. The diseases like anemia, upper respiratory problem, malaria; gastro-intestinal disorders like acute diarrhea,Intestinal protozoan; micro nutrient deficiency and skin infection diseases are common among PVTGs. Many of these diseases can be prevented by providing nutrition food, timely medical facilities and health awareness. The condition of education is also very poor, with an average literacy rate of 10% to 44% in PVTGs.

Scheme for PVTGs, 2008

The Scheme for Development of Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), came into effect from April 1,2008. The Scheme defines PVTGs as the most vulnerable among the Scheduled Tribes and the Scheme therefore seeks to prioritise their protection and development. It identifies 75 PVTGs. The Scheme seeks to adopt a holistic approach to the socio-economic development of PVTGs and gives state governments flexibility in planning initiatives that are geared towards the specific socio-cultural imperatives of the specific groups at hand. Activities may thus include housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, cattle development, construction of link roads, installation of non conventional sources of energy, social security, etc.Funds are available only for activities essential for the survival, protection and development of PVTGs and not already funded by any other Scheme of the central/state governments. Each state and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ administration, is required to prepare a long term Conservation-cum-Development (CCD) plan, valid for a period of five years for each PVTG within its territory, outlining the initiatives it will undertake, financial planning for the same and the agencies charged with the responsibility of undertaking the same. The CCD Plan has to be approved by an Expert Committee, appointed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Scheme is funded entirely by the Central government.

Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana 1. About Scheme 2. Objectives 3. Component of VKY 4. Strategies 5. Minor Forest Produce

1. Included Products

About Scheme

The Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) for welfare of Tribals. VKY aims at creating enabling environment for need based and outcome oriented holistic development of the tribal people. This process envisages to ensure that all the intended benefits of goods and services under various programmes/schemes of Central as well as State Governments actually reach the target groups by convergence of resources through appropriate institutional mechanism.

It covers all tribal people and all areas with tribal population across the country.

Objectives

Improving the quality of life in tribal areas Improving the quality of education Qualitative and sustainable employment for tribal families Bridging infrastructure gaps with focus on quality Protection of tribal culture and heritage

Component of VKY

Qualitative & Sustainable Employment. Quality Education & Higher Education. Accelerated Economic Development of tribal areas. Health for all. Housing for all. Safe Drinking Water for all at doorsteps. Irrigation facilities suited to the terrain. All Weather Roads with connectivity to the nearby town/cities. Universal Availability of Electricity. Urban Development. Robust institutional mechanism. (ITDAs/ITDPs) Promotion and conservation of Tribal Cultural Heritage Promotion of Sports in Tribal Areas.

Strategies

Strengthening of institutions meant for delivery of goods and services with adequate administrative, technical and financial powers such as Tribal Welfare Departments as nodal Department, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs) and creation of new ones where they do not exist etc.

Convergence of scattered resources and activities being undertaken under various components.

Minor Forest Produce

Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is more often than not determined by the traders instead of self-sustained process of demand and supply. Implementing a scheme to ensure that such forest dwellers are not deprived of their due. Under the scheme maximum selling price for MFP is being implemented in schedule V States initially. Web based portal has also been developed which indicate current price of MFPs on real time basis across different mandis of the States.

Included Products

12 MFP products have been included in the programme namely

1. Tendu Leave 2. Bamboo 3. Mahuwa Seeds4. Sal Leaf5. Sal Seed

6. Lac 7. Chironjee 8. Wild Honey 9. Myrobalan 10. Tamarind11. Gums (Gum Karaya) and 12. Karanji.

The Scheme also referred to the Forests Rights Act as landmark legislation to recognize the pre-existing rights of tribals and other traditional forest dwellers.

Scheduled Caste Welfare

Scheduled Caste Welfare in India 1. Constitutional mechanism for upliftment of SC 2. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 3. Initiatives taken for SC development

1. Educational Empowerment 2. Economic Empowerment: 3. Social Empowerment 4. Other Schemes:

4. Related resources

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.

o 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.

o 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:

o 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.

o National Fellowship : The Scheme provides financial assistance to SC students for pursuing research studies leading to M.Phil, Ph.D and equivalent research degrees.

o 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.

o 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:

1. Enactment of “Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993(1993 Act);”

2. Integrated Low Cost Sanitation (ILCS) Scheme for conversion of dry latrines into sanitary latrines in urban areas; and

3. Launching of National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (NSLRS).

4. 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:

1. Identify and eliminate the insanitary latrines.2. Prohibit:- i) Employment as Manual Scavengers and ii) Hazardous manual

cleaning of sewer and septic tanks 3. 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:

1. Primarily through convergent implementation of the relevant Central and State Schemes;

2. 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.

3. 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.

Schedules Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) 1. Objective of the Scheme 2. Special Central Assistance 3. Funds release 4. Guidelines 5. Special Component Plan 6. Related resources

Under the Scheduled Castes Development Bureau, the Ministry implements Schedules Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) which 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 the strategy, States/UTs are required to formulate and implement Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes as part of their Annual Plans by earmarking resources. At present 27 States/UTs having sizeable SC population are implementing Schedules Caste Sub-Plan.

Objective of the Scheme

1. The main objective is to give a thrust to family oriented schemes of economic development of SCs below the poverty line, by providing resources for filling the critical gaps and for providing missing vital inputs so that the schemes can be more meaningful. Since the schemes / programmes for SCs may be depending upon the local occupational pattern and the economic activities available, the

Sates/UTs have been given full flexibility in utilizing SCA with the only condition that it should be utilized in conjunction with SCP and other resources available from other sources like various Corporations, financial institution etc.

2. State Government have been given flexibility in choice of schemes to be implemented out of Special Central Assistance, within the overall frame work of the scheme.

Special Central Assistance

Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) is a central scheme under which 100% grant is given to the States/UTs as an additive to their Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP).

Funds release

Details of Funds Released during 2007-08 to 2013-14 for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) - Special Central Assistance released to States/UTs during 11th FYP, 2012 - 13 and 2013-14

Guidelines

The continuation of the Scheme of Special Central Assistance to Special Component Plan for SCs during the IX Five Year Plan has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs with the following modifications and conditions: -

The SCA will be released to the state Governments/UT Administrations on the basis of following criteria

(a) On the basis of SC population of the States/UTs. 40%

(b)On the basis of relative backwardness of the States/UTs (inverse of State Per Capita Domestic Product)

10%

(c)

On the basis of the percentage of SC families in the States/UTs covered by composite economic development Programmes in the Plans to enable them to cross the Poverty line.

25%

(d)On the basis of the Special Component Plan to the Annual Plan as compared to the SC population percentage in the States/UTs

25%

1. 2% of the total budget allocation for the scheme will be earmarked for North Eastern States, which implement SCP for SCs.

2. 15% of the total SCA released to the States/Uts, On the basis of the Criteria a (i) above will be utilized by State Governments/UTs Administrations exclusively on viable income generating economic development schemes/Programmes for SC Women.

3. 5% of the total SCA released to the States / UTs will be utilized by them exclusively for the economic development of disabled persons among SCs

4. 3% of the total SCA released to the States /UTs shall be utilized by the States/UTs for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of economic development schemes implemented with the support of SCA funds.

5. Second installment of SCA should be released to the States/UTs after ensuring expenditure of cumulative opening balances of the previous year and 75% of the first installment for the current year.

6. The limit of SCA permitted for staff meant for supervision implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Schemes at various levels has been increased from r% to 3% taking into account the requirement of staff and infrastructure for the purpose at all levels of implementation. Proper and timely utilization of SCA funds on viable schemes for the economic development of SC families below the poverty line needs greater attention. The State Governments/UT Administrations should strengthen their monitoring mechanism at State and district levels. There should be regular feedback through monthly progress report on implementation and utilization of funds from the implementing agencies to the District Level Monitoring Committee and from District Level Committee to the State Level Monitoring Committee on quarterly basis. The Secretary of the Department concerned with the SC welfare and development should send the quarterly progress report on utilization of SCA within 15 days after the end of each quarter and he annual progress report on the utilization of funds within 3 month of the end of each financial year to the Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Based on the progress reports received from the State Governments/UT Administrations, the Ministry will send consolidated State-wise report on the subject especially on utilization of funds under SCA to SCP indicating diversion of funds, if any to the Planning Commission.

7. Late release of funds to the Implementing departments/agencies, non-utilization of funds sanctioned/released to the implementing departments/agencies for the purpose for which it is sanctioned, accumulation of unspent balances of funds for considerable long period with the implementing departments/agencies, keeping funds in Civil Deposits, Fixed deposits, saving bank accounts, P.L.A. etc. for considerable long period, lack of proper action plan for implementation of schemes, sanction of funds for schemes without ascertaining their feasibility and viability, leakage of benefit of schemes meant for SCs to Non-SCs, etc. decelerate the process of economic development of the target group. An effective device needs to be evolved to remove such shortcomings/loopholes so that the purpose of SCA could be served meaningfully. Amongst various measures for effective implementation of development schemes for SCs, the following points may be given more stress:

o Release of funds to the implementing agencies without loss of time after getting the SCA from the Government of India.

o Separate Account of SCA released to the implementing agencies may be maintained and utilization of SCA funds by the implementing agencies

may be watched regularly through periodical progress reports from the implementing agencies.

o It may be ensured that Utilization Certificates from the concerned implementing agencies are obtained in time.

o Annual Audit of SCA accounts of State and District/Block Level Implementing Agencies may be ensured.

o Keeping SCA funds in civil deposits, fixed deposits, saving bank account, PLA etc. for long periods by implementing agencies or nodal department may be discouraged. Delay in identifying schemes & beneficiaries and sanction of schemes and release of assistance to the beneficiaries often lead to deposit the funds in various accounts. Release of funds to the implementing agencies without ascertaining the utilization of funds released to them earlier leads to accumulation of unspent balances and increase in the deposit in various accounts.

o Identification of viable schemes as per the developmental needs of SCs and identification of eligible beneficiaries to be considered for assistance in a financial year should be completed well before the commencement of the financial year. Sanction of schemes and release of assistance can thus be ensured in time soon after the receipt of SCA funds. This will help in avoiding last minute sanction of schemes at the fag end of the financial year and in ensuring the full utilization of funds.

o The Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will intimate the tentative allocation of SCA to State Governments/UT Administration at the beginning of the financial year and will release the first installment of SCA on the basis of SC Population and relative backwardness of States/UTs during the first quarter of the financial year. The State Governments/UT Administrations should furnish the information on effort-based criteria {the criteria at (c) and (d) mentioned in Para 3 (i)} and the utilization of SCA released to them during the previous year and first installment released during the current year, in the month of August every year. This will ensure the release of second installment in the beginning of the second half of the financial year.

o Utilization of 15% and 5% of total SCA released to the State Governments/UT Administrations exclusively for the economic development schemes/programmes for SC women and disabled persons among SCs respectively may be ensured from this year (1998-99) onwards. The progress on utilization of SCA for SC Women and disabled among SCs indicating the schemes implemented, funds utilized and the number of beneficiaries covered, may be furnished to this Ministry within a month after the end of this financial year. From next year onwards the progress report in this regard may be furnished to this Ministry within one month after the end of each six months period.

o The skill developing training programmes to be implemented with the support of SCA funds should be formulated in such a way that after the completion of training, the placement of trained candidates either in waged employment or in self-employment is ensured.

o Follow up of the beneficiaries after the schemes are sanctioned to them is necessary to ascertain whether they have acquired necessary assets and utilizing the assets for income generating activities. Proper maintenance of records regarding the accounts of funds received, given to the beneficiaries including subsidy and bank loan, full address of the beneficiaries, assets created under various schemes sanctioned to the beneficiaries, etc. by the implementation departments/agencies should be ensured.

o I shall be grateful, if the various measures for ensuring full utilization of SCA funds and effective implementation of schemes for the benefit of the target group are given adequate attention and made into practice.

Special Component Plan

Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) were initiated by government as intervention strategies during seventies to cater exclusively to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) respectively. Such plans are meant to ensure benefits to these special groups by guaranteeing funds from all related development sectors both at State and Centre in proportion to the size of their respective population. Government of India also extends Special Central Assistance (SCA) to states and UTs as additive to SCP and TSP. (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment provides 100% grant under Central Sector Scheme of SCA to SCP as additive to SCP to States/UTs).

The nomenclature of SCP has since been changed to Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) on the lines of TSP. The strategy of SCSP consists in important interventions through planning process for social, educational and economic development of Scheduled Castes and also for improvement in their working and living conditions.

TSP approach envisages integrated development of tribal areas wherein all programmes irrespective of source of funding operate in unison to achieve the goal of bringing (tribal) area at par with rest of the State and improve quality of life of tribals. It is geared towards taking up family oriented income generating schemes, elimination of exploitation, human resource development through education & training and infrastructure development. TSP programmes are financed from (a) TSP funds from State /U.T Plans and Central Ministries/Departments, (b) Special Central Assistance (SCA) to TSP (c) Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution to States/U.Ts (d) Funds through Central Sector Schemes/ Centrally Sponsored Schemes and (f) Institutional Finance.

Guidelines issued by Planning Commission for formulation, implementation and monitoring of SCP and TSP emphasize, inter-alia, on earmarking funds towards SCP and TSP in proportion to population of SC and ST respectively, creating dedicated unit for proper implementation and separate budget-head/sub-heads for making funds non divertible and approval for plans of Central Ministries/Departments/State Governments being conditional on adherence to implementation of SCP and TSP. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and

Ministry of Tribal Affairs periodically review and monitor SCP and TSP respectively.

Policies and Acts 1. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,

19892. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,

19893. The ‘Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their

Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act, 2013)

The policies and acts related to the welfare of Scheduled caste in India are as follows.

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.

To access the detailed Act, click here.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

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.

To access the complete Act, click here

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:

1. Enactment of “Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993(1993 Act);”

2. Integrated Low Cost Sanitation (ILCS) Scheme for conversion of dry latrines into sanitary latrines in urban areas; and

3. Launching of National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (NSLRS).

4. 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:

1. Identify and eliminate the insanitary latrines.2. Prohibit:- i) Employment as Manual Scavengers and ii) Hazardous manual

cleaning of sewer and septic tanks 3. Identify and rehabilitate the manual scavengers.

Schemes and Legal Awareness 1. Schemes 2. Scholarships 3. Hostels 4. Free Coaching 5. Schemes for Economic Development 6. Schemes for Social Empowerment 7. Legal Awareness

Schemes

NGOs Scheme

Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organisations working for Scheduled Castes

Reservation for SC/ST/OBC in Higher Education

According to The University Grants Commission (UGC), candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes

(OBCs) categories, who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s degree or equivalent examination from universities/ institutions, recognized by the UGC, are eligible for appearing in the National Eligibility Test (NET).

The UGC (Minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education) (4th Amendment), Regulations, 2016 prescribe 5% relaxation in minimum eligibility marks of 55% marks for candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories for direct recruitment to teaching positions. The regulations are available at http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2016/170658.pdf .

In order to increase the representation of SC/ST/OBC communities in posts and services under the Central Government, various concessions/ relaxations are provided in direct recruitment, apart from prescribing reservations for candidates belonging to these categories. For SC/ST candidates, in case of promotion by selection, the zone of consideration is extended up to five times the number of vacancies. In case suitable candidates are not available within the normal zone of consideration for filling up of reserved vacancies, minimum qualifying marks/standards of evaluations are relaxable. Also, in such cases, the upper age limit is relaxable by five years where upper age limit for promotion is prescribed not more than 50 years.

According to The Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT), in case of direct recruitment, OBCs get a relaxation of three years in the upper age limit. There is a ban on de-reservation of reserved vacancies of SC, ST and OBC in direct recruitment.  The limit of 50% of reservation does not apply while filling up of backlog reserved vacancies for SCs, STs and OBCs.

Scholarships

Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC (IX & X) Pre-Matric Scholarships to the Children of those Engaged in occupations

involving cleaning and prone to health hazards Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students Upggadation Of Merit Of SC Students Top Class Scholarship for SC students National Overseas scholarship National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students

Hostels

Baby Jagjivan Ram chhatrawas Yojana

Free Coaching

Free Coaching Scheme for SC Students

Schemes for Economic Development

Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (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

Protection of Civil Rights and Prevention of Atrocities Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)

Legal Awareness

1. All are Equal 2. Bonded Labour 3. Consumer Rights 4. Equal Remuneration 5. Human Rights 6. Legal Aid-Middle Income Group Scheme 7. Minimum Wages Act 8. Public Interest Litigation 9. Right to Information 10. SC & ST prevention of atrocities Act, 1989 11. Sexual Harassment at Workplace

National Institutes 1. National SC Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)

1. Activities/Schemes 2. National Safai Karamacharis Finance Development Corporation

1. About Organisation 2. Loan Schemes for Safai karamcharis 3. How to Apply

3. Related Resources

National SC Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)

NSFDC is an institution under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India for financing, facilitating and mobilizing funds for the economic empowerment of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes families living below Double the Poverty

Line. NSFDC finances income generation schemes for the target group through the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) nominated by respective State/UT Governments.

The NSFDC is a Central Public Sector Enterprise incorporated on 8.2.1989 as a Company 'not for profit' under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. NSFDC is now a Section - 8 Company under the new Companies Act, 2013.

NSFDC Operation

1. Financing income generating schemes for the SCs through the State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) and other recognized institutions nominated by the respective State /UT Governments.

2. Providing Micro-Credit Finance to the target group through the SCAs.3. Providing Educational Loan to the eligible scheduled caste students for pursuing

full-time professional/technical educational courses in India or abroad.4. Providing grants for skill development programmes through the SCAs.5. Providing advisory services to target group and SCAs.6. Upgrading the skill levels of the SCAs.

Activities/Schemes

Eligibility Criteria

1. The beneficiary should be from the Scheduled Caste Community.2. Annual family income of the beneficiary(ies) should not exceed Double the

Poverty Line (DPL) income limit (presently Rs.  81,000/- p.a. for rural areas and Rs.1,03,000/- p.a. for urban areas).

Different loan schemes of NSFDC

NSFDC provides loans for income generating activities in Agriculture and other allied, industrial and service sector & for professional/ Technical education. NSFDC has following Loan Schemes:

Term Loan - NSFDC provides term loan for project(s)/unit(s) costing upto Rs 30.00 lakhs.

Micro Credit Finance - Beneficiaries are eligible for subsidy @ Rs 10,000/- or 50% of the unit cost, whichever is less and to be provided by SCAs to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) Beneficiaries under the Central-Sector Scheme of Special Central Assistance to the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) funds released by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to the State Governments.

Mahila Samriddhi Yojana - Beneficiaries are eligible for subsidy @ Rs 10,000/- or 50% of the unit cost, whichever is less to be provided by SCAs to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) Beneficiaries under the Central-Sector Scheme of Special Central Assistance to the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) funds released by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to the State Governments.

Mahila Kisan Yojana - Beneficiaries are eligible for subsidy @ Rs 10,000/- or 50% of the unit cost, whichever is less to be provided by SCAs to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) Beneficiaries under the Central-Sector Scheme of Special Central Assistance to the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) funds released by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to the State Governments.

Shilpi Samriddhi Yojana - Under the SSY, loans are provided to Scheduled Castes Artisans possessing Artisan Identity Card issued by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textile, Govt. of India or State Government.

Laghu Vyavasaya Yojana - Under the scheme unit cost is Rs. 2.00 lakhs and NSFDC finances up to 90% of the unit cost. Rate of interest is 6% per annum and the loan is recoverable in maximum up to six years including moratorium. SCA can avail funds under the group scheme which is up to Rs. 5.00 crores within a unit cost of Rs. 2.00 lakhs.

Nari Arthik Sashaktikaran Yojana - Nari Arthik Sashakti karan Yojana (NASY) to support single women/widows/women who are head of their families to take up income generating activities and improve their socio-economic status.

Educational Loan Scheme - Educational Loan shall be provided to eligible students for pursuing regular full time Professional / Technical recognized courses approved by the Government in the select fields in India or Abroad.

Green business scheme - To provide financial assistance in the form of loan for the activities which could tackle the climate change along with income generation. Indicative activities include Battery  electric vehicle(E-rickshaw), Compressed air vehicle, Solar energy gadgets,Poly houses, etc.

For more information on the schemes, interest rates and application process, click here.

Source: National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation

National Safai Karamacharis Finance Development Corporation

About Organisation

The National Safai Karmacharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) has been set up by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India on 24th January 1997. The company is registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 as a Company not for profit.

NSKFDC functions as an Apex institution for channelising the funds to Safai Karamcharis/Scavengers and their dependents through the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs)/Other institutions nominated by the State Government(s) .

Apart from operating various loan and non-loan based schemes for the upliftment of the target group, NSKFDC is playing a vital role in elimination of manual scavenging - the worst surviving symbol of untouchability. NSKFDC has been designated as the Nodal Agency for implementation of the Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Loan Schemes for Safai karamcharis

1. Education Loan (EL) 2. Term Loan (TL) 3. Mahila Adhikarita Yojana (MAY) 4. Mahila Samridhi Yojna (MSY) 5. Micro Credit Finance (MCF) 6. Sanitation Workers Rehabilitation Scheme (SWRS)

How to Apply

The loan applications are submitted by the beneficiaries to the District Offices of State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) of NSKFDC/ Branches of Regional Rural Banks(RRBs)/Nationalised Bank. The District Offices of SCAs/Branches of RRBs/Nationalised Banks send these applications after scrutiny to their Head Offices. The viability of the project proposals are being appraised by the SCAs/ RRBs/Nationalised Banks and the viable projects are sent to NSKFDC along with their recommendations.

The said project proposals are also appraised by the Project Appraisal Committee of NSKFDC and the proposals which are found to be in order, are placed before the Board of Directors for consideration and sanction. After sanction by the Board of Directors of NSKFDC, the sanction letters, also called Letter of Intents, are issued  to the SCAs/RRBs/Nationalised for acceptance.

After acceptance of the terms and conditions of the sanction and execution of loan agreement/other documents, funds are released to the SCAs/RRBs/Nationalised Bank for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries.  The release of funds is being made by NSKFDC on receipt of demand from the SCAs/RRBs/Nationalised Banks  after considering all the parameters of release as  per the Lending Policies & Guidelines (LPG) of NSKFDC.

Venture Capital Funds for Scheduled Caste

1. Objectives 2. Funding pattern 3. Eligibility Criteria 4. Green Business Scheme 5. Related Resources

The Government of India has launched the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes’ with initial capital of Rs. 200 crore. IFCI Ltd. will act as Sponsor, Settler and Asset Management Company (AMC) / Nodal Agency to operate the scheme. The IFCI Ltd.

would contribute Rs 50 crore which would comprise Rs 5 crore as sponsor and Rs 45 crore as investor.

Under the scheme, financial assistance upto Rs.15.00 Crore for a period upto 6 years would be provided to the SC entrepreneurs.

Objectives

The objectives of the Venture Fund are as follows:

It is a Social Sector Initiative to be implemented nationally in order to promote entrepreneurship amongst the SCs who are oriented towards innovation and growth technologies.

To provide concessional finance to the SC entrepreneurs, who will create wealth and value for society and at the same time will promote profitable businesses. The assets so created will also create forward/ backward linkage. It will further create chain effect in the locality.

To increase financial inclusion for SC entrepreneurs and to motivate them for further growth of SC communities.

To develop SC entrepreneurs economically. To enhance direct and indirect employment generation for SC population in India.

Funding pattern

Investment under the fund will be categorised as follows:

1. Financial assistance upto Rs 5 Crore - Investment under this category shall be funded maximum upto 75% of the project cost and the balance 25% of the project cost will be funded by the promoters;

2. Financial assistance above Rs. 5 Crore o Investment under this category shall be funded maximum upto 50% of the

project cost. At least 25% of the project cost has to be financed by bank/other institutions. Balance 25% of the project cost will be funded by the promoters.

o The proposals forwarded by Banks or other financial institutions with sanction of 25% of the total project shall be considered. In this case, the projects shall have to be compulsorily.

Eligibility Criteria

The projects/units being set up in manufacturing and services sector ensuring asset creation out of the funds deployed in the unit shall be considered.

While selecting the SC entrepreneurs, women SC entrepreneurs would be preferred.

Companies having at least 60% stake holding by Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs for the past 12 months with management control.

Documentary proofs of being SC will have to be submitted by the entrepreneurs at the time of submitting the proposals.

The SC promoters of Investee Company will not dilute their stake below 60% in the company till the exit under the scheme. However, in the event of any conversion of quasi-equity instrument under the scheme, strategic investments, buyouts etc, which result into dilution of stake of SC Entrepreneur, a prior written approval from Asset Management Company (AMC) would be required.

The companies applying for assistance of more than Rs. 5 Crore, shall preferably get their project appraised by the banks / FIs before approaching for assistance under the scheme.

For companies with sanctioned assistance of above Rs. 5 Crore, the money released by the Trust/ Fund Manager would be in proportion to the loan tranche released by the bank.

For more information, click here.

Green Business Scheme

NSFDC’s ‘Green Business Scheme’ for providing financial assistance has been launched keeping into the concern for the climate change. Under this Scheme, loan for unit cost upto Rs.1 lakh at concessional rate of interest will be provided to Scheduled Castes for activities such as e-rickshaw, Solar Pump and Solar energy powered implements, poly house etc.

elfare / Stand Up India Scheme

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Stand Up India Scheme 1. Eligibility 2. Loan details 3. How to apply for loans 4. Checklist - Stand- Up India loan Application 5. Process for submission of loan applications 6. Related resources

The Stand up India scheme aims at promoting entrepreneurship among women and scheduled castes and tribes. The scheme is anchored by Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

Stand-Up India Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise. This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services or the trading sector. In case of non-individual enterprises at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either

an SC/ST or woman entrepreneur.

Eligibility

SC/ST and/or woman entrepreneurs, above 18 years of age. Loans under the scheme is available for only green field project. Green field

signifies, in this context, the first time venture of the beneficiary in the manufacturing or services or trading sector.

In case of non-individual enterprises, 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur.

Borrower should not be in default to any bank/financial institution.

Loan details

Nature of Loan - Composite loan (inclusive of term loan and working capital) between 10 lakh and upto 100 lakh.

Purpose of Loan - For setting up a new enterprise in manufacturing, trading or services sector by SC/ST/Women entrepreneur.

Size of Loan - Composite loan of 75% of the project cost inclusive of term loan and working capital. The stipulation of the loan being expected to cover 75% of the project cost would not apply if the borrower’s contribution along with convergence support from any other schemes exceeds 25% of the project cost.

Interest Rate - The rate of interest would be lowest applicable rate of the bank for that category (rating category) not to exceed (base rate (MCLR) + 3%+ tenor premium).

Security - Besides primary security, the loan may be secured by collateral security or guarantee of Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Stand-Up India Loans (CGFSIL) as decided by the banks.

Repayment - The loan is repayable in 7 years with a maximum moratorium period of 18 months.

Working Capital - For drawal of Working capital upto 10 lakh, the same may be sanctioned by way of overdraft. Rupay debit card to be issued for convenience of the borrower. Working capital limit above 10 lakh to be sanctioned by way of Cash Credit limit.

Margin Money - The Scheme envisages 25% margin money which can be provided in convergence with eligible Central / State schemes. While such schemes can be drawn upon for availing admissible subsidies or for meeting margin money requirements, in all cases, the borrower shall be required to bring in minimum of 10% of the project cost as own contribution.

How to apply for loans

The scheme, which covers all branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks, will be accessed in three potential ways.

Directly at the branch or Through Stand-Up India portal (www.standupmitra.in) or Through the Lead District Manager ((LDM)

Checklist - Stand- Up India loan Application

Proof of Identity : Voter’s ID Card / Passport / Driving License / PAN Card / Signature identification from present bankers of proprietor, partner of director ( if a company)

Proof of residence: Recent telephone bills, electricity bill, property tax receipt /Passport / voter’s ID Card of Proprietor, partner of Director (if a company)

Proof of business Address Applicant should not be defaulter in any Bank/F.I. Memorandum and articles of association of the Company / Partnership Deed of

partners etc. Assets and liabilities statement of promoters and guarantors along with latest

income tax returns. Rent Agreement (if business premises on rent) and clearance from pollution

control board if applicable. SSI / MSME registration if applicable. Projected balance sheets for the next two years in case of working capital limits

and for the period of the loan in case of term loan Photocopies of lease deeds/ title deeds of all the properties being offered as

primary and collateral securities. Documents to establish whether the applicant belongs to SC/ST Category,

wherever applicable. Certificate of incorporation from ROC to establish whether majority stake holding

in the company is in the hands of a person who belongs to SC/ST/Woman category.

For Cases With Exposure above 25 Lakhs ₹

o Profile of the unit (includes names of promoters, other directors in the company, the activity being undertaken addresses of all offices and plants, shareholding pattern etc.

o Last three years balance sheets of the Associate / Group Companies (if any).

o Project report (for the proposed project if term funding is required) containing details of the machinery to be acquired, from whom to be acquired, price, names of suppliers, financial details like capacity of machines, capacity of utilization assumed, production, sales, projected profit and loss and balance sheets for the tenor of the loan, the details of labour, staff to be hired, basis of assumption of such financial details etc.

o Manufacturing process if applicable, major profile of executives in the company, any tie-ups, details about raw material used and their suppliers, details about the buyers, details about major-competitors and the company’s strength and weaknesses as compared to their competitors etc.

The check list is only indicative and not exhaustive and depending upon the local requirements at different places addition could be made as per (necessity).

Process for submission of loan applications

1. Information on certain parameters/ metrics of the borrower (obtained through a set of about 8-10 questions listed below) is collected through the initial registration process in the portal. Based on the information provided, feedback is provided to borrowers.

2. The approach of the Stand-Up India portal, for handholding is based on obtaining answers to a set of relevant questions at the initial stage. These would be typically be:

1. Location of the borrower 2. Category – SC/ ST/ Woman3. Nature of business planned 4. Availability of place to operate the business. 5. Assistance needed for preparing a project plan 6. Requirement of skills/training (technical and financial). 7. Details of present bank account. 8. Amount of own investment into the project 9. Whether help is needed to raise margin money 10. Any previous experience in business

Based on the response, the borrowers are categorised as a ready borrower or a trainee borrower.

3. Ready Borrower - In case the borrower requires no handholding support, then the process of application for the loan at the selected bank can be done through the Stand-Up India portal (www.standupmitra.in) . At this stage an application number will be generated and information about the borrower shared with the

bank concerned, the LDM (posted in each district) and the relevant linked office of NABARD/ SIDBI. The offices of SIDBI and NABARD shall be designated Stand-Up Connect Centres (SUCC). The loan application will now be generated and tracked through the portal.

4. Trainee Borrower

o In cases where the borrower indicates a need for handholding, then registration as a Trainee Borrower on the Stand-Up India portal (www.standupmitra.in will link the borrower to the LDM of the concerned district and the relevant office of SIDBI/ NABARD. This process which would be electronic, could be done at the borrower’s home by himself/ herself.

o SIDBI and NABARD as Stand-Up India Connect centres will then arrange for support for such trainee borrowers as requested in one or more of the following ways:

a. For financial training – at the Financial Literacy Centers (FLCs)b. For skilling – at skilling centers ( Vocational Training Centers -

VTPs/ Other Centers -OCs)c. For EDPs – at MSME DIs/ District Industries Centers (DICs)/

Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)d. For work shed – DICse. For margin money – offices related to margin money support

schemes e.g. State SC Finance Corporation, Women’s Development Corporation, State Khadi & Village Industries Board (KVIB), MSME-DIs etc.

f. For mentoring support from established entrepreneurs – DICCI, Women Entrepreneur Associations, Trade bodies. Credible, well established NGOs can also be used for extending hand holding support.

g. For utility connections – Offices of utility providersh. For DPRs – Project profiles available with SIDBI/ NABARD/

DICs

At any time, even after the loan has been sanctioned, any borrower may access the services of the Stand-Up Connect Centers.

o The LDM will monitor the process and work with local offices of SIDBI and NABARD for problem solving and easing bottlenecks. Based on the progress being achieved in each case and prima facie viability, the LDM will sensitize the concerned bank branch on potential cases likely to come up. Once this is done, SIDBI/ NABARD will meet concerned bank officials for further follow up. These organizations will also work with other organizations who are stakeholders such as the Dalit Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), Women’s Entrepreneur Associations etc.

o Once hand holding requirements are adequately met to the satisfaction of the LDM and the trainee borrower, then a loan application will be generated through the portal.

The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015

1. Key features 2. Related Resources

The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 seeks to ensure more stringent provisions for prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. The Act is an amendment to the Principal Act, namely, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) (PoA) Act, 1989 and is being enforced with effect from January 26, 2016.

Key features

The key features of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015, are:

Actions to be treated as offences - The Act outlines actions (by non SCs and STs) against SCs or STs to be treated as offences. The Amendment Act amends certain existing categories and adds new categories of actions to be treated as offences. New offences added under the Act include: (a) garlanding with footwear, (b) compelling to dispose or carry human or animal carcasses, or do manual scavenging, (c) abusing SCs or STs by caste name in public, (d) attempting to promote feelings of ill-will against SCs or STs or disrespecting any deceased person held in high esteem, and (e) imposing or threatening a social or economic boycott.

Assaulting or sexual exploiting an SC or ST woman is an offence under the Act - The Amendment Act adds that: (a) intentionally touching an SC or ST woman in a sexual manner without her consent, or (b) using words, acts or gestures of a sexual nature, or (c) dedicating an SC or ST women as a devadasi to a temple, or any similar practice will also be considered an offence. Consent is defined as a voluntary agreement through verbal or non-verbal communication.

Preventing SCs or STs from undertaking the following activities will be considered an offence - (a) using common property resources, (c) entering any place of worship that is open to the public, and (d) entering an education or health institution.

Addition of presumption to the offences – The court shall presume that the accused was aware of the caste or tribal identity of the victim if the accused had personal knowledge of the victim or his family, unless the contrary is proved.

Role of public servants - The Act specifies that a non SC or ST public servant who neglects his/her duties relating to SCs or STs shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of six months to one year. The Amendment Act specifies these duties, including: (a) registering a complaint or FIR, (b) reading out information given orally, before taking the signature of the informant and giving a copy of this information to the informant, etc.

Addition of certain IPC offences like hurt, grievous hurt, intimidation, kidnapping etc., attracting less than ten years of imprisonment, committed against members of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, as offences punishable under the PoA Act. Presently, only those offences listed in IPC as attracting punishment of 10 years or more and committed on members of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe are accepted as offences falling under the PoA Act.

Establishment of Exclusive Special Courts and specification of Exclusive Special Public Prosecutors also, to exclusively try the offences under the PoA Act to enable speedy and expeditious disposal of cases.

Rights of victims and witnesses -  The Amendment Act adds a chapter on the rights of victims and witness. It shall be the duty of the state to make arrangements for the protection of victims, their dependants and witnesses. The state government shall specify a scheme to ensure the implementation of rights of victims and witnesses.

The courts established under the Act may take measures such as: (a) concealing the names of witnesses, (b) taking immediate action in respect of any complaint relating to harassment of a victim, informant or witness, etc. Any such complaint shall be tried separately from the main case and be concluded within two months.

Backward Classes Welfare1. About Backward Classes 2. Backward Classes Division

About Backward Classes

The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC). The OBC list presented by the National Commission for Backward Classes is dynamic (castes and communities can be added or removed) and is subject to change from time to time depending on social, educational and economic factors. For example, the OBCs are entitled to 27 % reservations in public sector employment and higher education. In the Constitution, OBCs are described as ‘socially and educationally backward classes’, and the government is enjoined to ensure their social and educational development. The population of OBCs below poverty line was 22.6% in rural area and 15.4% in urban area whereas the population of SCs was 31.5% and 21.7% in rural and

urban area respectively and the population of ST was 45.3% in rural area and 24.1% in urban area as per the poverty estimate released by the Planning Commission on the basis of Household Consumer Expenditure Survey undertaken by NSSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation during 2011-12.

The Backward Classes Division in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment looks after the policy, planning and implementation of programmes related to social and economic empowerment of OBCs. It also looks after matters relating to two institutions set up for the welfare of OBCs: National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

Backward Classes Division

Under the Backward Classes Bureau, the Ministry is mandated to look after the welfare of Backward Classes, by implementing the schemes for Backward Classes. The Ministry also deals with the National Backward Classes Commission (NCBC) which was set up in 1993. The Commission tenders advice to the Ministry in respect of castes, sub-castes, synonyms and communities for inclusion in/from the central list of Other Backward Classes.

Backward Classes means such backward classes of citizens other than the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as may be specified by the Central Government in the lists prepared by the Government of India from time to time for purposes of making provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of backward classes of citizens which, in the opinion of that Government, are not adequately represented in the services under the Government of India and any local or other authority within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.

The affairs of Backward Classes were looked after by the Backward Classes Cell (BCC) in the Ministry of Home Affairs prior to 1985. With the creation of a separate Ministry of Welfare in 1985 (renamed as Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 25.5.1998), the matters relating to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Minorities were transferred to the new Ministry. Consequent upon the creation of two separate ministries for Scheduled Tribes and Minorities, the subject matter pertaining to these two categories were transferred to the respective Ministries. The Backward Classes Division in the Ministry looks after the policy, planning and implementation of programmes relating to social and economic empowerment of OBCs. It also looks after matters relating to two institutions set up for the welfare of OBCs namely,

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)

Acts and Rules

1. The National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 2. Gazette Notifications/Resolutions (Backward Classes) 3. The National Commission for Backward Classes Rules, 1994

The National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993

Short title, extent and commencement

This Act maybe called the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993. It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. tc "(2) It

extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir." It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of February, 1993. tc

"(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of February, 1993."

Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “backward classes” means such backward classes of citizens other than the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes as may be specified by the Central Government in the lists; tc" (a) “backward classes” means such backward classes of citizens other than the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes as may be specified by the Central Government in the lists;"

“Commission” means the National Commission for Backward Classes constituted under section 3

“lists” means lists prepared by the Government of India from time to time for purposes of making provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of backward classes of citizens which, in the opinion of that Government, are not adequately represented in the services under the Government of India and any local or other authority within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India; tc" (c) “lists” means lists prepared by the Government of India from time to time for purposes of making provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of backward classes of citizens which, in the opinion of that Government, are not adequately represented in the services under the Government of India and any local or other authority within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India;"

“Member” means a Member of the Commission and includes the Chairperson; tc" (d) “Member” means a Member of the Commission and includes the Chairperson;"

“prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act. tc" (e) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act." tc "THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR BACKWARD CLASSES"

For More Information: The National Commission for Backward Classes

Gazette Notifications/Resolutions (Backward Classes)

Gazette Notifications/Resolutions issued so far specifying Castes/Communities in the Central list of Backward Classes can be viewed at The National Commission for Backward Classes

The National Commission for Backward Classes Rules, 1994

G.S.R. 100(E).-In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section (2) (a) of Section 17 of National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 (27 of 1993) the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:-

Short title and commencement

These Rules may be called the National Commission for Backward Classes (Salaries and Allowances and other conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members) Rules, 1996.

They shall come in to force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Definitions In these rules unless the context otherwise requires,

"Act" means the National Commission or Backward Classes Act, 1993 (27 of 1993);

"Commission" means the National Commission for Backward Classes. "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Commission nominated under Sub-

Section (2) (a) Section 3 of the Act. "Member" means a Member of the Commission and includes the Chairperson. The words and expressions used herein but not defined shall have the same

meaning assigned to them in the Act.

Salaries and allowances

The Chairperson shall be entitled to such pay as admissible to a judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court depending upon the office earlier held by such Chairperson.

Every Member other than the Chairperson shall be ensiled to such pay as are admissible to a Secretary to the Government of India.

Rank and status

The Chairperson shall have the rank of a judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court as relevant to his case depending upon the office earlier held by him. The other Members shall have the status of a Secretary to the Government of India.

Sumptuary allowance

The Chairperson shall be entitled to a sumptuary allowance as per the entitlement of sitting judge of a High Court as revised from time to time.

Retirement from parent service on appointment as Member

The Members who on the date of his appointment to the Commission was in the service of the Central or a State Government, shall be deemed to have retired from such service with effect from the date of his appointment as Member of the Commission.

Leave.- The Chairperson and every Member shall be entitled to leave as follows

Earned Leave, half pay leave and commuted leave in accordance with the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 as amended from time to time.

Extraordinary leave as admissible to the temporary Government servants under the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 as amended from time to time.

Pension

The Chairperson or a Member who, at the time of his appointment as such was in the service of the Central or State Government, shall at his option to be exercised within a period of six months from the date of his appointment or till he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier, be entitled to draw his pension and other retirement benefits as per the rules applicable to the service to which he belonged with effect from the date of his appointment as Chairperson or Member (as the case may be) provided that, in such an event, his pay as Chairperson or Member shall be reduced by an amount equivalent to the gross pension including any portion of the pension which may have been commuted and the pension equivalent of other retirement benefits and he shall be entitled to draw his pension and other retirement benefits separately

The Chairperson or a Member, who at the time of his appointment as such was in the service of the Central or State Governments, if he does not exercise the option specified in Sub-rule (1), shall count his service as Chairperson or Member for pension and retirement benefits under the rules applicable tD the service to which he belonged immediately before such appointment.

No pension shall be payable to the Chairperson or a Member who immediately before assuming office as the Chairperson or a Member, was not in any service of the Central or State Government.

Provident Fund

The Chairperson or a Member who on the date of his appointment to the Commission was in the service of the Central or State Government and who had been admitted to the benefits of General Provident Fund or Contributory Provident Fund, may continue to subscribe to that Fund until the date on which he retires according to rules applicable to him in his service. In the case of the Contributory Provident Fund, the employers' contribution payable to that Fund shall, as from the date of the Chairperson or Member's appointment to the Commission be payable by the Commission on the basis of the

emoluments which he would have drawn in the post be held immediately before appointment.

Explanation

Member exercising his option under this sub-rule shall communicate his option in writing to the Central Government within six months of his appointment and option so exercised shall be final.

The Chairperson or a Member who, at the time of his appointment as such Member, - was in service of the Central or State Government and had opted to draw his pension and other retirement benefits under the rules applicable to the service to which he belonged prior to such appointment; or had retired from service under the Central or State Government a local body or other authority wholly or substantially owned or controlled by the Government, or was not in the service of the Central or State Government or a local body or any other authority wholly or substantially owned by the Government.

Shall be entitled to be admitted to the benefit of the Contributory Provident Fund Scheme and for this purpose shall be governed by the Contributory Provident Fund (India) Rules, 1962 as amended from time to time.

Residuary Provision

The conditions of service of the Chairperson for which no express provision has been made in these rules shall be

In the case of sitting judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court appointed as Chairperson, the same as admissible to a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, as the case may be; and

In the case of a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court appointed as Chairperson the same as those admissible under the Government's instructions relating to fixation of pay and other terms admissible to retired judges on their appointment to Commissions|Committees of Enquiry as amended from time to time.

The conditions of service of the Members for which no express provision has been made in these rules shall be as those applicable to a Secretary to the Government of India from time to time.

Schemes 1. New Swarnima Special Scheme for Women

1. Objective 2. Eligibility 3. Pattern of Financing 4. Rate of Interest 5. Repayment Period

2. Pre-matric Scholarship for OBC Students 1. Objective 2. Scope 3. Eligibility 4. Duration and Course of Studies 5. Institution of Study 6. Coverage Value of Scholarship and Ad-Hoc Grant

3. Post-matric Scholarship for OBC 1. Objective 2. Scope 3. Conditions of Eligibility 4. Revision of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric

Scholarship4. Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and

Girls1. Background 2. Objective 3. Important changes incorporated in the revised scheme 4. Location and Capacity of Hostels to be constructed under the

Scheme5. Eligibility criteria for students to be admitted to hostels under the

Scheme5. Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Welfare of OBCs

1. Objective 2. Target Group and Eligibility Criteria of OBCs 3. Scope 4. GIA to NGOs (Last Five Years) under the scheme "Assistance to

VOs working for the Welfare of OBCs"5. GIA Released to NGOs in 2013-14 6. State-wise/NGO-wise details of Grants-in-aid to NGOs

6. National Overseas Scholarship for Other Backward Classes 1. The Scheme 2. Discipline wise 3. Minimum Qualification 4. Age & Income Ceiling 5. Maximum Number of Children in a Family for the Award

New Swarnima Special Scheme for Women

Objective

The Objective of this scheme is to inculcate the spirit of self-dependence among the eligible Women of Backward Classes living below the poverty line. The salient features of the "New Swarnima are:

Maximum Loan limit is Rs. 1,00,000/- per beneficiary and interest will be charged@5% p.a.

The beneficiary women is not required to invest any amount of her own on the projects.

Eligibility

The women belonging to Backward classes as notified by the Central/ State Governments from time to time shall be eligible for loan under this scheme.

The annual family income of the rural applicant should be below Rs. 20,000/- The annual family income of the urban applicant should be below Rs. 27,500/-.

Pattern of FinancingNBCFDC loan 95%SCA Contribution 5%

Beneficiary's Contribution Nil

Rate of Interest

Rate of Interest is 5% p.a.

Repayment Period

Depends upon nature of scheme however the maximum period of repayment is 10 years.

Pre-matric Scholarship for OBC Students

Objective

Even after 51 years of independence and in spite of various measures taken to improve the level of education in the country, literacy levels among backward classes, particularly among women, continues to be extremely low. The number of steps have already been taken by the Government and considerable progress has been achieved in improving the level of literacy and education during the last 51 years, but there is still a long way to go before respectable levels of literacy are achieved, It has been recognized now that education and economic support for backward Classes has not been adequate and there is disparity between them and the non-backward sections of the population at every level. In view of the same, it is felt that earnest efforts are required to introduce various new schemes specifically for these target group i.e. backward classes to provide them a level playing field in comparison to non-backward sections of the population.

The position of women in terms of literacy among OBCs population is also a cause of concern. Considering the important role of women in shaping the size of

the family and outlook of its members, investment in improving education among women of these communities will not only improve their social and economic status, but will also help in accelerating the socio-economic development of these communities and the nation as a whole.

Experience shows that children of OBCs from the poorer section to not go schools as they often have to provide a helping hand to their parents in traditional occupation or otherwise supplement the family income. It is considered that a scheme of Pre-matric Scholarship would be helpful in spreading education amongst such children specially amongst the girl child of weaker sections. A scheme of Pre-matric Scholarship for the benefit of children belonging to Weaker Section amongst OBCs has been formulated with the object in view.

Scope

OBCs living below double the poverty line form a bigger chunk of a population and there are disparities amongst OBCs themselves to start with, it is proposed to award scholarship to school going children of poorer OBC parents whose annual income is below double the poverty line.

Eligibility

Scholarship award will be sanctioned in the case of students whose parents/guardians income from all sources does not exceed Rs.44,500 per annum.

Note 1: So long as either of the parents (or husband in the case of married unemployed girl student) are alive, only income of the parents/husband, as the case may be, from all sources will be taken into account and of no other members even though they may be earning. In the form of income declaration, income will be declared on this basis. Only in the case where both the parents (or husband in the case of married but unemployed girl student) have died, the income of the guardian who is supporting the student in his/her studies will have to be taken into consideration. Such students whose parent's income is affected due to unfortunate death of one of earning parents and resultantly comes within the income ceiling prescribed under the scheme, shall become eligible for scholarship, subject to their fulfilling other conditions of eligibility, from the month in which such sad incidence taken place. Applications for scholarships from such students can be considered even after lapse of last date of receipt of applications, on compassionate grounds.22

Note 2: House Rent allowance received by the parents of a student shall be exempted from the computation of 'income' if the same has been permitted to be exempted for purpose of Income-Tax.

Note 3: Income Certificate is required to be taken once only, i.e. at the time of admission to courses, which are continuing for more than one year.

Duration and Course of Studies

The scholarships may be given to the students enrolled in class I or any subsequent class of pre-matric stage in the case of day scholars, and class III or any subsequent class of pre-matric stage in the case of hostlers. The scholarship will terminate at the end of class X. The duration of scholarship in an academic year will be 10 months.

Institution of Study

The scholarship will be tenable only in such institutions and for such pre-matriculation courses, which have been duly recognized by the concerned State Government and Union Territory Administrations.

Coverage Value of Scholarship and Ad-Hoc Grant

Hostelers:

The students as hostlers will be covered from class III to X. The rates of scholarships will be as under:-

Class III to VIII Rs.200/- per month for 10 months Class IX to X Rs.250/- per month for 10 months

Day Scholars

The students as day scholars will be covered from Class I to Class X. The rates of scholarships will be as under:-

Class I to V Rs.25/- per month for 10 months Class VI to VIII Rs.40/- per month for 10 months Class IX to X Rs.50/- per month for 10 months

Ad-Hoc Grant

An ad-hoc grant of Rs.500/- per student per annum to all students i.e. hostlers as well as day scholars will also be given.

The scholarship amount will be payable from the date of joining to the date of leaving the school, excluding the period of vacation, which will be about 10 months in a year except in the cases where the students enters late or leaves early in the midst of academic year.

For More Information: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Post-matric Scholarship for OBC

Objective

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the OBC students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.

Scope

These scholarships shall be available for studies in India only and will be awarded by the Government of State/Union Territory to which the applicant actually belongs, i.e. permanently settled.

Conditions of Eligibility

The scholarships will be open to Indian nationals belonging to OBCs, as notified by the Central Govt./State Govt./ UT Admn.;

These scholarships will be given for the study of all recognized post-matriculation or post-secondary courses pursued in recognized institutions with the following exceptions:

"Scholarships shall not be awarded for training courses like Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's Course and Private Pilot License Courses. Courses at Training-Ship Dufferin (Now Rejendra); Courses of training at the Military College, Dehradun, Courses at pre-examination Training Centres of All India and State levels."

Only those candidates who belong to OBCs so specified in relation to the State/UT to which the applicant actually belongs, i.e. permanently settled and who have passed the Matriculation or Higher secondary or any higher examination of a recognized University or Board of Secondary Education will be eligible.

Candidates who, after passing one stage of education, are studying in the same stage of education in different subject e.g. I. Sc. after I.A or B.Com. after B.A. or M.A. in a subject after M.A in another subject will not be eligible.

Students who, after having completed their educational career in one professional line, e.g., LLB after B.T/B. Ed will not be eligible.

Students studying in XI Class of the Higher Secondary School courses or the XII class of the Multipurpose High School will not be eligible for it being a continuous school course. However, in cases, where tenth class examination of such courses is treated as equivalent to Matriculation and students who after passing tenth class join other courses, such students will be treated as post-matric students and will be eligible for the award of scholarships.

Students pursuing Post-graduate courses in medicine will be eligible if they are not allowed to practice during the period of their course.

Students who after failing or passing the Under Graduate/Post-Graduate examinations in Arts/science/Commerce join any recognized professional or Technical certificate/diploma/degree courses will be awarded scholarships if otherwise eligible. No subsequent failure will be condoned except courses in Group 'A' and no further change in the course will be allowed.

Students who pursue their studies through correspondence courses will be eligible towards reimbursement of non-refundable fee. The term correspondence includes distant and continuing education. Besides reimbursement of non-refundable fee, such students will also be eligible for an annual allowance of Rs. 900/- for essential/prescribed books, as applicable.

Only two boys of the same parents/guardian will be entitled to receive scholarships. This restriction will, however, not apply to girls. Accordingly, scholarship availed by girls of same parents/guardian will not adversely affect admissibility of availing scholarship upto two boys of same parents/guardian.

A scholarship holder under this Scheme will not hold any other scholarship/stipend. If awarded any other scholarship/stipend, the students can exercise his/her option for either of the two scholarships/stipends, whichever is more beneficial to him/her and should inform the awarding authority through the Head of the Institution about the option made. No scholarship will be paid to the students under this Scheme from the date he/she accepts any other scholarships/stipend. The student can however, accept free lodging or a grant or ad-hoc monetary help from the State Government or any other source for the purchase of books, equipment or for meeting the expenses on board and lodging, in addition to the scholarship amount paid under this Scheme.

Scholarship holders who are receiving coaching in any of the pre-examination training centers with financial assistance from the Central Government/State Government will not be eligible for stipend under the coaching schemes for the duration of the coaching programme.

Employed students whose income combined with the income of their parents/guardians does not exceed Rs. 1.00 lakh per annum shall be eligible for post-matric scholarships to the extent of reimbursement of all compulsorily payable non-refundable fees.

In case of unemployed students whose parents/guardians income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 1.00 lakh per annum will be entitled for the scholarship under the Scheme.

Note 1: So long as either of the parents (or husband in the case of married unemployed girl students) are alive, only income of the parents/husband, as the case may be, from all sources has to be taken into account and of no other members even though they may be earning. In the form of income declaration, income is to be declared on this basis. Only in the case where both the parents (or husband in the case of married but unemployed girl student) have died, the income of the guardian who is supporting the student in his/her studies has to be taken into consideration. Such students whose parent's income is affected due to unfortunate death of one of earning parents and resultantly comes within the income ceiling prescribed under the scheme, shall become eligible for scholarship, subject to their fulfilling other conditions of eligibility, from the month in which such sad incidence takes place. Applications for scholarships from such students can be considered even after lapse of last date of receipt of applications, on compassionate grounds.

Note 2: House Rent Allowance received by the parents of a student be exempted from the computation of 'income' if the same has been permitted to be exempted for purpose of Income-Tax.

Note 3: Income Certificate is required to be taken once only, i.e. at the time of admission to courses, which are continuing for more than one year.

For More Information: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Revision of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship

The Government of India has been implementing the Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship to students belonging to OBCs since 1998. It aims to provide financial assistance to students belonging to OBCs for pursuing post-matriculation courses through recognized institutions. Under the Scheme, Central Assistance is provided on 100% basis to all States/UTs over and above their respective “committed liability” except in the case of North Eastern States, which are exempted from committed liability.

Components of the Scheme include:

Maintenance allowance; Reimbursement of non-refundable Compulsory fee charged by educational institutions; and certain other allowances.

The Scheme has now been revised (w.e.f. 01.07.2011).

The revision consists of the following:-

Changes in (i) income ceiling; (ii) grouping of courses; and (iii) rates of maintenance and other allowances

The Scheme was, to begin with, meant to be open-ended, but has, in practice, been implemented subject to allocation available for it.

For More Information: Revision of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for students belonging to OBCs

Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls

Background

The Centrally-sponsored Scheme for Construction of Hostels for OBC Boys and Girls is being implemented since 1998-99 to address the problem of educational backwardness of OBCs. Very often, students from rural areas, especially those belonging to the weaker sections, discontinue their studies because of lack of secondary schools and colleges nearby and non-availability of adequate hostel

facilities, at a reasonable cost, at places where such educational institutions are located. Therefore, the Scheme was initiated with a view to facilitate continuation of education by students belonging to OBCs, especially those hailing from rural and remote areas and from poor families. Since the inception of the Scheme, upto 2009-10, Central assistance for construction of 811 hostels for OBC students has been sanctioned.

The funding pattern for construction of hostels under the scheme provided for cost sharing between the Central and State Governments in the ratio of 50:50, with 100% funding to UTs and Central Government Institutions like Central Universities.

The Scheme has been revised w.e.f. 2010-11. Guidelines of the revised Scheme are given below.

Objective

The Scheme aims at providing hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education.

Important changes incorporated in the revised scheme

The following important changes have been incorporated in the Scheme, as revised from 2010-11:-

Earlier, only State Governments, UT Administrations and Universities were eligible for Central assistance. Now, NGOs with a good track record will also be eligible.

Enhancement of Central assistance to North-Eastern States & Sikkim from 50% to 90%.

Indicative physical norms have been laid down for a typical 100 seater hostel with a view to improving the quality and "liveability" of hostels to be constructed henceforth, and to introduce a degree of uniformity in the physical norms across the country, and

Introduction of a one-time non-recurring grant of Rs.2500/- per seat for providing furniture/equipment to the hostels constructed under the Scheme.

Agencies Eligible for Assistance under the revised Scheme Agencies eligible for financial assistance under the revised Scheme will be as follows:-

State Governments and UT Administrations; Institutions or organizations set up by the Central Government as autonomous

bodies under a statute (e.g. Central Universities, IIT, NIT,etc.) or as Societies under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860, orotherwise;

Well-established NGOs with a good track record in implementation of development schemes for OBCs, especially in the education sector. These organizations should have been registered for at least two years at the time of applying for grant under the Scheme.

Location and Capacity of Hostels to be constructed under the Scheme

While sanctioning hostels, priority will be given to:-

Regions/districts not covered so far, and Districts/towns having a large number of educational institutions.

As far as possible, hostels will be constructed in close vicinity of educational institutions.

Assistance will be provided for construction of 100 seater hostels, at the maximum. Proposals for construction of hostels with lesser capacity (e.g. 25 or 50) would also be considered.

Eligibility criteria for students to be admitted to hostels under the Scheme

Students fulfilling the following eligibility criteria may be allotted seats in Hostels constructed under the Scheme:-

Students whose castes are included in the Central/State/UT list of Backward Classes and who do not belong to the "creamy layer".

Hostels would be essentially for post matric students. However, if there are vacant seats, pre-matric students especially of the secondary level, would also be eligible to be accommodated.

Other things, being equal preference will be given to OBC students hailing from low income families.

At least 5% of the total seats should be reserved for students with disabilities

For More Information: Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls

Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Welfare of OBCs

Objective

The programme of giving grant-in-aid to Voluntary Organizations under the Backward Classes sector has been taken up by the Govt. of India during the Ninth Five Year Plan. The main purpose behind the scheme of grant-in-aid to voluntary organisation for taking up welfare activities among the OBCs is, to improve the educational and socio-economic conditions of these communities through voluntary efforts.

The aim of the scheme is to involve the voluntary sector to improve educational and socio- economic conditions of the target group i.e. OBCs, with a view to upgrade skill to enable them to start income generating activities on their own or get gainfully employed in some sector or the other. The principle that good voluntary organisations should not only be assisted but also consciously built up, has been the guiding spirit behind the formulation of the scheme.

Target Group and Eligibility Criteria of OBCs

The NGOs will select only such OBCs as indicated below:-

The beneficiaries should belong to OBCs as per notified list in the Central List of Backward Classes.

The beneficiaries whose parents / guardians income from all sources including the income of the beneficiary does not exceed Rs. 1.00 Lakhs annually will be eligible for availing the benefit under the scheme.

Scope

Assistance under the scheme will be given to eligible voluntary organisations fulfilling the eligibility conditions laid down as under:-

In order to be eligible for assistance under this scheme, an Organisation should have the following characteristics:

It is a registered body under an appropriate Act so that it gets a corporate status and a legal personality and a group liability is established for its activities.

It has an appropriate administrative structure and a duly constituted managing / executive committee.

The aims and objects of the organisation and programmes in fulfillment of those aims and objects are precisely laid down ;

The organisation is initiated and governed by its own members on democratic principles, without any external control ; and

It should not run for profit to any individual or body of individuals.

The Ministry will identify reputed and established NGOs which could be asked to set up facilities in those areas where various facilities for OBCs have not developed and rural and other inaccessible areas either themselves or in partnership with other NGOs.

For More Information: Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Welfare of OBCs

GIA to NGOs (Last Five Years) under the scheme "Assistance to VOs working for the Welfare of OBCs"

For More Information: Assistance to VOs working for the welfare of OBCs- GIA to NGO (Last Five Years)

GIA Released to NGOs in 2013-14

GIA released to NGOs during the year 2013-14, under the scheme of"Assistance to Voluntary Organizations working for the Welfare of OBCs”

State-wise/NGO-wise details of Grants-in-aid to NGOs

State-wise/NGO-wise details of Grants-in-aid to NGOs under the Scheme of ‘Assistance to Voluntary Organizations working for the Welfare of OBCs’ during 2011-12

National Overseas Scholarship for Other Backward Classes

The Scheme

The Scheme provides financial assistance to the finally selected candidatesfor pursuing Master level courses and Ph.D abroad in the following specified fields of study:-

a) Engineering;

b) Management;

c) Agricultural Science; and

d) Medicine.

Twenty five awards per year are available under the Scheme with following distribution:

Discipline wiseFields of study No. of seats each year

a Engineering 7b Management 6

c Agricultural Science 6

d Medicine 6Total 25

Minimum Qualification

For Ph.D

First class or 60(sixty)% marks or equivalent grade in relevant Masters' Degree. Preference would be given to the experienced candidates, especially to those who hold lien with their existing post and employer.

For Masters' Degree

First Class or 60(sixty)% marks or equivalent grade in relevant Bachelors' Degree. Preference would be given to the experienced candidates, especially to those who hold lien with their existing post and employer.

Age & Income Ceiling

Below 35(Thirty Five) years, as on First day of the month of the Advertisement of the Scheme.

Total family income from all sources of the employed candidate or his/her parents/guardians, shall not exceed Rs.3,00,000/-(Rupees three lakh only) per annum (excluding such allowances as are not treated as part of total income for the purpose of income tax) as certified by the employer. A copy of latest tax-assessment as well as latest monthly salary slip from the employer is also required to be enclosed with the application.

Maximum Number of Children in a Family for the Award

Not more than one child of the same parents/guardians will be eligible for award of this scholarship and to this effect a self-certification will be required from the candidate. The awardee cannot be considered for the award for second or subsequent times as one individual can be awarded for once. The award can be given only once.

National Institutes 1. National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation

(NBCFDC)1. About NBCFDC 2. Objectives 3. Schemes 4. How to Apply 5. Achievements

2. National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) 1. About NCBC 2. Organisational Setup 3. NCBC Act, 1993 4. Constitutional Provisions 5. Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)

About NBCFDC

National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) is a Govt. of India Undertaking under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. NBCFDC was incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 on 13th January 1992 as a Company not for profit with an objective to promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes and to assist the poorer section of these classes in skill development and self-employment ventures. NBCFDC

provides financial assistance through State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) nominated by the State Governments/UTs. NBCFDC also provides Micro Financing through SCAs/ Self Help Groups (SHGs) . The Corporation can assist a wide range of income generating activities to assist the poorer section of these classes in skill development and self-employment ventures under following broad sectors:

1. Agriculture and Allied Activities2. Small Business3. Artisan and Traditional Occupation4. Technical and Professional Trades/Courses5. Transport and Service Sector etc.

Objectives

To promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes.

To assist, subject to such income and/or economic criteria as may be prescribed by government from time to time, individuals or groups of individuals belonging to Backward Classes by way of loans and advances for economically and financially viable schemes and projects.

To promote self-employment and other ventures for the benefit of Backward Classes.

To grant concessional finance in selected cases for persons belonging to Backward Classes living below double the poverty line.

To extend loans to the Backward Classes for pursuing general/professional/technical education or training at graduate and higher level.

To assist in the upgradation of technical and entrepreneurial skills of Backward Classes for proper and efficient management of production units.

Schemes

Education Loan Scheme

Objectives

NBCFDC introduced Education Loan Scheme 'New Aakanksha' Scheme to provide financial assistance to the students of Backward Classes living below double poverty line for pursuing General/ Professional/ Technical course or training at graduate and higher level.

Eligibility

1. Members of backward classes, as notified by Central Government and State Governments from time to time.

2. The annual income of the applicant's family should be below double the poverty line i.e. Rs.55000/- p.a. in  urban areas and Rs. 40,000/- p.a.  in rural areas.

3. The applicant should have obtained admission for professional Course.4. Priority will be given to women, physically impaired and dependent of war

widows.

Courses Covered

1. MBA or equivalent (approved by AICTE)2. MCA (Master of computer Application) or equivalent programme  (approved by

AICTE)3. Graduate programme in Engineering conducted by IIT/other institutions.

(approved by AICTE)4. MBBS/Graduation/ PG in Medicine (including Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Unani)

programme conducted by colleges recognized by Medical Council of India or any other concerned authority.

5. Graduation/PG in Hotel Management etc.

The loan shall be provided by the State Channelising Agency through Institute/College only.

Maximum  Loan  Limit

1. Study in India : Rs. 10 Lakh2. Study Abroad : Rs. 20 Lakh

90% of the expenditure of the course subject to maximum loan limit of Rs.10.00 Lakh per student or Rs.2.50 Lakh p.a. (for studying within India) & Rs.20.00 Lakh per student (for studying abroad), the balance 10% will be borne by student/SCAs.

Rate of Interest

From beneficiary - 4%p.a (3.5% for Girl Students)

Mode of Repayment

The recovery will commence after six months of completion of course or getting employment/ Self-employment whichever is earlier.

Micro Finance Schemes

Objective:

In order to implement the NBCFDC scheme at grass root level and to promote & Support micro financing scheme for improvement of credit facilities for the poorer section of the beneficiary claim especially for women beneficiaries, the Corporation has adopted Micro Financing through SCA's. SCA's further can give loan through accredited NGO's/SHG. Salient features of the Scheme are as under:

Implementation

The scheme is to be implemented through SCAs in rural and urban areas by way of financing the beneficiaries either directly or through Self Help Group (SHGs) preferably in the areas remained uncovered so far under any of such schemes

Eligibility of the Beneficiary

Members of Backward Classes as notified by Central/ State Govt. and are living below double the poverty line i.e. annual family income of the beneficiary should be less than Rs. 40,000/- in rural area and Rs Rs. 55,000/- in urban areas. In a SHG 75% members can be from backward classes and remaining 25% members may be from other weaker including SC/ST, Minorities and disable persons

Quantum of Loan

Max. loan per Beneficiary Rs.50,000/-

Pattern of Finance

NBCFDC loan 90%SCA Loan 5%Beneficiary Contribution 5%

Utilisation Period : 3 months from date of disbursement.

Repayment Period : 36 months.

Rate of Interest

From NBCFDC to SCA 2 % p.a.

SCA to NGO/SHG 5 % p.a.

Mahila Samridhi Yojna

Objective:

To Provide Micro Finance to women entrepreneurs belonging to the target group.

Salient feature of the scheme

Maximum loan limit per beneficiary: Rs. 50,000/-

Implementation:

The scheme is to be implemented through SCAs in rural and urban areas by way financing the women beneficiaries directly or through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Eligibility

Women belonging to the Backward Classes as notified by Central/State Govt. from time to time and living below double the poverty line (i.e. annual family income of the beneficiary should be less than Rs. 40,000/- in rural and Rs. 55,000/- in urban areas).

Pattern of Finance

NBCFDC loan 95%SCA/Beneficiary 5%

Utilization Period

3 months from date of disbursement

Rate of Interest

From NBCFDC to SCA 1% p.a.

SCA to Beneficiary 4% p.a

Mode of Repayment

Under the scheme, loan is to be repaid in quarterly installments within three years (including the moratorium period of 90 days for fund utilization).

On repayment of loan under the scheme, the eligible beneficiaries can avail any loan of NBCFDC schemes

How to Apply

Prospective eligible beneficiaries should apply on prescribed form (available with the SCA) to Distt. Office of SCA where he/she normally resides.

The applicant should clearly mention his/her felt needs and choice of vocation and training requirements, if any, in the application form.

The applicant should fulfill eligibility criteria (should belong to Backward Class and living below double poverty line).

Submit documents as a proof of the same such as Caste and Income Certificate issued by Competent Authority like Tehsildar/Sub Divisional Magistrate/District Collector etc.

The loan is sanctioned by SCA to the applicant keeping in view the availability of funds and fulfillment of eligibility criteria by the beneficiaries & completion of required documentation.

Achievements

Performance & Achievements of NBCFDC 2014-15 Achievements against MOU Targets (2013-14) State wise Cumulative Disbursement & No. of Beneficiaries Assisted (Upto

31.03.2015) State wise Cumulative Utilization and Recovery %age (Upto 31.03.2015)

Source: National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

About NCBC

The Supreme Court of India in its Judgment dated 16.11.1992 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 930 of 1990 – Indira Sawhney & Ors. Vs. Union of India and Ors., reported in (1992) Supp. 3 SCC 217  directed the Govt. of India, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to constitute a permanent body in the nature of a Commission or Tribunal for entertaining, examining and recommending upon requests for inclusion and complaints of over-inclusion and under-inclusion in the list of OBCs.

Pursuant to the direction of the Supreme Court, the Government of India enacted the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 (Act No. 27 of 1993) for setting up a Commission at National Level viz. “National Commission for Backward Classes” as a permanent body.

The Act came into effect on the 2nd April, 1993. Section 3 of the Act provides that the Commission shall consist of five Members, comprising of a Chairperson who is or has been a judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court; a social scientist; two persons, who have special knowledge in matters relating to backward classes; and a Member-Secretary, who is or has been an officer of the Central Government in the rank of a Secretary to the Government of India.

Organisational Setup

NCBC Act, 1993

This Act maybe called the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993. It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. tc "(2) It

extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir." It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of February, 1993. tc

"(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of February, 1993."

For More Information: NCBC Act,1993

Constitutional Provisions

15.  Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth

The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth or any of them.

No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to –

access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or The use of wells, tanks, bathing Ghats, roads and places of public resort

maintained wholly of partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.

Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children.

[(4) Nothing in this article or in clause (2) of article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.]

[(5)  Nothing in this article or in sub-clause (g) of clause (1) of article 19 shall prevent the State from making any special provision by law, for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in so far as such special provisions relate to their admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the  State, other than the minority educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of article 30].

16.  Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.

There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.

No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.

Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from making any law prescribing, in regard to a class or classes of employment or appointment to an office 1[under the Government of, or any local or other authority within, a State or Union territory, any requirement as to residence within that State or Union territory] prior to such employment or appointment.

Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.

2[(4A) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for reservation 3[in matters of promotion, with consequential seniority, to any class] or classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes which, in the opinion of the State, are not adequately represented in the services under the State.]

4(4B) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from considering any unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for being filled up in that year in

accordance with any provision for reservation made under clause (4) or clause (4A) as a separate class of vacancies to be filled up in any succeeding year or years and such class of vacancies shall not be considered together with the vacancies of the year in which they are being filled up for determining the ceiling of fifty per cent. Reservation on total number of vacancies of that year.]

Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any law which provides that the incumbent of an office in connection with the affairs of any religious or denominational institution or any member of the governing body thereof shall be a person professing a particular religion or belonging to a particular denomination.

Article 340 of the Constitution provides for the appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of and the difficulties faced by the socially and educationally backward classes and to make appropriate recommendations .The article reads as under :-

“ 340. Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes –

The President may by order appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of the socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition and as to the grants that should be made for the purpose by the Union or any state and the conditions subject to which such grants should be made, and the order appointing such commission shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.

A Commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and make such recommendations as they think proper.

The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each house of Parliament. ”

Under Article 338(5) of the Constitution, the following are the powers of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes: It shall be duty of the Commission –

To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under this Commission or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;

To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under this Commission or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;

To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes;

To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;

To present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;

To make in such report recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; and

To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.”

By clause (10) of the same Article, “Backward Classes” are included within the expression “Scheduled Castes”.  Clause (10) of Article 338 reads as follows:

“(10) In this article references to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be construed as including references to such other backward classes as the President may, on receipt of the report of a Commission appointed under clause (1) of Article 340, by order specify and also to the Anglo-Indian community”.

Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

The Commission examines requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class in the lists and hears complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in such lists and tenders such advice to the Central Government as it deems appropriate; and the advice of the Commission shall ordinarily be binding upon the Central Government.

A total of 35 notifications have been issued so far and till date, a total of 2404 "entries" (as "entry" means a caste, including its synonyms, sub-castes etc.) have been notified in the Central list of OBCs for 24 States and 6 Union Territories.

Minorities WelfareAbout the Ministry

The Ministry of Minority Affairs was created on 29th January, 2006 to ensure a more focused approach towards issues relating to the minorities and to facilitate the formulation of overall policy and planning, coordination, evaluation and review of the regulatory framework and development programmes for the benefit of the minority communities.

Vision and Mission

Vision

Empowering the minority communities and creating an enabling environment for strengthening the multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious character of our nation.

Mission

To improve the socio-economic conditions of the minority communities through affirmative action and inclusive development so that every citizen has equal opportunity to participate actively in building a vibrant nation. To facilitate an equitable share for minority communities in education, employment, economic activities and to ensure their upliftment.

Allocation of Business Rules

Allocation of Business Rules Subjects allocated to this Ministry as per Second Schedule to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 are:-

1. Overall policy, planning, coordination, evaluation and review of the regulatory and development programmes of the minority communities.

2. All matters relating to minority communities except matters relating to law and order.

3. Policy initiatives for protection of minorities and their security in consultation with other Central Government Ministries and State Government.

4. Matters relating to Linguistic Minorities and of the Office of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities.

5. Matters relating to National Commission for Minorities Act.6. Work relating to the Evacuee Waqf properties under the Administration of

Evacuee Property Act, 1950 (31 of 1950) (since repealed).7. Representation of the Anglo-Indian community.8. Protection and preservation of non-Muslim shrines in Pakistan and Muslim

shrines in India in terms of the Pant-Mirza Agreement of 1955, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs.

9. Questions relating to the minority communities in neighboring countries, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs.

10. Charities and charitable institutions, charitable and religious Endowments pertaining to subjects dealt with in the Department.

11. Matters pertaining to the socio-economic, cultural and educational status of minorities, minority organizations, including the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.

12. The Waqf Act, 1995 (43 of 1995) and Central Waqf Council.13. The Durgah Khawaja Saheb Act, 1955 (36 of 1955).14. Funding of programmes and projects for the welfare of minorities, including the

National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation.

15. Employment opportunities for minorities in the Central and State public sector undertakings, as also in the private sector.

16. Formulation of measures relating to the protection of minorities and their security in consultation with other concerned Central Ministries and State Governments.

17. National Commission for Socially and Economically Backward Sections among Religious and Linguistic Minorities.

18. Prime Minister's new 15-Point Programme for Minorities.19. Any other issue pertaining to the minority communities.

Other Ministries related to Minorities welfare

1. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India 2. Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

The Ministry of External Affairs deals with matters relating to the following subjects:

1. The Haj Committee Act, 2002.2. The Haj Committee Rules, 2002.3. The Central Haj Committee.

Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India

The Ministry of Human Resource Development deals with matters relating to the following subjects:

1. National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language(NCPUL).2. Education of Minorities.3. National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions.4. Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrassas (SPQEM).5. Scheme for Infrastructure Development for Minority Institutes (IDMI).6. Scheme for Infrastructure Development in Private Aided/Unaided Minority

Institutes (Elementary, Secondary/Senior Secondary School).7. The Right of Children of Free and Compulsory Education Act,2009.

Policies and Acts 1. The Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act 2. National Commission for Minorities Act 3. The Wakf Act

The Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act

The Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955 is law of India passed by parliament in 1955. It provides for constitution of a Dargah Committee to manage Dargah Sharif in Ajmer. The Dargah Committee, appointed by the Government, manages donations, takes care of the maintenance of the shrine, and runs charitable institutions like dispensaries, and guest houses for the devotee.

To Know More: The Durgah Khawaja Saheb Act

National Commission for Minorities Act

The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Five religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority communities by the Union Government. Further vide notification detail 27th Jan 2014, Jains have also been notified as minority community. The Commission has one Chairperson and six Members represented five minority communities.

To Know More:National Commission for Minorities Act

The Wakf Act

The term waqf literally means "confinement and prohibition" or causing a thing to stop or stand still. The legal meaning of Waqf is the detention of specific thing in the ownership of waqf and the devoting of its profit or products "in charity of poor or other good objects". A waqf was used to keep money or property together in private hands; a pooling of wealth to maintain private ownership. It is a pious and perpetual endowment that is free from tax.

Schemes 1. About Schemes 2. Schemes

1. Nai Roshni 2. Scholarship Schemes 3. Free Coaching & Allied Scheme 4. Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn) 5. "Jiyo Parsi" 6. "Padho Pardesh" 7. Nalanda Scheme 8. Minority Cyber Gram 9. Maulana Azad Sehat scheme 10. Computerization of Records of State Wakf Boards 11. Shaadi Mubarak Scheme of Telangana state government

3. Related Resources

About Schemes

Government has taken following initiatives for the welfare and upliftment of the minority communities:-

USTAAD:- The Scheme aims at upgrading Skills and Training in preservation of traditional   Ancestral Arts/Crafts of minorities.

Hamari Darohar:- The Scheme aims to preserve rich heritage of minority communities in context of Indian culture.

Khwaza Garib Nawaz Senior Secondary School will be established at Ajmer by Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) to give a fillip to minority education.

Nai Manzil: A bridge course to bridge the academic and skill development gaps of the deeni Madrasa passouts with their mainstream counterparts.

Strengthening of State Wakf Boards: The scheme envisages to provide assistance for meeting the training and administrative cost of State Wakf Boards, removal of encroachment from Waqf Properties and also strengthening of Zonal/Regional offices of Waqf Boards.

Under the scheme of “Seekho aur Kamao”, about 63% minority youths were from Muslim community during last year. Under the lending programmes of National Minorities Development Finance Corporation (NMDFC), about 77.6% beneficiaries were from Muslim community in the last two years of the 12th Plan.

Multi-Sectoral Development Programme is an area development programme under which infrastructure development and assets creation are done in the Minority Concentration Areas taking into consideration that tangible and intangible benefits reach the minority population of that area including Muslims.

The government has taken the following steps to ensure that these benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

The Scholarship Schemes have been restructured to allow for greater transparency and accountability during processing and sanction.

To help evaluation of flow of benefits, segregated data for the different minority communities is being sought from all Ministries. The states/UTs have also been requested to provide better and timely feedback.

The scholarship schemes are reviewed regularly through interaction with the State Governments at regular intervals and field visits by the Ministry officials.

The Online Scholarship Management System (OSMS) earlier introduced for the Merit-cum-Means scholarship scheme has now been extended to Post Matric scholarship scheme.

Schemes

Nai Roshni

The scheme is envisaged to reach out to women through nongovernmental organizations who will be provided with financial support for conducting leadership development trainings so that women are empowered and emboldened to move out of the confines of home and community and assume leadership roles and assert their rights collectively or individually.

For more information, visit Nai Roshni- The Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women

Scholarship Schemes

Students belonging to notified minority communities viz. Muslim / Christian / Sikh / Buddhist / Jain / Parsi (Zoroastrian) studying in India only and fulfilling the Scheme guidelines are eligible to apply for these scholarships.

For more information, visit the following links:

Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities Post-matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme

Free Coaching & Allied Scheme

The scheme aims to empower the minority communities by assisting the economically weaker sections of students among them through coaching institutions for enhancing their skills and capabilities to make them employable in industries, services and business sectors in addition to the government sector. It has built-in resilience to adapt to the market dynamics on a continuous basis so that the target groups are not deprived of the professional acumen demanded by the changing/emerging market needs and opportunities for employment at domestic as well as international levels.

Separate schemes for providing coaching to students belonging to scheduled caste, minority communities and backward classes were being implemented from 6th Five Year Plan. These separate schemes were amalgamated with effect from September 2001 into a combined Scheme of Coaching and Allied Assistance for Weaker Sections including Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities. After creation of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, a new scheme called "Free Coaching & Allied Scheme for candidates belonging to minority communities has been formulated keeping in view the emerging trends of employment in the era of economic reforms, liberalization and globalization.

Objectives

The objectives of the scheme are to assist students belonging to minority communities by way of special coaching for the following:-

1. Qualifying examinations for admission in technical/professional courses such as engineering, law, medical, management, information technology etc and language/aptitude examinations for seeking admission in foreign universities.

2. Competitive examinations for recruitment to Group 'A', 'B', 'C and 'D' services and other equivalent posts under the Central and State governments including police/security forces, public sector undertakings, Railways, banks, insurance companies as well as autonomous bodies; and

3. Coaching for jobs in the private sector such as in airlines, shipping, information technology (IT), business process outsourcing (BPO) and other IT enabled services, hospitality, tours and travels, maritime, food processing, retail, sales & marketing, bio-technology and other job oriented courses as per the emerging trend of employment.

4. Remedial coaching at undergraduate and post graduate level to improve the academic knowledge and enable the student to catch up with the rest of the class and complete the course successfully.

For more information, visit, Free Coaching and Allied Scheme for Minority Communities Students

Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)

Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India on 23 September 2013 launched a central sector scheme for Skill Development of Minorities

Main Objectives

To bring down unemployment rate of minorities during 12th Plan period (2012-17).

To conserve and update traditional skills of minorities and establish their linkages with the market.

To improve employability of existing workers, school dropouts etc and ensure their placement.

To generate means of better livelihood for marginalised minorities and bring them in the mainstream.

To enable minorities to avail opportunities in the growing market. To develop potential human resource for the country.

For more information, visit, "Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)"- The Scheme for Skill Development of Minorities.

"Jiyo Parsi"

Jiyo Parsi, the Central Sector Scheme for containing population decline of Parsis in India was launched on 23 September 2013 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.

Objectives

The main objective of the Jiyo parsi scheme is to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by adopting scientific protocol and structured interventions, stabilize the Parsi population and increase the population of Parsis in India.

Main features

100 percent funded by Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. Medical interventions under Standard Medical protocols in empanelled

hospitals/clinics. Confidentiality of the patients to be given utmost importance.

Target groups

The scheme is meant for only Parsis community. Parsi married couples of child bearing age who seek assistance. Adults/young men/women/adolescent boys/girls for detection of diseases

resulting with consent of parents/legal guardians.

For more information, visit "Jiyo Parsi" - The Central Sector Scheme for Containing Population Decline of Parsis in India

"Padho Pardesh"

Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs has now introduced a new scheme for providing 'interest subsidy' for minority students for overseas studies.  This scheme came into force from 2013-14.  The loan for overseas studies for specific courses should have been sanctioned by the bank under IBA model scheme.  The annual income of the parents should be less than 6 lakhs.

If the student is eligible, the Government of India provides full interest subsidy during the moratorium period. (course period plus one year or six months after getting employment, whichever is earlier).

For more information, visit "Padho Pardesh" - Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for the Students Belonging to the Minority Communities.

Nalanda Scheme

Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched the Nalanda Project for Minorities Higher Educational Institutions on 4 March 2014.

Nalanda Project is an innovative Faculty Development Program of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. The Nalanda Project is being taken up at Aligarh Muslim University, a premier Minority University of world fame. The Aligarh Muslim University is also a Nodal Staff College of University Grant Commission.

About Faculty development program

The primary goal of faculty development is to help faculty learn new ways to achieve excellence and to grow as faculty members. It is an ongoing process of understanding, learning, and growth. Faculty development includes education, collaboration, resources and support.

Faculty development is an essential element of institutional effectiveness in higher education. It has become a priority at many academic institutions as a way to improve the quality of academic programs and to respond to emerging faculty, student, program and industry needs.

The extent to which the University or College supports faculty development will be strongly reflected in levels of student engagement and motivation, and thus ultimately, student learning.

Through educational programs and workshops faculty can learn the skills necessary to reach excellence in a changing academic environment.

Faculty who engage in professional development experiences benefit also in terms of increased vitality, informed pedagogy, teaching innovations and scholarly teaching.

For more information, visit Nalanda Project

Minority Cyber Gram

The MCG programme seeks to introduce digital literacy skills in identified minority clusters in India through designated Digital Fellows towards knowledge empowerment and entitlement gains of minority focused groups and beneficiaries.

Background

With basic literacy level low among the backward sections of the minorities, the social and economic profile is further aggravated due to lack of basic digital skills and knowledge to derive advantages from digital tools, devices, platforms and knowledge networks. In order to mainstream minority groups and communities with national development goals and objectives, it is extremely important and relevant to deploy and introduce digital literacy skills to get benefits in knowledge based networks and in public schemes and other services through information empowerment.

Objectives

To impart digital literacy and skills among identified minority groups and beneficiaries through designated Digital Fellows (DFs) in identified minority clusters for information and knowledge empowerment and entitlement gains.

To provide opportunities in information and knowledge networks for local communities.

For more information, visit Minority Cyber Gram

Maulana Azad Sehat scheme

Under the scheme, Sehat Card will be issued to every student of the Institution financially aided by Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF).

Preventive Health Check-up Camps will be organized by the Institute twice in a year, through government or private hospitals or nursing homes.

All findings of the preventive health checkups will be entered in the Sehat Card of the student by the doctors.

In exceptional and deserving cases for serious ailments the poor students belonging to notified minorities will be provided financial assistance for the treatment in government or recognized hospitals. Serious ailments of kidney, heart, liver cancer and brain or any life threatening diseases including knee and spinal surgery will be covered.

A dispensary or health care centre is to be set up in the educational institutions (school) to provide daily medical facilities to the students studying in the educational institutions funded or aided by MAEF.

For more information, visit Maulana Azad SEHAT scheme for Institutions financially aided

Computerization of Records of State Wakf Boards

Background

The Waqf Properties are spread out all over the country but even the basic survey of waqf properties have not been completed in most of the States. There is hardly any development of Waqf Properties and therefore, a very substantial income that the Waqf Properties could have generated for the welfare schemes of the community, are lost every year. There is also large scale encroachment of Waqf Properties.

Objectives

As recommended by Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf in its 9th Report, the Scheme for "Computerization of records of the State Wakf Boards" was launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, to streamline record keeping,

introduce transparency, and to computerize the various functions & processes of the Waqf Boards and to develop a single web-based centralized software application.

In this Scheme, Central financial assistance is given to the State Waqf Boards for setting-up of ICT Infrastructure, Technical Manpower for initial hand-holding period for managing & operating the ICT infrastructure and software applications, imparting training and knowledge transfer to the State Waqf Boards staff for managing & operating the ICT infrastructure and software applications and data management life cycle during and at the end of hand-holding period.

The scheme helps in the following

Waqf Properties Registration Management Annual Returns Filing of assessable Waqf Properties Management Transparency in Leasing of Waqf Properties under Direct Management of Waqf

Board Litigations (Internal as well as External Hon'ble Courts) Tracking Management Waqf Properties Ownership establishing Documents Archiving & Retrieval

Management GIS of Waqf Properties using GPS Field Survey alongwith Photographs of Waqf

Properties Funds Management to Mosques, Durgah, Kabristan, Imams, Muazzins, Widows,

Girls Marriages, Scholarships, Schools, Hospitals, Dispensaries, Musafirkhanas, Skill Development Centres, etc.

Loans Management for Development of Urban Waqf Properties

For more information, visit the following links.

WAMSI On-line System Allocation and Sanction Performance Scheme Details Wamsi Project

Source : Ministry of Minorities Affairs, Government of India

Shaadi Mubarak Scheme of Telangana state government

The Telangana State Government has introduced Shaadi Mubarak Scheme for Muslim Minorities. Under the Shaadi Mubarak Scheme, a financial assistance of Rs 51,000 (Rupees Fifty one thousand only) is provided to each unmarried girl at the time of marriage. The scheme is applicable to those residing in Telangana only.

Eligibility

1. An unmarried girl belonging toa) Muslim community.b) Resident of Telangana Statec) Completed 18 years of age at the time of marriage.d) Wedding of the Mulsim girl should be on or after October 2nd, 2014.

2. Income Criteria - The combined income of the Parents shall not exceed Rs. 2,00,000/- per annum.

Application procedure:

Applicants can apply online by accessing the website https://telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in/ShaadiMubharak.do .

Applicants can also apply through any MEESEVA centre or submit the application directly at the Tashildar Office.

The following certificates are required to be attached:i) Date of birth – Issued by the competent authority through MEESEVA Centreii) Community Certificate – Issued by the Competent authority through MEESEVA Centreiii) Income Certificate (the certificate shall be latest and shall not be older than 6 months from the date of marriage)iv) Aadhaar card of the bride and bride groom to be scanned and uploaded.v) A scanned copy of the first page of Bank Pass Book (Savings Account) containing the photo of the bride and the account details in the name of the bride.vi) Wedding Card if availablevii) Wedding Photographviii) Letter by the Gram Panchayat/Mosque/any other authority/ institution which has performed the marriage to be scanned and uploadedix) Optional details for scanning and uploading: SSC Hall ticket number and year of passing where applicable

Online application process

Visit the website https://telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in/ShaadiMubharak.do Fill the online application form which is divided into four sections ie.,

1. Bride particulars2. Bridegroom particulars2.  Details of the marriage and3.  Upload the required document.

Fill the following details in the section of Bride particulars:1. Details of the Bride such as name of the bride, father's name, date of birth, educational qualification, Aadhar number, caste and sub caste.2. Income Certificate Details3. Permanent and present address4. Bank account details

Fill the following details in the section - Bridegroom particulars Name of the bridegroom, name of the father, Date of birth, UID (Aadhar) No., educational qualification, religion and family income (per annum).

Fill the following details in the section - Details of the MarriageDate of marriage, Place of marriage and Address of marriage place

In the upload section, please upload the following files of the marriage details. These files should be in Jpg/Ipeg formatBride’s Photo, Age proof certificate, Bride’s Scanned Aadhar Copy, Bride Groom’s Scanned Aadhar Copy and Scanned Bank pass book.

Once filled in, enter the code shown in the image and click on the submit button. A print out of the application is to be taken for further reference.