| 4th Five Year Plan |
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Chapter
21: WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF BACKWARD CLASSES
Members
of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes together comprise more than
one-fifth of the total population. In addition, there are the nomadic,
semi-nomadic and denotified communities. Tn order to raise the social,
educational and economic standards of the backward classes special schemes
have been taken up. They are intended to supplement the general programmes
in various sectors. The programes in the backward classes sector are conceived
as only a part of the total effort to be made for promoting the social
and economic well being of the backward classes and accelerating the pace
of their advancement.
21.2.
In the first eighteen years of planning, about Rs. 277 crores were spent
on special programmes for the welfare of backward classes, in addition
to the outlays from general development programmes, from which too, benefits
have flown to the backward classes. Of this 100 crores was for members
of the Scheduled Castes, Rs. 150 crores for the members of the Schduled
Tribes, and Rs. 27 crores for other backward classes. A programme-wise
break up of the '"expenditure shows that Rs. 117 crores were spent
onJschemes of educational development, Rs. 19 crores on economic development,
and Rs. 69 crores on health, housing and other schemes. The expenditure
on some of the important programmes in the Third Plan and the three Annual
Plans and the outlay proposed for Fourth Plan are :
Table
1 Expenditure
on Some Important Programmes
(Rs. crores.)
21.3.
Although there is still a difference in the percentage of literates between
the backward classes and the general population, an encouraging feature
is the significant progress in the enrolment of children from these communities.
A study by the Programme Evaluation Organisation on extension of primary
education in rural areas has indicated that the rate of growth in enrolment
of children belonging to the Scheduled Castes was higher than others in
each of the two Plan periods. Enrolment data collected from 11 States
by the Ministry of Education show that between the period 1960-61 and
1964-65, the percentage enrolment of Scheduled Tribe students has improved
in all states. In the Third plan, 1,022 million and 1.718 million children
belonging to the Scheduled Tribes ?and Scheduled Castes were given prematric
scholarships or stipends. The number of students of the Scheduled Caste.,
and Scheduled Tribes awarded post-matric scholarships increased from 2180
in 1951-52 to 127,684 in 1967-68. In 1968-69 this is expected to increase
to 145,000. Four hundred and eighty-nine -tribal development blocks have
been started of which 43 were initiated in the Second plan, 415 in the
Third plan and 31 in 1966-67. Coaching centres were organised for assisting
students to compete in the examinations conducted by the Union Public
Service Commission for recruitment to Class I and subordinate services.
In the centre at Allahabad, out of 411 candidates given pre-examination
coaching between May 1959 and October 1966, 153 were selected for IAS
or IPS and the Central Services. In addition, a large number of schemes
of economic assistance and Housing were implemented.
21.4.
For the last two years, tribal development blocks have not obtaired their
normal allotment of funds on account of financial constraints. The schemes
of development undertaken in these blocks through special allocations
have not been pioperly integrated with the general development plans of
the region. These were also not related to the special problems of the
communities living in the area. In the sphere of education, the incidence
of stagnation and wastage has been high, particularly at the primary and
secondary stages. There is also considerable variation in extent of literacy
between different tribes as well as between different castes. For instance,
in Kerala and Assam the difference between the maximum percentage of leteracy
in a Schduled Ti ibe and the minimum percentage of leteracy in a Scheduled
Tribe is 51% and 40% respectively (1961 census). Enrolment in technical
and professional courses has been low. Schemes of economic development
have tended to relay on standardised patteins. They have not been coordinated
properly with other programmes of development in the district. The functioning
of the tribal research institutes has not been sufficiently development-oriented.
Improvement in working and living conditions of those in unclean occupations
has been slow. The development of cooperatives has been rather uneven.
There have also been weaknesses in the implementation of legislative and
executive measures for the protection of the interests of members of the
Schedued Castes and Scheduled Tribe.
21.5.
In the Fourth Plan it is proposed to lay emphasis on consolidation, improvement
and expansion of the services so that the process initiated in the earlier
plans is accelerated. The objective of integration with the rest of the
society is proposed to be related mainly to the equalisation of opportunities
for development. Since the allocations from the backward classes sector
are additive to what is available for the backward cisses from the general
sectors, development plans in each State and district will have to ensure
that the general development outlays provided for the normal growth of
the infra-structure in tribal areas and for other development activities.
Programmes for the welfare of backward classes should be fully integrated
with the development plans of the district which would take into account
the physical features and resources, the institutional structure and local
conditions and circumstances. The large number of individual schemes in
States in the backward classes sector need to be woven together and integrated
with general development schemes so that the effort will be of a magnitude
which produces an impact. Moreover, the tribal welfare departments in
States need to be more closely associated in the planning and. implementation
of tribal development programmes
21.6.
Problems of development of members of the Scheduled Tribes vary in different
regions. The development strategy of tribal welfare has to take into consideration
the level of attainment among the communities in different parts of the
country. The more bakward groups among the tribals in a region require
special attention.
21.7.
The first step necessary for raising the economic condition of the tribal
population is protection from exploitation. This has to be supported by
legislative and executive measures. It is also necessary to ensure that
the protection to tribes in the matter of eviction and land alienation,
scaling down the debts, regulating money lending and controlling the rates
of interest, is properly enforced at the field level. The present weaknesses
in the administrative machinery and loopholes in legislation need to be
remedied. The tribes should .be actively assisted by the State and the
voluntary organisations to ensure that the benefits intended for them
actually accrue to them. Executive and legislative measures of protection
will by themselves be inadequate unless Tribal economy is lifted from
its present level of low productivity. It would, therefore, be necessary
t" concentrate on promotional and developmental activties intended
to raise the economic standards of different tribes, improve the earnings
of the people and give them adequate returns for their produce und their
labour. Included in such measures are provision of credit, organisation
of co-operative societies for undertaking various functions for meeting
the needs of tribals production, consumption marketing and supply, replacement
of contractors in forests by forest labour cooperatives and setting up
of units for the processing and marketing of agricultural and forest produce.
Ths experienc of the Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Development Corporation
and the Andhra Pradesh Tribal Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation
will need to be evaluated. In the light of the situation in each State
having a sizeable tribal population, it will be useful to examine what
type of institutional organisation is most suitable under certain conditions.
The policy of replacing contractors and other intermediaries by forest
labour cooperatives should be progressively followed so that the interests
of tribals who are an integral part of the forest economy, receive due
recongnition. The responsibility for meeting credit requirements for the
development of co-operatives among backward classes should be assumed
by the normal co-operative banking institutions and credit agencies.
21.8.
The most important programme for the economic betterment of members of
the Scheduled Tribes is that of tribal development blocks started in the
Second Plan from intensive development of areas with large concentrations
of tribal population. A review of the level of development achieved in
these blocks has brought out the need for extention of the period of supplementary
allocations in a tribal development block. The extension suggested is
from 10 to 15 years and involves the introduction of a State III with
an allotment of Rs. 10 lakhs per block for a five-year period. Accordingly,
in the Fourth Plan tribal development blocks which have completed State
II will enter State III and get an allotment of Rs. 10 lakhs for a . further
period of five years. There will be no further expansion of the programme
of tribal development blocks until the existing ones are stabilised. Programmes
for increasing agricultural production and livestock produce should get
the first priority. Programmes for diveisifying and modernising the occupational
pattern of landless labourers should come next. Steps would be necessary
to ensure that the resources provided under general development programmes
are drawn to these areas so that once the infra-structure for development
has been created, supplementary allocations from the backward classes
sector funds are able to generate a higher rate, of growth. Not more than
10 to 15 per cent of the total allotment should be spent on the salaries
and allowances of the staff at the block headquarters.
21.9.
Schemes of economic uplift such as land allotment, grant of subsidies
for purchase of ploughs, bullocks and improved seeds for development of
agriculture and animal husbandry, schemes for poil conservation, land
colonisation, minor irrigation, and organisation and development of cooperatives
will be continued. Assistance will also be given for the promotion of
cottage industries, including financial assistance for improving srade
or business, marketing facilities, technical guidanc^ and setting up production
and training centres. These schemes are proposed to be linked together
and integrated with the general sector programmes in a more effective
manner than in the past so that the intensity of effort is large enough
to produce an impact.
21.10.
In the field of higher education, the scheme of post-matric scholarships
will be continued. In the Fourth Plan an outlay of Rs. 11 crores is provided
for the award of post-matric scholarships to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes. In addition, about Rs. 33 crores would be available for the scheme
as committed expenditure for awarding post-matric scholarships. Facilities'bf
pre-examination coaching are proposed to be expanded. In the States sector,
schemes for grant of stipends, scholarships, free studentships, mid-day
meals, uniforms, exemption from payment of examination fees, book grants
and hostel facilities will be continued. Special efforts will be made
to spread education among members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes who educationally are at a very low level and to reduce dropouts
and wastages at the middle and secondary stages.
21.11.
An outlay of Rs. 1.5 crores is provided for research, training facilities
and special projects. The Planning Commission has constituted a Study
Team on Tribal Research Institutes to examine their research and training
activities, functions and actual working, to explore the feasibility of
including within the scope of their functions the problems of Scheduled
Castes and denotified communities in addition to Scheduled Tribes, and
to examine the need for setting up a Central Research and Training Institute
for coordinating the activities of the regional institutes and for training
personnel.
21.12.
For the welfare of nomadic and semi-nomadic groups, assistance for settled
living by way of extending facilities for housing, agricultural land,
agricultural credit, cattle breeding farms and cooperatives and setting
up of cottage industries will be continued. It would, however, be necessary
to work out the programmes of rehabilitation of each nomadic group separately
so that the schemes are integrated with the general development programmes
in the region. The impact of settlement and welfare schemes will have
to be studied to ensure that social change does not lead to problems of
mal-adjustment and dis-organisation. In the planning of new institutions
or modification of existing ones the needs and aspirations of the group,
their skills, customary modes of activity and social framework v/ill be
kept in view.
21.13.
For denotified communities, a combined correctional-cum-welfare approach
started in the earlier Plans will be continued. It will be supported by
schemes of general education, social education, economic uplift and housing.
There is need for a close study of the attitudes and problems of the different
denotified communities who are now in different stages of adjustments
The obective of assimilation shoul d guide the programme of rehabilitation
and development from the very start. Progressive elements among the denotified
communities themselves should be identified and encouraged to play an
increasing part in this effort.
21.14.
In the past 18 years various measures have been initiated for the removal
of untouchability through legislation, publicity, educational schemes,
organisation of special programmes and expansion of opportunities for
social and economic betterment. A sustained drive is s^ill necessary.
The provisions of the Untouchability (Offences) Act 1955 should be rigorously
enforced. An outlay of Rs. 3 crores has been provided at the Centre for
improvement in .living and working conditions of those in unclean occupations.
This is intended to be additive to the general sector measures for the
improvement of sanitation. Unless the problem is considered in its totality,'success
is bound to be limited. Fora lasting solution, the problem of improving
scavenging conditions has to be viewed in the context of the genera problem
of conservancy.
21.15.
Since voluntary organisations play an important role in extending welfare
activities among the backward classes, assistance will be given to them
for taking up projects like publicity and propaganda for removal of untouchability,
running hostels and educational institutions, organising welfare and community
centres, social education and conducting training and orientation courses.
21.16.
Each State should review its legislative arid executive measures for providing
house-sites to members of the Scheduled Castes and other weaker sections
and conferring proprietary rights on homestead land already occupied by
them. Remedial steps may be undertaken to bring about effective enforecement
of the measures at the field level and for the removal of loopholes. Those
members of the Scheduled Castes who are landless should at least be provided
with house sites, if resources do not permit the grant of housing aid
to them for construction of houses. Mixed settlement of various communities
should be encouraged. At the same time there should be a scheme under
which member of the Scheduled Castes may be given loans if they wish to
build houses on a co-operative basis. Adequate funds for this purpose
should be provided in the general sector and the programme of housing
in the backward classes sector should be fully integrated with the general
village planning and layout. Indigenous materials should be used and local
labour employed for construction of houses. It would be necessary for
the States to accord high priority to this programme.
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| SOURCE: http://planningcommission.gov.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/4th/4planch21.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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