Question : POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE

(a) whether 80 per cent of the people belonging to the Scheduled Casts and Scheduled Tribes of the country are living below poverty line;

(b) If so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposed to take any special measures for the upliftment of the people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the country and particularly those of Madhya Pradesh; and

(d) If so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SMT. MANEKA GANDHI)

(a) No Sir. As per the latest estimates of poverty among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes reported by the Planning Commission, it is observed that among the Scheduled Caste 48.11% in rural areas and 49.48% in urban areas and among Scheduled Tribes 51.94% in rural areas and 41.14% in urban areas lived below the poverty line in 1993-94.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) & (d) Special measures are being taken. A statement is annexed.

Statement in reply to part (c) and (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 96 for answer on 1.3.2000 by Shri P.R. Khunte, M.P. regarding population below poverty line.

(c) and (d) : The following are the special measures taken for the upliftment of SCs and STs:-

1. SPECIAL COMPONENT PLAN (SCP)

The concept of Special Component Plan (SCP) was introduced in 1979 to achieve overall development of SCs and to raise them above the poverty line. Special Component Plan is designed to channelise the flow of outlays and benefits from the general sectors in the plans of States/UTs and the Central Ministries, at least in proportion to the population of the SCs both in physical and financial terms. It is an umbrella programme under which all schemes implemented by State and Central Governments are dovetailed for addressing different needs of the Scheduled Castes. At present 24 States/UTs having sizeable SC population are formulating Special Component Plan for the Scheduled Castes. As per guidelines flow to SCP out of total state plan outlays should not be less than proportion to SC population in the respective states.
The strategy of special component plan at the central Govt. level involve participation of central government ministries/departments in formulating specific plans for the scheduled castes under Annual Plans of respective Ministries/Departments. 13 Ministries/Departments have formulated the special component plans The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment maintains close liaison with Central Ministries/Departments and impressed upon them the need to formulate and implement comprehensive Special Component Plan

2. SPECIAL CENTRAL ASSISTANCE TO SPECIAL COMPONENT PLAN FOR SCHEDULED CASTES

2.1 Under a Central Scheme introduced in1979-80, Special Central Assistance (SCA) is to be extended to supplement efforts of the State/UTs for ensuring rapid socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes. It is an additive to the Special Component Plan (SCP) of the States/UTs and is intended to augment the efforts of the States for the economic development of SCs. The underlying objective of the SCA which is a central grant to the States/UTs is that it should be used to give an added thrust to the development programmes for SCs with reference to their occupational needs for increasing the productivity of and income from their limited assets by taking up family oriented schemes for them. It is used to fill the critical gaps and provide the Central Government a leverage in directing flow of funds in areas critical to the development needs of the SCs.

2.2 SCA is released to the States/UTs implementing SCP giving weightage to SC population of the States/UTs(40%), relative backwardness of the States/UTs(10%), 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%) and Special Component Plan to the Annual Plan as compared to the SC population percentage In the States/UTs(25%). 10 % of the total budget allocation for the scheme will be earmarked for the North Eastern States which implement SCP for SCs

3. ECONOMIC SCHEMES

Sl.No	Name of the Scheme/Programme	Objective	Allocation for	the year 99-2000	(Rs.In cr R.E.)
3.1	Special Central Assistance (SCA) to	SCA is provided to States/UTs	437.00	Special Component Plan for SCs	towards supplementing their	efforts for economic develo-	pment of SCs.
3.2	National Scheme of Liberation and	To provide financial assistance	70.00	Rehabilitation of Scavengers and	for training and rehabilitation	their dependents (NSLRS)	of scavengers in alternative	occupations. States/UTs have	been suggested to implement the	scheme by adopting innovative	concept of `Sanitary Marts` by	forming cooperatives of 20-25	scavengers.

3.3	Assistance to Scheduled Caste	To participate in share equity	20.00	Development Corporations (SCDCs)	of SCDCs to the extent of 49%	which act as guarantors and	promoters for credit support	and provide for margin and	subsidy to target groups.

3.4	National Scheduled Castes & Scheduled	To finance income generating	30.00	Tribes Finance and Development	activities for SCs and STs	Corporation (NSFDC)	living below double the poverty	line. NSFDC extents financial	assistance through State SC/ST	Finance and Development	Corporations.

3.5	National Safai Karmacharis Finance	To extend concessional financial	20.00	and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)	assistance for income generating	viable projects as an alternate	employment for Safai Karmacharis.

3.6	Scheme of Grant-in-aid to voluntary	To improve the educational and	30.00	organisations working for the	Socio-economic conditions of	Scheduled Castes	Scheduled Castes through	voluntary efforts
4.	EDUCATIONAL SCHEMES
4.1.	Post Matric Scholarship for SC	Financial assistance to SC/ST	135.00	and ST students	students for pursuing recognised	post matriculation courses in	recognised institutions.

4.2.	Pre Matric Scholarship to children of	Financial assistance to children	7.56	those engaged in unclean occupations.	of scavengers, sweepers having	traditional link with scavenging,	flayers and tanners for pursuing	education upto matriculation level.

4.3.	National Overseas Scholarship for	Financial assistance to meritorious	1.00	SC, ST etc. students.	selected students for pursuing	studies abroad in specified fields	in Engineering, Technology and	Science at Masters, Ph.d. and Post	Doctoral levels.

4.4.	Upgradation of Merit of SC/ST students	To upgrade merit of SC/ST students	1.50	through remedial and special	coaching in class IX to XII.

4.5.	Books for SC/ST students	To provide books to eligible SC and	2.50	ST students pursuing Medical,	Engineering, Agriculture,	Polytechnics, Law Chartered	Accountancy, M.B.A. and Bio-Sciences.

4.6.	Coaching and Allied Scheme for	Free coaching facilities are	4.00	SC/ST students	provided to SC and ST students	through Pre-Examination Training	Centres, for competing in various	competitive examinations for central	services, banking recruitment and	railway services etc.

4.7.	Construction of Boys and Girls	To provide central assistance to 20.50Boys	Hostels for SCs	States/UTs for construction of 12.00(RE)Girls	hostels for SC boys and girls. 8.50(RE)

4.8.	Special Educational Development	To provide a package of educational	0.70	Programme for SC girls belonging	inputs through residential schools	to very low literacy levels.	for SC girls in areas of very low	SC female literacy
5.	SOCIAL SCHEMES
5.1	Implementation of Protection of	To provide central assistance	25.00	Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the	towards strengthening of adminis-	Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes	trative/enforcement and judicial	(Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.	machinery, publicity, relief and	rehabilitation affected persons.

6. NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was set up in March, 1992 under Article 338 of the Constitution to provide a high level independent body to monitor the safeguards provided for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and also to review and report on issues concerning them. The Commission is required to be consulted on major policy matters that affect scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Article 338, clause 5 of the Indian Constitution confers upon the Commission wide powers to protect, safeguard and promote the interests of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Under clause 8 of the said article, in certain cases the Commission has been conferred the powers of a civil court trying a suit and has the powers to summon and enforce the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath, receiving evidence on affidavits etc. According to clause 6 of Article 338, reports along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations of the Commission are to be laid before each house of the Parliament. The Commission has so far submitted four Reports besides a Special Report. Of these, three reports with Action Taken Memoranda have been laid before the Parliament and the others are expected to be laid in this session.

7. NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SAFAI KARAMCHARIS

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis was constituted on 12th August 1994 under the provision of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993 to promote and safeguards the interests and rights of Safai Karamcharis. The National Commission has, inter alia, been empowered to investigate specific grievances as well as of matter relating to implementation of programmes and schemes for welfare of Safai Karamcharis. The Commission has so far submitted two reports and they are expected to be laid before the Parliament along with the Action Taken Memoranda in this session.

8. Others

8.1 Dr. Ambedkar Foundation

The foundation established in March 1992 has been entrusted the responsibility to manage, administer and carry on important schemes and programmes identified during Centenary Celebrations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. These include Dr. Ambedkar National Public Library, Dr. Ambedkar Chairs in Universities/Institutions for research on the thoughts and ideals of Baba Saheb, Dr. Ambedkar National Award for Social Understanding and Upliftment of Weaker Sections, Dr. Ambedkar International Award for Social Change, Harmony, Equity, Justice and Human Dignity for the exploited and the under-privileged, Publication of the Collected Works of Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar in Hindi and other Indian languages, Putting up Memorial for Dr. Ambedkar at 26, Alipur Road, Delhi, Various General Activities like organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions and melas on Dr. Ambedkar, his life and mission.

8.2 CONVENTION OF SC/ST MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT HELD ON 5-7 DECEMBER 1999.

The Drafting Committee constituted during the conference made 20 specific recommendations concerning various aspects of development of SCs and STs. These recommendations require action to be taken by concerned Ministries and Departments of Government of India as well as by States/UTs which have been addressed to take necessary action on these recommendations.

WELFARE SCHEMES FOR TRIBALS

9. Tribal Sub Plan:

The tribal Sub Plan (TSP) approach, adopted from the beginning of the Fifth Five year Plan in 1974-75, has a two pronged strategy namely
(i) promotion of development activities to raise the level of living standard of Scheduled Tribes and
(ii) protection of their interest through legal and administrative support. The Tribal Sub Plan strategy applies to 18 States and 2 UTs where the Tribals are in a minority, but inhabit deprived areas where they constitute a sizable population. The TSP strategy is being implemented through 194 Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDP), 259 Modifies Area Development Approach (MADA) and 82 Clusters. The TSP has been an important element in the Governments strategy for the development and welfare of Scheduled Tribes.

10. Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan:

Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan is given to 20 Tribal Sub Plan States and UTs by the Government of India to supplement their efforts for tribal development. The Scheme of SCA to TSP was introduced in the Fifth Five Year Plan. Family oriented income generating schemes while giving adequate weightage to infrastructure incidental to such schemes are undertaken out of Special Central Assistance. The utilisation of funds under the scheme has been quite satisfactory. This is actually the only scheme under which ST families are assisted to cross the poverty line through gainful employment. Achievements in respect of utilisation of funds in some of the States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are not upto the expectation.

During the first two years of the Ninth Plan the utilisation of SCA was Rs. 329.61 crores in 1997-98 as against the allocation of 330 crores and Rs. 380 crores as against the provision of Rs. 380 crore during 1998-99. the allocation for 1999-2000 is Rs. 400 crores.

SCHEMES FOR THE WELFARE OF SCHEDULED TRIBES

11. EDUCATIONAL SCHEMES

Sl.No	Name of the Scheme/Programme	Objective	Allocation for	the year 99-2000	(Rs. in R.E.)
11.1	Construction of Boys and Girls	To provide central assistance 24.00 Boys	Hostels for STs	to States/UTs for construction 12.00Girls	of Hostels for both ST Boys	12.00	and Girls.
11.2	Ashram Schools in Tribal S-Plan Areas	To provide educational	15.00	facilities to the ST students	through residential schools.
11.3	Educational complex in low litracy	The scheme covers 136 districts	6.75	pockets for development of women	in the country, which had less	literacy in tribal areas.	than 10% literacy among ST	women as per 1991 census. The	objectives of the scheme are to	improve education among these	communities.
11.4	Vocational Training Centres	The primary objective of the	9.75	scheme is to develop the scheme	is to develop the skills of the	tribal youth to help them in	getting employment/self-	employment opportunities.
11.5	Grant-in-aid to vol. Organisations	The scheme covers a wide	26.00	for the welfare of STs	spectrum of activities including	setting up of residential/non -	residential schools, hostels,	training on computer, shorthand	& Typewriting training, setting	up of libraries etc.
12.	ECONOMIC SCHEMES
Sl. No	Name of the Scheme/Programme	Objective	Allocation for	the year 99-2000	(Rs.in cr R.E.)
12.1	SPECIAL Central Assistance (SCA)	SCA is provided to States/UT	400.00	to Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP)	for supplementing their efforts	for economic development of the	STs.
12.2	Assistance to Scheduled Tribe	To participate in Share equity	15.00	Development Corporation and others.	of STDCs. Forest Development	Corporation & Minor forest	produce Federations to take up	minor forest produce operations.	Grant in given on 100% basis so	that the States can utilise the	same for strengthening the share	capital base of TDCs, construction	of scientific ware houses,	establishing, processing, research	& evaluation activities of the	Corporation.
12.3	Price Support to Tribal Co-operative	To ensure remunerative prices to	5.00	Marketing Development Federation	tribal farmers for their produce	(TRIFED)	due to unforeseen contingencies	& losses due to price fluctuations.
12.4	Investment in the share capital of	The objective is to provide Marketing	0.25	Tribal Corporation Marketing	assistance and remunerative prices	Development Federation (TRIFED)	to ST communities for their minor	forest produce (MFP) and surplus	agricultural produce (SAP) and also	to wean them away from exploitative	tribal traders and middleman.
12.5	Grant under first proviso to Article	Grants are provided to the State	100.00	275(1) of the constitution.	Governments for raising the level	of administrative scheduled areas.
12.6	Schemes of village Grain Bank	The objective is to prevent deaths	1.00	of children in remote and backward	tribal areas, which have been	identified by the Central Planning	Committee by providing safeguards	against fall in national standards.	One time grant for purchase of	grains @ l quintal per family of	tribals, storage facilities and	purchase of weights/scales. The	TRIFEDE is the channelising agency.
12.7	Development of Primitive Tribal	100% assistance is given to	10.00	Groups (PTGs)	Integrated Tribal Development	projects, Tribal Research Institute	& Non-governmental organisations for	undertaking activities like generation	of awareness, confidence building,	training for the skill development	of Tribal Youths Organisations	existing scheme for the development	and welfare of Primitive Tribal Groups.
13.	SOCIAL SCHEMES
Sl. No	Name of the Scheme/Programme	Objective	Allocation for	the year 99-2000	(Rs.in cr R.E.)
13.1	Research and Training	Grants are provided to 14 Tribal 4.00	Research Institutes (TRIs) set up by	the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh,	Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerela, Madhya	Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan,	Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, Uttar	Pradesh and Manipur, which conduct	Research and evaluation activities apart	from conducting training, seminar,	workshops etc. The scheme also provides	Research Fellowships annually to such	students/scholars who intend to conduct	research on various aspects of Tribal	Development.
14.	Statement showing Central Assistance released to the State Government of Madhya
Pradesh for the development of Scheduled Castes.
Sl. No.	Name of the Scheme	97-98	98-99	99-2000
14.1	Special Central Assistance to SCP	1922.45	2237.08	2321.45
14.2	Assistance to State/UT SCDC	25.47	4.77
14.3	National SC & ST Finance and Development	Corporation (NSFDC)
14.4	National Safai Karmacharies Development Corp.	228.60
14.5	National Scheme of Liberation and Rehabilitation	2451.00	NIL	NIL	of Scavengers and their Dependents
14.6	Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST	NIL	NIL	193.85
14.7	Pre-Matric Scholarship for children of those	9.73	90.22	86.05	engaged in unclean occupation
14.8	Construction of Hostels for SC girls and boys	849.49	574.53	537.17
14.9	Book Banks for SC/ST	31.39	NIL	Nil
14.10	Coaching & Allied Scheme for SC/ST	43.12	82.94	66.09
14.11	Aid to Voluntary Organisations for the Welfare	39.72	55.81	40.98	for Scheduled Castes
14.12	Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and Scheduled	500.85	682.06	732.96	Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of	Atrocities) Act, 1989
14.13	Special Educational Development Programme for SC	6.08	315.22	17.01	girls belonging to Very low literacy levels
14.14	Upgradation of Merit of SC/ST	21.45	55.74	39.15


15.	Statement showing Central Assistance released to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh
for the development of Scheduled Tribes.
(Rs. in Lakhs)
Sl. No.	Name of the Scheme	97-98	98-99	99-2000
15.1	Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan	9207.83	9476.17	6472.72
15.2	Grants under first proviso Article 275(1) of	1262.50	2125.00	500.64	the Constitution
15.3	Assistance to Scheduled Tribe Development	200.00	255.00	Corporation and Others.
15.4	Educational Complex in low literacy pockets for	50.20	39.57	55.46	development of women literacy in Tribal Areas
15.5	Vocational training Centres	109.50	16.85
15.6	Grant-in-aid to Voluntary Organisations for the	8.88	22.23	32.50	welfare of Scheduled Tribes/NGOs
15.7	Research and Training	49.96	49.39	2.61
15.8	Construction of Girls Hostels	100.00
15.9	Construction of Boys Hostels	100.00
15.10	Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas	100.21
15.11	Development of Primitive Tribal Groups	100.00

Question : POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE

Answer given by the minister

Search

More from SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

Other Ministries: