Social Justice Upto 30

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SOCIAL
SOCIAL
JUST
JU STICE
ICE
2021
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2,16,
2 78, 93
, 16 , 78, 93
Development processes
Development processes and
and the
the development
development industry-
industry- the
the role
role of
of
NGOs, SHGs,
NGOs, SHGs, various
various groups
groups and
and associations,
associations, donors,
donors, charities
charities and
and
other stakeholders
other stakeholders
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Q. Why
Q. Why has
has ‘participation’
‘participation’ and
and ‘empowerment’
‘empowerment’ gained
gained wide
wide currency
currency in
in recent
recent development
development literature?
literature?
Decades of
Decades of development
development efforts
efforts have
have provoked
provoked a a feeling
feeling of
of disenchantment
disenchantment with with the
the conventional
conventional growth-oriented
growth-oriented
strategy of
strategy of development
development not not producing
producing the
the desired
desired trickle-down
trickle-down effect.
effect. The failures sensitized
The failures sensitized thethe planners
planners and
and
administrators to
administrators to the
the need
need for
for drawing
drawing on
on the
the indigenous
indigenous knowledge
knowledge systemsystem of of the
the local
local people.
people. Unless
Unless people
people
themselves participate,
themselves participate, the
the programmes
programmes administrated
administrated by by external
external agencies
agencies remain
remain exogenous
exogenous to to the
the rural
rural
community thereby
community thereby affecting
affecting results.
results. A
A people-centred
people-centred vision
vision is
is being
being advanced
advanced by by citizen’s
citizen’s organisations
organisations working
working to
to
create an
create an alternative
alternative world
world order
order based
based on
on economic
economic justice, environmental stability
justice, environmental stability and
and political
political inclusiveness.
inclusiveness.
As the
As the Human
Human Development
Development Report
Report (UNDP
(UNDP 1993)
1993) commented:
commented: “People’s
“People’s participation
participation is
is becoming
becoming the
the central
central issue
issue of
of
our times”
our times”
Q. So,
Q. So, is
is people
people participation
participation a
a recent
recent discovery?
discovery?
‘People’ as
‘People’ as real
real actors
actors in
in history
history have
have been
been brought
brought forward
forward by
by the
the ‘Subaltern’
‘Subaltern’ school.
school. Peasant
Peasant resistances
resistances were
were
subtle and
subtle and effective
effective peoples’
peoples’ actions
actions against
against oppression.
oppression. People
People do
do act,
act, it
it is
is for
for us
us to
to appreciate
appreciate it it and
and mobilise
mobilise it it for
for
participatory people-centric
participatory people-centric movements.
movements. PeoplePeople asas development
development actors
actors emerged
emerged long long.ago
ago inin the
the vision
vision and
and action
action of of
Tagore at
Tagore at Shantiniketan
Shantiniketan andand Gandhi
Gandhi at at Wardha.
Wardha. Tagore
Tagore experimented
experimented withwith people
people centred
centred. rural
rural development
development in in the
the
villages for
villages for the
the rejuvenation
rejuvenation of of rural
rural arts
arts and
and crafts
crafts and
and economy
economy in in general.
general. Gandhi
Gandhi relied
relied on on the
the mobilization
mobilization of of
masses and their economic upliftment through the development of cottage and small-scale industries
masses and their economic upliftment through the development of cottage and small-scale industries
Q. Ok.
Q. Ok. II get
get that
that participatory
participatory development
development is
is important.
important. What
What shapes/forms
shapes/forms does
does it
it take?
take?
AnisurRahman has
AnisurRahman has identified
identified the
the following
following different
different forms
forms of
of community
community organisations
organisations representing
representing collective
collective action
action
by the
by the underprivileged
underprivileged people
people to
to improve
improve their
their socio-economic
socio-economic conditions:
conditions:
•e First, there
First, there areare grassroots
grassroots organisations
organisations that that are
are basically
basically economic
economic in in nature,
nature, undertaking
undertaking income-generating
income-generating
activities with
activities with the
the help
help ofof internal
internal resource
resource mobilization
mobilization supplemented
supplemented by by resource
resource andand knowledge
knowledge support
support
from outside
from outside
•e Second, there
Second, there areare other
other organisations
organisations that that emerge
emerge in in ‘pressure
‘pressure group’
group’ activities.
activities. They
They resist
resist exploitation
exploitation or or
oppression by other groups, assert economic, social and human rights including women’s rights, or demand
oppression by other groups, assert economic, social and human rights including women’s rights, or demand
services from
services from thethe public
public agencies
agencies
•e Third, some
Third, some of of the
the organisations
organisations undertake
undertake social
social and
and cultural
cultural activities
activities in in such
such areas
areas asas health,
health, education,
education,
culture and
culture and soso on
on
•e Fourth, some
Fourth, some aim aim atat the
the promotion
promotion of of holistic
holistic life
life by
by way
way of of activities
activities that
that integrate
integrate spiritual
spiritual advancement
advancement
with economic
with economicand social development
and social development
•e Fifth, community
Fifth, community organisations
organisations to to promote
promote ecologically
ecologically oriented
oriented socio-economic
socio-economic life life are
are also
also growing
growing in in many
many
areas such
areas suchas organic. agriculture,
as organic agriculture, social
social forestry,
forestry, coastal
coastal fishing
fishing etc.
etc.
•e Sixth, participatory
Sixth, participatory action
action research
research is is being
being pursued
pursued by by some
some organisations
organisations to to develop
develop people’s
people’s own own thinking
thinking
about their
about their living
living conditions
conditions and and environment
environment
Q. This
Q. This proliferation
proliferation of
of community
community based
based organisations
organisations must
must be
be backed
backed by
by some
some benefits,
benefits, right?
right?
The value
The value of
of participation
participation as
as a
a facilitative
facilitative development
development process
process has
has been
been widely
widely recognised
recognised and
and major
major benefits
benefits have
have
been identified
been identified as
as follows:
follows:
•e The participatory
The participatory process
process provides
provides important
important information
information in in the
the planning,
planning, programming
programming and and implementation
implementation
stages thereby
stages thereby ensuring
ensuring congruence
congruence between
between objectives
objectives and and community
community values
values and
and preferences
preferences
•e Byrationalizing
By manpower resources
rationalizing manpower resources utilization,
utilization, the
the process
process reduces
reduces project
project cost
cost
•e Any change
Any change brought
brought about
about through
through development
development is is more
more acceptable
acceptable to to the
the community
community if if the
the local
local people
people are
are
involved, also,
involved, also, mistakes
mistakes are
are more
more tolerable
tolerable if if these
these areare made
made byby people
people who
who have
have to
to live
live with
with them
them
•e Monitoring is
Monitoring is better,
better, and
and sustainability
sustainability ofof the
the project
project is is more
more likely
likely even
even after
after the
the withdrawal
withdrawal of of the
the external
external
agent, be
agent, be it
it government
government or or NGO
NGO agency
agency
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•e The community
The community learns
learns from
from its
its own
own involvement
involvement andand from
from this
this point
point of
of view,
view, participation
participation is
is aa 22 way
way learning
learning
process in
process in which
which the
the administrator
administrator andand the
the people
people become
become co-learners
co-learners
•e Active community
Active community participation
participation helps
helps rebuild
rebuild community
community cohesion
cohesion and and installs
installs aa sense
sense of
of dignity
dignity into
into the
the
community. People
community. People gain
gain in
in confidence
confidence and
and steadily
steadily emerge
emerge as
as real
real actors
actors inin the
the development
development process.
process.
Q. Is
Q. Is community
community participation
participation then-
then- the
the answer
answer to
to all
all development
development problems?
problems?
Critics of
Critics of community
participation argue:
argue: participation
participation has
has popularity
popularity without
without clarity
clarity and
and is
is subject
subject to
to growing
growing
faddishness and
faddishness and a
a lot
lot of
of lip
lip service.
service.
Serious analysis
Serious analysis of
of local
local community
community lifelife reveals
reveals differentiation
differentiation in
in terms
terms of
of status,
status, income
income and
and power.
power. Conflicts
Conflicts and
and
rivalries are
rivalries are not
not uncommon
uncommon even even among
among the the poor
poor andand underprivileged.
underprivileged. The
The romantic
romantic vision
vision of
of frictionless,
frictionless,
harmonious community
harmonious community life life does
does not
not match
match ground
ground realities
realities
External intervention
External intervention by
by social
social workers
workers or
or political
political activists
activists has
has been
been found
found necessary
necessary almost
almost everywhere
everywhere to
to organize
organize
the local
the local community
community andand mobilize
mobilize the
the local
local people
people
ItIt has
has also
also been
been observed
observed that
that there
there is
is an
an imaginary
imaginary notion
notion of
of continuous
continuous activism
activism by
by the
the local
local people
people behind
behind all
all
discussions on
discussions on community
community participation.
participation. Total
Total and
and continuous
continuous commitment
commitment toto activism
activism is
is more
more a a revolutionary’s
revolutionary’s
dream than
dream than the
the poor
poor people’s
people’s actual
actual behaviour
behaviour
There are
There are critics
critics who
who doubt
doubt thethe efficacy
efficacy of
of community
participation inin bringing
bringing about
about radical
radical change
change in in the
the life
life of
of the
the
poor and
poor and the
the underprivileged
underprivileged through
through autonomous
autonomous locallocal action
action only.
only. Small
Small changes
changes are
are not
not ruled
ruled out,
out, but
but community
community
participation,to be
participation,to be really
really effective,
effective, needs
needs profound
profound social
social structural
structural change
change at at both
both domestic
domestic andand international
international levels.
levels.
Community mobilization
Community mobilization cannot,
cannot, on on its
its own,
own, correct
correct the
the basic
basic social
social imbalances
imbalances that
that have
have their
their roots
roots in
in deeper
deeper socio-
socio-
economic layers
economic layers ofof the
the society
society
Marxist argument:
Marxist argument: participatory
participatory development
development within
within capitalistic
capitalistic mode
mode is
is unworkable,
unworkable, the
the purpose
purpose ofof participation
participation is
is
to diffuse
to diffuse revolutionary
revolutionary movements
movements and and create
create_an illusion. of
an illusion of solution.
solution. The
The state
state seeks
seeks to
to subvert
subvert popular
popular movements
movements
through manipulative
through manipulative co-optation
co-optation of
of the
the poor
poor
Q. Okay.
Q. Okay. Participatory
Participatory development
development has
has its
its faults
faults and
and shortcomings
shortcomings but
but it
it does
does stand
stand for
for action,
action, equity
equity in
in resource
resource
distribution & social capital and hence cannot be ignored. What is the role of state in all this?
distribution & social capital and hence cannot be ignored. What is the role of state in all this?
The state
The state plays
plays aa fundamental
fundamental role
role in
in helping
helping oror hindering
hindering participation.
participation. Different
Different social
social science
science theories
theories evoke
evoke
different images
different images ofof state-society
state-society relationships.
relationships. While
While Marxian
Marxian and
and elite
elite theories
theories are
are pessimistic
pessimistic about
about the
the possibility
possibility
of community
of community participation,
participation, liberal-democratic
liberal-democratic andand pluralist
pluralist theories
theories are
are much
much more
more helpful.
helpful.
State’s actions
State’s actions depend
depend upon
upon the
the definition
definition and
and purpose
purpose of
of community
community participation,
participation, state’s
state’s perception
perception about
about its
its role
role
and the
and the political
political will
will to
to decentralize
decentralize power
power and
and resources
resources to
to local
local institutions
institutions
Accordingly 4
Accordingly 4 different
different state’s
state’s responses
responses have
have emerged
emerged (ideal
(ideal models
models to
to characterize
characterize better):
better):
Anti-participatory mode:
Anti-participatory mode: The
The state
state inin a
a capitalist
capitalist system
system isis interested,
interested, not
not in
in ameliorating
ameliorating the
the conditions
conditions of
of the
the poor,
poor,
but in
but in promoting
promoting the
the interests
interests of
of capital
capital and
and the
the ruling
ruling class.
class. Power
Power is,
is, therefore,
therefore, concentrated
concentrated and
and not
not dispersed
dispersed toto
facilitate accumulation
facilitate accumulation ofof wealth
wealth
Manipulative mode:
Manipulative mode: TheThe state
state follows
follows aa diplomatic
diplomatic approach
approach and and the
the state
state support
support to
to community
participation isis
intended to
intended to ensure
ensure political
political and
and social
social control
control as
as well
well as
as reduce
reduce local
local development
development costscosts and
and facilitate
facilitate successful
successful
project implementation.
project implementation. StateState seeks
seeks toto neutralize
neutralize political
political opposition
opposition by by co-opting
co-opting autonomous
autonomous movements
movements with with the
the
ulterior motive
ulterior motive of
of gaining
gaining control
control over
over them.
them. The
The rhetoric
rhetoric ofof participation
participation is is invoked
invoked to
to mobilize
mobilize local
local labour
labour in
in state’s
state’s
development activities
development activities and
and toto give
give legitimacy
legitimacy to
to the
the regime
regime in in power
power
Incremental mode:
Incremental mode: It It is
is marked
marked by by an an ambivalent
ambivalent approach
approach to to community
community participation.
participation. There
There is is no
no lack
lack ofof
government support
government support to to participation
participation butbut the
the policy
policy is
is unclear
unclear andand piecemeal
piecemeal & & ad-hoc
ad-hoc approaches
approaches are
are the
the norm.
norm. The
The
state in
state in reality
reality is
is not
not willing
willing to
to part
part with
with power
power andand to to devolve
devolve resources
resources to to local
local community
community groups.
groups. Also,
Also, the
the
bureaucrats and
bureaucrats and the
the technocrats
technocrats have
have their
their own
own ways
ways ofof bringing
bringing about
about “efficient”
“efficient” local
local development
development management.
management.
Still, community
Still, community participation
participation isis not,
not, inin theory,
theory, rejected
rejected andand decentralisation
decentralisation continues
continues in in an
an ad-hoc
ad-hoc fashion
fashion with
with a a
plurality of
plurality of actors
actors
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Participatory mode:
Participatory mode: Characterized
Characterized by by state’s
state’s own
own initiative
initiative to
to create
create institutions
institutions of
of community
participation toto ensure
ensure
effective involvement
effective involvement at at the
the grassroots
grassroots level.
level. There
There areare nono ulterior
ulterior motives
motives and
and genuine
genuine popular
popular involvement
involvement is is
ensured by
ensured by providing
providing resources
resources to to local
local bodies
bodies and
and sensitizing
sensitizing bureaucracy
bureaucracy through
through training
training and
and directives.
directives. Within
Within anan
overall development
overall development planning
planning framework,
framework, the the central,
central, regional
regional and
and local
local development
development policies
policies and
and activities
activities are
are
harmonized through
harmonized through positive
positive political
political will
will and
and bureaucratic
bureaucratic support
support
[Follow-up Q:
[Follow-up Q: Which
Which of
of these
these modes
modes isis true
true for
for India?
India? Have
Have wewe evolved
evolved from
from one
one mode
mode to
to another
another or
or is
is there
there one
one
particular mode
particular mode more
more applicable
applicable or
or does
does the
the state
state adopt
adopt different
different modes
modes atat different
different times/places]
times/places]
Enough of
Enough of participation,
participation, lets
lets come
come to
to voluntary
voluntary organisations:
organisations:
Q: What
Q: What is
is a
a NGO?
NGO?
According to
According to the
the World
World Bank,
Bank, “a “a Non-governmental
Non-governmental Organization
Organization (NGO)
(NGO) is is aa private
private organization
organization that
that pursues
pursues
activities to
activities to relieve
relieve suffering,
suffering, promote
promote thethe interests
interests ofof the
the poor,
poor, protect
protect the the environment,
environment, provide
provide basic
basic social
social
services, or
services, or undertake
undertake community
community development”.
development”. In In other
other words,
words, NGOs
NGOs are are legally
legally constituted
constituted organizations,
organizations, operate
operate
independently from
independently from thethe government
government and and are
are generally
generally considered
considered toto be
be “non-state,
“non-state, non-profit
non-profit oriented
oriented groups
groups who
who
pursue purposes
pursue purposes of of public
public interest”.
interest”. The primary objective
The primary objective ofof NGOs
NGOs is is to
to provide
provide social
social justice, development and
justice, development and
human rights.
human rights. NGOs
NGOs are are generally
generally funded
funded totally
totally or
or partly
partly by
by governments
governments and and they
they maintain
maintain their
their non-governmental
non-governmental
status by
status by excluding
excluding government
government representatives
representatives from
from membership
membership in in the
the organization.
organization.
In a
In a democratic
democratic society,
society, itit is
is the
the state
state that
that has
has the
the ultimate
ultimate responsibility
responsibility for for ushering
ushering development
development to to its
its citizens.
citizens. InIn
India, through
India, through thethe progressive
progressive interpretation
interpretation of of the
the Constitution
Constitution and
and its
its laws
laws.and policies, the
and policies, the scope
scope of of development
development
has been
has been significantly
significantly broadened
broadened to to include
include not
not just economic progress
just economic progress for for citizens,
citizens, but
but also
also promotion
promotion of of social
social
justice, gender equity,
justice, gender equity, inclusion,
inclusion, citizen’s
citizen’s awareness,
awareness, empowerment
empowerment and and improved
improved quality
quality ofof life.
life. To
To achieve
achieve this
this
holistic vision
holistic vision of
of development,
development, the the state
state requires
requires thethe constructive
constructive and
and collaborative
collaborative engagement
engagement of of the
the civil
civil society
society inin
its various developmental activities and programs. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as the operational arm of
its various developmental activities and programs. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as the operational arm of
the civil
the civil society
society therefore
therefore havehave anan important
important role
role in
in the
the development
development processes.
processes.
Q: What
Q: What are
are the
the different
different types
types of
of civil
civil society
society organizations?
organizations?
•e = Civil
Civil rights
rights advocacy
advocacy organizations:
organizations: to to promote
promote human human rightsrights ofof specific
specific social
social groups
groups e.g.
e.g. women,
women, migrants,
migrants,
disabled, HIV,
disabled, HIV, sex
sex workers,
workers, DalitDalit people,
people, tribal
tribal people,
people, and and thethe likes.
likes.
•e Civil
Civil liberties
liberties advocacy
advocacy organizations:
promote individual
individual civilcivil liberties
liberties and
and human
human rights
rights ofof all
all citizens,
citizens,
rather than
rather than focusing
focusing on on particular
particular social
social group.
group.
•e Community
Community based based organizations,
organizations, citizen’s
citizen’s groups,
groups, farmers’
farmers’ cooperatives:
cooperatives: to to increase
increase citizen’s
citizen’s participation
participation
on public
on public policy
policy issues
issues soso as
as to
to improve
improve the the quality
quality ofof life
life in
in aa particular
particular community.
community.
• Business
Business and and industry
industry chambers
chambers of of commerce:
commerce: to to promotion
promotion policies
policies and
and practices
practices on on business.
business.
• Labour
Labour unions: to promote the rights of employees and workers.
unions: to promote the rights of employees and workers.
• International
International peacepeace andand human
human rights
rights organizations:
promote peace peace and
and human
human rights.
rights.
• Media,
Media, communication
communication organization:
organization: to to produce,
produce, disseminate,
disseminate, or or provide
provide production
production facilities
facilities in
in one
one oror more
more
media forms;
media forms; it it includes
includes television,
television, printing
printing and and radio.
radio.
•e National
National resources
resources conservation
conservation and and protection
protection organizations:
promote conservation
conservation of of natural
natural
resources, including
resources, including land,
land, water,
water, energy,
energy, wildlife
wildlife and
and plant
plant resources,
resources, forfor public
public use.
use.
•e Private
Private andand public
public foundations:
foundations: to to promote
promote development
development through through grant-
grant- making
making and and partnership.
partnership.
•e Also
Also the Civil society includes - Political Parties; Religious Organizations; Housing cooperatives, slum
the Civil society includes - Political Parties; Religious Organizations; Housing cooperatives, slum dwellers
dwellers
and resident
and resident welfare
welfare associations.
associations.
Q:
Q: What
What has
has been
been the
the interaction
interaction and
and relationship
relationship between
between the
the Indian
Indian state
state and
and NGOs
NGOs like?
like?
In India
In India the
the state
state policies
policies have
have significantly
significantly influenced
influenced the
the formation
formation ofof NGOs
NGOs and
and their
their activities.
activities. The
The government
government
sponsored and aided programmes provided financial assistance to NGOs either as grants or as matching grants
sponsored and aided programmes provided financial assistance to NGOs either as grants or as matching grants to
to
support the
support the implementation
implementation of of social
social development
development projects.
projects. The
The need
need for
for the
the involvement
involvement ofof voluntary
voluntary organisations
organisations
has been
has been acknowledged
acknowledged by by aa number
number of of official
official committees
committees dealing
dealing with
with development.
development.
44 www.visionias.in
©Vision
BalwantRai Mehta
BalwantRai Mehta Committee,
Committee, 1957:
1957: Today
Today in in the
the implementation
implementation ofof the
the various
various schemes
schemes of of community
community
development, more
development, more and
and more
more emphasis
emphasis is
is laid
laid on
on NGOs
NGOs and
and workers
workers and
and onon the
the principle
principle that
that ultimately
ultimately people’s
people’s
own local
own local organisations
organisations should
should take
take over
over the
the entire
entire work
work
Rural-Urban Relationship
Rural-Urban Relationship Committee,
Committee, 1966:
1966: Local
Local voluntary
organisations can
can be
be very
very helpful
helpful in
in mobilizing
mobilizing popular
popular
support and
support and assistance
assistance of
of the
the people
people in
in the
the activities
activities of
of local
local body.
body. It
It is
is possible
possible to
to maintain
maintain constant
constant and
and close
close
contact with
contact with the
the people
people through
through these
these organisations
organisations
Ashok Mehta
Ashok Mehta Committee:
Committee: Of Of the
the several
several voluntary
organisations engaged
engaged in
in rural
rural welfare,
welfare, aa few
few have
have helped
helped the
the PRIs
PRIs
in preparation
in preparation of
of area
area development
development plans,
plans, conduct
conduct feasibility
feasibility studies
studies and
and cost/benefit
cost/benefit analysis,
analysis, explore
explore ways
ways and
and
means to
means to induce
induce local
local participation
participation in
in planning
planning and
and implementation.
implementation.
In the
In the Sixth
Sixth Five
Five Year
Year Plan
Plan (1980-1985),
(1980-1985), the
the government
government identified
identified new
new areas
areas in
in which
which NGOs
NGOs as
as new
new actors
actors could
could
participate in
participate in development
development
The Seventh
The Seventh Five
Five Year
Year Plan
Plan (1985-
(1985- 1990),
1990), envisioned
envisioned aa more
more active
active role
role for
for NGOs
NGOs as
as primary
primary actors
actors in
in the
the efforts
efforts
towards self-reliant communities. This was in tune with the participatory and empowerment ideologies, which was
towards self-reliant communities. This was in tune with the participatory and empowerment ideologies, which was
gaining currency
gaining currency inin the
the developmental
developmental discourse
discourse at
at that
that time
time
Government support
Government support and
and encouragement
encouragement for
for NGOs
NGOs continued
continued in
in the
the Eighth
Eighth Five-
Five- year
year plan,
plan, where
where a
a nation-wide
nation-wide
network of
network of NGOs
NGOs was
was sought
sought to
to be
be created
created
The Ninth
The Ninth Five-year
Five-year plan
plan proposed
proposed that
that NGOs
NGOs should
should play
play aa role
role in
in development
development onon the
the public-private
public-private partnership
partnership
model. Also, the agricultural development policies of the government and its implementation mechanisms provided
model. Also, the agricultural development policies of the government and its implementation mechanisms provided
scope and
scope and space
space for
for NGOs.
NGOs. A A case
case in
in point
point is
is the
the watershed
watershed development
development program,
program, which
which has
has led
led to
to the
the growth
growth of
of
NGOs working
NGOs working for
for rural
rural development
development
In March
In March 2000,
2000, the
the Government
Government declared
declared Planning
Planning Commission
Commission as as the
the nodal
nodal agency
agency forfor GO-NGO
GO-NGO interface.
interface. The
The
message was
message was clear-
clear- government
government has
has to
to and
and will
will work
work with
with the
the voluntary
voluntary sector.
sector. A
A ‘Civil
‘Civil Society
Society Window’
Window’ waswas started
started
in 2004,
in 2004, inin the
the hope
hope that
that it
it would
would enable
enable people
people toto engage
engage with
with the
the Planning
Planning Commission
Commission and and offer
offer the
the benefit
benefit of
of
their field
their field experiences
experiences
During the
During the 11th
11th FiveFive Year
Year Plan
Plan process
process a a regional
regional. consultation
consultation was
was organised
organised to
to get
get civil
civil society
society feedback.
feedback.
Participation of
Participation of Civil
Civil Society
Society (CS)
(CS) had
had thus
thus already
already become
becomea a strong
strong and
and robust
robust element
element in
in the
the preparation
preparation ofof the
the Plan
Plan
Consultations with
Consultations with citizens
citizens on
on the
the Approach
Approach Paper
Paper to
to the
the 12th
12th Plan
Plan began
began on
on many
many platforms,
platforms, including
including the
the internet.
internet.
Members of Planning Commission travelled across the country attending Public Meetings called by CS around various
Members of Planning Commission travelled across the country attending Public Meetings called by CS around various
sectoral issues
sectoral issues to
to gather
gather inputs
inputs for
for the
the 12
12 Five
Five Year
Year Plan
Plan
National Policy
National Policy on on the
the Voluntary
Voluntary Sector,Sector, 2007:Recognizes
2007:Recognizes the the contribution
contribution of of the
the voluntary
voluntary sector
sector andand thethe need
need forfor
Government- Voluntary
Government- Voluntary SectorSector partnership
partnership and and that
that project
project grants
grants areare aa useful
useful means
means for for both
both thethe Government
Government to to
promote its
promote its activities
activities without
without its its direct
direct involvement
involvement and and a a valuable
valuable source
source of of support
support to to small
small and and medium
medium Voluntary
Voluntary
Organizations. It
Organizations. It highlights
highlights the the need
need forfor Government
Government to to encourage
encourage all all Central
Central andand State
State Government
Government agenciesagencies to to
introduce pre-service
introduce pre-service and and in-service
in-service training
training modules
modules on on constructive
constructive relations
relations withwith voluntary
voluntary organizations.
organizations. It It
recognizes the
recognizes the difficulties
difficulties faced
faced by by the
the voluntary
voluntary sector
sector in in accessing
accessing government
government schemes schemes and and suggests
suggests ways
ways to to tackle
tackle
this. The
this. The main
main objective
objective of of the
the National
National Policy
Policy on
on the
the Voluntary
Voluntary SectorSector is is to
to identify
identify systems
systems by by which
which thethe Government
Government
may work
may work together
together with with the
the Voluntary
Voluntary Organizations
Organizations on on the
the basis
basis ofof the
the principles
principles of of mutual
mutual trust,
trust, respect
respect andand shared
shared
responsibility. It also recognizes the importance of independence of voluntary organizations, which allows them to
responsibility. It also recognizes the importance of independence of voluntary organizations, which allows them to
explore alternative
explore alternative modelsmodels of of development.
development. The The National
National Policy
Policy onon the
the Voluntary
Voluntary Sector
Sector is is just the beginning
just the beginning of of the
the
process to
process to evolve
evolve a a new
new working
working relationship
between the the government
government and and the
the voluntary
voluntary sectorsector without
without affecting
affecting itsits
autonomy and
autonomy and identity.
identity. There
There are are many
many areas
areas inin which
which help help of of the
the voluntary
voluntary sector
sector is is sought-
sought- for for social
social audits,
audits,
behaviour change,
behaviour change, good good governance
governance and and increasingly
increasingly even
even forfor better
better service
service delivery.
delivery.
Q:
Q: How
How has
has India
India benefitted
benefitted from
from NGOs?
NGOs?
India has
India has aa long
long history
history of
of civil
civil society
society based
based onon the
the concepts
concepts of of “daana”
“daana” means
means giving
giving and
and “seva”
“seva” means
means service.
service.
Voluntary organizations
Voluntary organizations were
were active
active inin cultural
cultural promotion,
promotion, education,
education, health,
health, and
and natural
natural disaster
disaster relief
relief as
as early
early as
as the
the
medieval period.
medieval period. During
During the
the second
second halfhalf of
of the
the 19th
19th century,
century, nationalist
nationalist consciousness
consciousness spread
spread across
across India
India and
and self-
self-
help emerged
help emerged as as the
the primary
primary focus
focus of
of socio-political
socio-political movements.
movements. The The early
early examples
examples of of such
such attempts
attempts are are Friend-in-
Friend-in-
Need Society
Need Society (1858),
(1858), Prathana
Prathana Samaj
Samaj (1864),
(1864), Satya
Satya Shodhan
Shodhan Samaj
Samaj (1873),
(1873), Arya
Arya Samaj
Samaj (1875),
(1875), the
the National
National Council
Council for
for
55 www.visionias.in
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Women in
Women in India
India (1875),
(1875), the
the Indian
Indian National
National Conference
Conference (1887)
(1887) etc.
etc. The
The Society’s
Society’s Registration
Registration Act
Act (SRA)
(SRA) was
was approved
approved
in 1860
in 1860 to
to confirm
confirm the
the legal
legal status
status of
of the
the growing
growing body
body of
of non-governmental
non-governmental organizations.
organizations.
In India,
In India, itit was
was thethe 1970s
1970s which
which sawsaw rapid
rapid growth
growth in in the
the formation
formation of of formally
formally registered
registered NGOs
NGOs andand the
the process
process
continues to
continues to this
this day.
day. Most
Most NGOs
NGOs have
have created
created their
their respective
respective thematic,
thematic, social
social group
group and
and geographical
geographical priorities
priorities such
such
as poverty
as poverty alleviation,
alleviation, community
community health,health, education,
education, housing,
housing, human
human rights,
rights, child
child rights,
rights, women’s
women’s rights,
rights, natural
natural
resource management,
resource management, water water and
and sanitation;
sanitation; andand toto these
these ends
ends they
they put
put toto practice
practice aa wide
wide range
range ofof strategies
strategies and
and
approaches. Primarily,
approaches. Primarily, their
their focus
focus hashas been
been onon the
the search
search for
for alternatives
alternatives to to development
development thinking
thinking and
and practice;
practice;
achieved through
achieved through participatory
participatory research,
research, community
community capacity
capacity building
building and
and creation
creation ofof demonstrable
demonstrable models.
models. WhenWhen
we review
we review somesome of of the
the work
work done
done by by NGOs
NGOs over
over thethe past
past 33 decades,
decades, wewe find
find that
that they
they have
have contributed
contributed greatly
greatly to
to
nation building.
nation building.
Many NGOs
Many NGOs have have worked
worked hard hard to to include
include children
children withwith disability
disability in in schools,
schools, end end caste-
caste- basedbased stigma
stigma and and
discrimination, prevent
discrimination, prevent child
child labour
labour and and promote
promote gendergender equality
equality resulting
resulting in in women
women receiving
receiving equal
equal wages
wages forfor thethe
same work
same work compared
compared to to men.
men. During
During natural
natural calamities
calamities theythey havehave played
played an an active
active role
role in
in relief
relief and
and rehabilitation
rehabilitation
efforts, in
efforts, in particular,
particular, providing
providing psycho-social
psycho-social care care andand support
support to to the
the disaster
disaster affected
affected children,
children, women
women and and men.men.
NGOs have
NGOs have been
been instrumental
instrumental in in the
the formation
formation and and capacity
capacity building
building of of farmers
farmers and and producers’
producers’ cooperatives
cooperatives and and
women’s self-
women’s self- help
help groups.
groups. Several
Several NGOsNGOs havehave worked
worked handhand in in hand
hand with
with thethe Government
Government to to ensure
ensure thatthat millions
millions of of
out of
out of school
school children
children areare enrolled
enrolled and and continue
continue their
their school
school education,
education, thus thus making
making thethe right
right toto education
education a a reality.
reality.
The leprosy
The leprosy eradication
eradication programme
programme was was spearheaded
spearheaded by by NGOs
NGOs and and today
today onlyonly residual
residual leprosy
leprosy remains
remains in in our
our
country. NGOs
country. NGOs have have implemented
implemented the the JeevanDhara
JeevanDhara programme
programme for for creation
creation of of wells
wells forfor safe
safe drinking
drinking water;
water;
promoted community
promoted community toiletstoilets for
for total
total sanitation,
sanitation, and and supported
supported the the public
public health
health programs
programs on on immunisation
immunisation and and for for
eliminating tuberculosis
eliminating tuberculosis and and malaria.
malaria. The The much
much celebrated
celebrated NREGA,
NREGA, ICDS,ICDS, ICPS,
ICPS, Nirmal
Nirmal Gram
Gram andand SwasthyaBima
SwasthyaBima of of the
the
government have
government have their
their roots
roots inin the
the work
work of of many
many NGOs.NGOs. NGOs
NGOs have have significantly
significantly influenced
influenced the the development
development of of laws
laws
and policies on several important social and developmental issues such as the right to information, juvenile justice,
and policies on several important social and developmental issues such as the right to information, juvenile justice,
ending corporal
ending corporal punishment
punishment in in schools,
schools, anti-trafficking,
anti-trafficking, forests
forests. andand environment,
environment, wildlifewildlife conservation,
conservation, women, women,
elderly people,
elderly people, people
people with
with disability,
disability, rehabilitation
rehabilitation and and.resettlement
resettlement of of development
development induced induced displaced
displaced people
people to to
name a
name a few.
few. Further,
Further, NGOs
NGOs made made theirtheir modest
modest attempts
attempts to to ensure
ensure the the effective
effective implementation
implementation of of these
these laws
laws and and
policies by
policies by conducting
conducting and and disseminating
disseminating findings
findings fromfrom participatory
research, budget
budget analysis,
analysis, public
public hearings,
hearings, social
social
audits, workshops, seminars and conferences.
audits, workshops, seminars and conferences.
Summing up,
Summing up, it
it is
is now
now well
well established
established that
that NGOs
NGOs have
have an
an important
important role
role to
to play
play in
in the
the development
development processes
processes and
and
that both
that both the
the state
state and
and market
market need
need the
the collaboration
collaboration of
of credible,
credible, active,
active, and
and accountable
accountable NGOs.
NGOs. Given
Given their
their connect
connect
with the
with the grassroots
grassroots realities,
realities, NGOs
NGOs can
can and
and should
should play
play the
the “game
“game changer”
changer” to to pro-poor
pro-poor development
development through
through
leadership on
leadership on participatory
research, community
community empowerment
empowerment and and search
search for
for development
development alternatives.
alternatives.
With the
With the increasing
increasing role
role ofof the
the NGOs
NGOs in in development
activities they
they are
are now
now attracting
attracting professionals
professionals from from various
various
other sectors,
other sectors, and
and capacities
capacities are are being
being built
built inin support
support areas
areas such
such as as financial
financial management,
management, resource
resource mobilization,
mobilization,
human resources,
human resources, leadership
leadership development,
development, governance
governance procedures
procedures and and practices
practices and
and institutional
institutional development.
development. At At
another level
another level NGOs
NGOs havehave been
been addressing
addressing the the social
social service
service issues
issues and
and empowerment
empowerment relatedrelated advocacy
advocacy efforts
efforts have
have
been increasing.
been increasing. The
The study
study conducted
conducted by by aa New
New Delhi
Delhi based
based NGONGO concluded
concluded that
that every
every fifth
fifth NGO
NGO in in India
India works
works onon the
the
issues of community and social service. The favourable disposition of the governments and the political will to involve
issues of community and social service. The favourable disposition of the governments and the political will to involve
NGOs is
NGOs is.more pronounced in
more pronounced in implementation
implementation of of the
the welfare
welfare schemes
schemes addressing
addressing causes
causes of of women
women and and children.
children.
Further, the
Further, the industrial
industrial policies
policies havehave influenced
influenced the the formation
formation and and relations
relations between
between the the businesses
businesses and and NGOs.
NGOs. The
The
Confederation of
Confederation of.Indian. Industries (CII),
Indian Industries (Cll), aa leading
leading organisation,
organisation, has has been
been raising
raising the
the issues
issues of of corporate
corporate social
social
responsibility. The
responsibility. The emphasis
emphasis of of industrial
industrial policies
policies on on the
the promotion
promotion and and development
development of of small,
small, cottage
cottage and
and village
village
industries has also lead to the formation of agencies such as the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Small
industries has also lead to the formation of agencies such as the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Small
Industries Associations
Industries Associations and and likes.
likes.
Profiling NGOs:
Profiling NGOs:
India has
India has possibly
possibly thethe largest
largest number
number of of active
active non-government,
non-government, non-profit
non-profit organizations
organizations in in the
the world.
world. There
There has has been
been
aa sharp
sharp increase
increase in in the
the number
number of of new
new NGOs NGOs in in the
the past
past decade
decade in in India.
India. According
According to to a
a government
government study,study, there
there were
were
only 1.44
only 1.44 lakh
lakh registered
registered societies
societies tilltill 1970.
1970. TheThe maximum
maximum increase
increase in in the
the number
number of of registrations
registrations happened
happened after after
2000. A
2000. A recent
recent study
study commissioned
commissioned by by the
the government
government showedshowed thatthat there
there areare about
about 3.3
3.3 million
million NGOs
NGOs in in India
India by
by the
the
end of
end of 2009
2009 i.e.,
i.e., one
one NGO
NGO forfor less
less than
than an an average
average of of 400
400 Indians.
Indians. Even
Even this
this staggering
staggering number
number may may bebe less
less than
than the
the
actual number
actual number of of NGOs
NGOs active
active in in thethe country.
country. ThisThis is
is because
because the the study,
study, commissioned
commissioned in in 2008,
2008, took took into
into
consideration only
consideration only those
those entities
entities which
which were were registered
registered under
under the
the Societies
Societies Registration
Registration Act,
Act, 1860
1860 or or the
the Mumbai
Mumbai
Public Trust
Public Trust Act
Act and
and its
its variants
variants in in other
other states.
states.
66 www.visionias.in
©Vision
ItIt can
can be
be noted
noted that
that a a great
great majority
majority of of the
the NGOs
NGOs areare small
small and
and about
about three-fourths
three-fourths ofof all
all NGOs
NGOs are are run
run entirely
entirely byby
volunteers. About
volunteers. About 1313 percent
percent of of the
the NGOs
NGOs havehave between
between 2 2 to
to 55 employees;
employees; about
about 5 5 percent
percent have have between
between 6 6 to
to 10
10
employees and
employees and only
only about
about 8.5
8.5 percent
percent NGOsNGOs employ
employ more
more than
than 1010 people.
people. According
According to to a a survey
survey conducted
conducted by by
society for
society for Participatory
Participatory Research
Research in in Asia
Asia (PRIA),
(PRIA), 73.4
73.4 percent
percent ofof NGOs
NGOs have
have one
one or
or no
no paid
paid staff,
staff, although
although across
across the
the
country, more
country, more than
than 1919 million
million persons
persons work
work asas volunteers
volunteers oror paid
paid staff
staff at
at an
an NGO.
NGO. More
More often
often NGOsNGOs areare registered
registered as as
trusts, societies,
trusts, societies, oror as
as private
private limited
limited non-profit
non-profit companies,
companies, under
under Section-
Section- 25
25 of
of Indian
Indian Companies
Companies Act, Act, 1956.
1956. They
They
also enjoy
also enjoy income
income tax tax exemption.
exemption. Foreign
Foreign contributions
contributions to to non-profits
non-profits areare governed
governed by by Foreign
Foreign Contribution
Contribution
Regulation Act (FCRA), 1976.
Regulation Act (FCRA), 1976.
Q: What
Q: What are
are the
the key
key governance
governance challenges
challenges facing
facing NGOs?
NGOs?
In view
In view ofof the
the emergence
emergence of of a
a new
new paradigm
paradigm ofof scaling
scaling up,
up, inin which
which NGOs
NGOs are are seen
seen asas catalysts
catalysts of
of policy
policy innovations
innovations
and social
and social capital;
capital; as
as creators
creators ofof programmatic
programmatic knowledge
knowledge thatthat can
can be
be spun
spun offoff and
and integrated
integrated into
into government
government and
and
market institutions; and as builders of vibrant and diverse civil societies, it’s imperative to critically analyze the role of
market institutions; and as builders of vibrant and diverse civil societies, it’s imperative to critically analyze the role of
NGOs in
NGOs in the
the process
process ofof development
development and and understanding
understanding thethe challenges
challenges facing
facing thethe sector.
sector.
Transparency and
Transparency and accountability
accountability areare key
key ingredients
ingredients of of Governance
Governance in in the
the NGO
NGO Sector
Sector asas these
these determine
determine operational
operational
efficiencies and
efficiencies and risk
risk mitigation.
mitigation. Over
Over thethe years,
years, corporate
corporate sector sector has
has beenbeen ableable to to. recognize
recognize andand implement
implement bestbest
governance practices
governance practices through
through appropriate
appropriate institutional
institutional framework.
framework. However,
However, the the NGO
NGO sector
sector is
is yet
yet toto evolve
evolve any
any
institutionalized framework, which could potentially play an important role in overall development of the nation.
institutionalized framework, which could potentially play an important role in overall development of the nation.
NGOs play
NGOs play anan increasingly
increasingly active
active role
role in
in today’s
today’s political
political andand social
social arenas.
arenas. CivilCivil society
society organizations
organizations are are increasing
increasing in in
number all
number all over
over India.
India. OfOf late,
late, some
some of of the
the local
local and
and national
national NGOsNGOs have have been
been found
found involved
involved in in malpractices
malpractices and and
acting irresponsibly,
acting irresponsibly, thusthus undermining
undermining the the credibility
credibility of of civil
civil society.
society. It’s
It’s aa huge
huge concern
concern and and poses
poses a a great
great challenge
challenge toto
the development
the development movement
movement spearheaded
spearheaded by by NGOs
NGOs in in the
the country.
country.
There is
There is aa huge
huge flow
flow of
of funds
funds into
into the
the non-government
non-government organization
organization sector
sector andand this
this requires
requires prudence
prudence and and good
good
practices to
practices to maintain
maintain accountability
accountability and and transparency
transparency to to the
the benefit
benefit ofof all
all stakeholders.
stakeholders. Although
Although NGOs
NGOs do do internal
internal
auditing but
auditing but for
for more
more accountability
accountability and and transparency,
transparency, it it is
is advisable
advisable to to go
go through
through external
external auditing
auditing also,
also, especially
especially
where public
where public funds
funds areare involved.
involved. Hence,
Hence, issues
issues ofof internal
internal control
control mechanisms,
mechanisms, professionalism,
professionalism, accountability,
accountability,
transparency and
transparency and financial
financial management
management must must be be given
given impetus.
impetus. The The challenge
challenge is is multidimensional,
multidimensional, and and is is
compounded by the‘unorganised’ nature of the sector, lack of regulatory frameworks and the fact that India boasts of
compounded by the‘unorganised’ nature of the sector, lack of regulatory frameworks and the fact that India boasts of
more than
more than a a million
million NGOs
NGOs of of different
different roles,
roles, structures
structures andand sizes.
sizes. In
In particular,
particular, the
the Indian
Indian voluntary
voluntary sector
sector urgently
urgently
needs self-regulatory
needs self-regulatory guidelines
guidelines and and transparency
transparency mechanisms
mechanisms to to increase
increase thethe trust
trust and
and awareness
awareness as as to
to how
how the
the
philanthropic funds
philanthropic funds are
are being
being utilised.
utilised.
This is
This is a
a critical
critical challenge
challenge that that creates
creates a a barrier
barrier to to raising
raising funds
funds andand capital
capital for
for the
the sector.
sector. The
The general
general lack
lack of
of
transparency in the functioning of a large proportion of NGOs leads to aversion in donating funds for charitable causes
transparency in the functioning of a large proportion of NGOs leads to aversion in donating funds for charitable causes
since the
since the general
general public
public isis largely
largely cynical
cynical about
about the
the ‘genuineness’
‘genuineness’ of of the
the non-profit
non-profit spirit
spirit of
of the
the sector.
sector. The
The stringent
stringent
governance standards
governance standards of of anan NGO
NGO will
will facilitate
facilitate the
the effective
effective management
management and and increase
increase thethe accountability
accountability to to its
its
stakeholders including
stakeholders including donors,
donors, the the government
government and and the
the community.
community. It It is
is in
in the
the self-interest
self-interest ofof the
the NGOs
NGOs toto realize
realize the
the
fact that
fact that to
to implement
implement a a structure
structure of of ‘corporate
‘corporate governance’
governance’ principles
principles would would provide
provide thethe real
real value
value to to the
the
stakeholders.
stakeholders.
Also, this
Also, this would
would enable
enable toto track
track the
the potentially
potentially dubious
dubious sources
sources of of funding
funding coming
coming in in for
for the
the voluntary
voluntary sector
sector – — an
an
aspect which
aspect which has
has gained
gained impetus
impetus in in the
the wake
wake of of the
the increased
increased number
number of of terror
terror attacks
attacks andand extremist
extremist activities.
activities.
Recently, the
Recently, the Union
Union HomeHome Ministry
Ministry has has identified
identified some
some NGOsNGOs as as security
security threat
threat to to the
the country.
country. Such
Such security
security
considerations have
considerations have underscored
underscored the the rising
rising need
need of of improving
improving the the governance
governance practices
practices in in the
the Indian
Indian NGOs
NGOs and and
exercising better regulatory mechanisms, disclosure norms, and management processes including financial
exercising better regulatory mechanisms, disclosure norms, and management processes including financial
management and
management and budgeting
budgeting systems
systems as as well.
well. Moreover,
Moreover, in in thethe larger
larger interest
interest going
going beyond
beyond the the security
security
considerations, the
considerations, the impetus
impetus hashas to
to bebe onon inculcating
inculcating a a culture
culture ofof including
including performance
performance goals,goals, conducting
conducting financial
financial
and performance
and performance audits,
audits, and
and reforms
reforms for for increasing
increasing the
the operational
operational accountability
accountability and
and transparency
transparency in in the
the eyes
eyes ofof the
the
public, volunteers,
public, volunteers, donors
donors andand other
other stakeholders.
stakeholders.
Suggestions:
Suggestions:
The implementation
The implementation of of aa strategic
strategic framework
framework is is essentially
essentially important
important in in the
the management
management of of an
an NGO.
NGO. TheThe
endorsement of
endorsement of such
such aa framework
framework brings
brings in
in professionalism
professionalism and
and internal
internal control
control mechanisms,
mechanisms, which
which further
further makes
makes
the organization’s
the organization’s performance
performance more
more effective.
effective. Developing
Developing strategies
strategies also
also include
include establishing
establishing aa mechanism
mechanism of of
consistent monitoring
consistent monitoring ofof whether
whether they
they are
are being
being implemented
implemented andand linking
linking the
the results
results to
to the
the organization’s
organization’s goals.
goals.
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There is
There is need
need toto bolster
bolster public
public confidence
confidence inin the
the voluntary
voluntary sector
sector by by opening
opening itit up
up to
to greater
greater public
public scrutiny.
scrutiny. The
The
Government should
Government should encourage
encourage Central
Central and
and State
State level
level agencies
agencies to to introduce
introduce norms
norms forfor filing
filing basic
basic documents
documents in in
respect of
respect of NGOs,
NGOs, which
which have
have been
been receiving
receiving funding
funding by by Government
Government agencies
agencies and
and placing
placing them
them in in the
the public
public domain
domain
(with easy
(with easy access
access through
through the
the internet)
internet) in
in order
order toto inculcate
inculcate a a spirit
spirit of
of public
public oversight.
oversight.
Public donation
Public donation isis an
an important
important source
source ofof funds
funds for
for the
the NGO
NGO sector
sector and
and one
one that
that can
can and
and must
must increase
increase substantially.
substantially.
Tax incentives
Tax incentives play
play aa positive
positive role
role in
in this
this process.
process. The
The Government
Government could
could simplify
simplify and
and streamline
streamline thethe system
system for
for
granting income
granting income taxtax exemption
exemption status
status toto charitable
charitable projects
projects under
under the
the Income
Income TaxTax Act.
Act. At
At the
the same
same time,
time, the
the
Government might
Government might consider
consider tightening
tightening administrative
administrative and and penal
penal procedures
procedures to
to ensure
ensure that
that these
these incentives
incentives areare not
not
misused by
misused by paper
paper charities
charities for
for private
private financial
financial gain.
gain.
The Government
The Government should
should encourage
encourage allall relevant
relevant Central
Central and
and State
State Government
Government agencies
agencies to
to introduce
introduce pre-service
pre-service and
and
in-service training
in-service training modules
modules on on constructive
constructive relations
relations with
with the
the voluntary
voluntary sector.
sector. Such
Such agencies
agencies need
need toto introduce
introduce time
time
bound procedures
bound procedures forfor dealing
dealing with
with thethe VOs.
VOs. These
These could
could cover
cover registration,
registration, income
income. tax
tax clearances,
clearances, financial
financial
assistance, etc.
assistance, etc. There
There must
must be
be aa formal
formal system
system for
for registering
registering complaints
complaints and
and for
for redressing
redressing grievances
grievances of of NGOs.
NGOs.
The Government
The Government should
should encourage
encourage setting
setting up up of
of Joint
Joint Consultative
Consultative Groups
Groups // Forums
Forums or or Joint
Joint Machineries
Machineries of of
government and
government and voluntary
voluntary sector
sector representatives,
representatives, by by relevant
relevant Central
Central Departments
Departments and and State
State Governments.
Governments. It It also
also
needs to
needs to encourage
encourage district
district administrations,
administrations, district
district planning
planning bodies,
bodies, district
district rural
rural development
development agencies,
agencies,
zillaparishads and
zillaparishads and local
local governments
governments to to do
do so.
so. These
These groups
groups could
could be
be permanent
permanent forums
forums with
with the
the explicit
explicit mandate
mandate to to
share ideas, views and information and to identify opportunities and mechanisms of. working together. The
share ideas, views and information and to identify opportunities and mechanisms of working together. The
Government also
Government also might
might introduce
introduce suitable
suitable mechanisms
mechanisms for for involving
involving aa wide
wide cross-section
cross-section of of the
the voluntary
voluntary sector
sector inin
these Groups/Forums.
these Groups/Forums.
Summing Up:
Summing Up:
We are
We are entering
entering into into an an important
important phase phase where
where therethere are
are many
many targets
targets that
that the
the government
government intendsintends to to achieve
achieve withwith
th
the active collaboration of VOs, in the 12™ plan. Therefore, it is important to conduct an effective review or report
the active collaboration of VOs, in the 12 plan. Therefore, it is important to conduct an effective review or report
card of
card of the
the National
National Policy
Policy withwith specific
specific recommendations.
recommendations. These These recommendations
recommendations could could become
become an an agenda
agenda for for all
all
Voluntary Organizations,
Voluntary Organizations, Planning Planning Commission,
Commission, state state governments
governments and and national
national Ministries.
Ministries. Efforts
Efforts are
are also
also needed
needed to to
further disseminate
further disseminate the the information
information about about the the policy
policy and
and itsits intentions
intentions withwith small
small VOsVOs asas well
well asas government
government
functionaries. There
functionaries. There is is aa need
need to to solicit
solicit commitment
commitment from from state
state governments
governments and and national
national ministries.
ministries. A A systematic
systematic
intervention is also needed to get National Policy approved and adopted by the Indian Parliament. The most serious
intervention is also needed to get National Policy approved and adopted by the Indian Parliament. The most serious
challenge faced
challenge faced by by India
India today
today is is the
the conflict
conflict between
between violent
violent andand non-violent
non-violent approach
approach of of development.
development. Needless Needless to to
say that
say that majority
majority of of population
population of of India
India isis still
still deprived
deprived of of basic
basic fruits
fruits ofof development,
development, but but rather
rather than
than adopting
adopting the the
approach which
approach which is is more
more inclusive
inclusive and and look
look for
for solutions
solutions within
within thethe constitution,
constitution, India
India isis faced
faced byby disturbances
disturbances in in many
many
parts of
parts of the
the country.
country. This This notnot only
only hampers
hampers the the development
development projects projects but
but also
also shrink
shrink the
the space
space for for people’s
people’s
participation to
participation to achieve
achieve their their goals
goals through
through peaceful
peaceful means.
means. The The voluntary
voluntary sector
sector being
being present
present in in such
such locations
locations
faces the
faces the challenge
challenge of of delivering
delivering the the services
services and and even
even mobilizing
mobilizing people
people on on the
the development
development agenda.agenda. The The need
need of of the
the
hour is
hour is to
to work
work closely
closely withwith each
each otherother forfor thethe benefit
benefit ofof the
the marginalized
marginalized people,
people, as as even
even today
today the the dream
dream of of
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi has has notnot. been
been achieved.
achieved.
Having looked
Having looked at
at NGOs,
NGOs, now
now let
let us
us take
take a
a look
look at
at SHGs:
SHGs:
Q: What
Q: What are
are SHGs?
SHGs?
Self-Help Groups
Self-Help Groups are
are informal
informal associations
associations of
of people
people who
who choose
choose to
to come
come together
together to
to find
find ways
ways to
to improve
improve their
their living
living
conditions. They
conditions. They help
help to
to build
build Social
Social Capital
Capital among
among the
the poor,
poor, especially
especially women.
women. The
The most
most important
important functions
functions ofof aa
Self-Help Groups
Self-Help Groups are
are
•e to encourage
to encourage andand motivate
motivate its
its members
members to to save
save
•e to persuade
to persuade them
them to
to make
make aa collective
collective plan
plan for
for generation
generation of
of additional
additional income
income
•e toactas
to act as aa conduit
conduit for
for formal
formal banking
banking services
services to
to reach
reach them.
them.
Such groups
Such groups work
work asas aa collective
collective guarantee
guarantee system
system for
for members
members whowho propose
propose toto borrow
borrow from
from organised
organised sources.
sources.
Consequently, Self-Help
Consequently, Self-Help Groups
Groups have
have emerged
emerged as as the
the most
most effective
effective mechanism
mechanism for
for delivery
delivery ofof micro-finance
micro-finance services
services
to the
to the poor.
poor. The
The range
range ofof financial
financial services
services may
may include
include products
products such
such as
as deposits,
deposits, loans,
loans, money
money transfer
transfer and
and
insurance.
insurance.
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Q: Evolution
Q: Evolution of
of the
the SHG
SHG movement
movement in
in India:
India:
The first
The first organised
organised initiative
initiative inin this
this direction
direction was was taken
taken inin Gujarat
Gujarat in in 1954
1954 when
when the the Textile
Textile Labour
Labour Association
Association (TLA) (TLA) of of
Ahmedabad formed
Ahmedabad formed its its women’s
women’s wing wing to to organise
organise the
the women
women belonging
belonging to to households
households of of mill
mill workers
workers in in order
order to to
train them
train them in in primary
primary skills
skills like
like sewing,
sewing, knitting
knitting embroidery,
embroidery, typesetting
typesetting and and stenography
stenography etc. etc. InIn 1972,
1972, it it was
was givengiven a a
more systematized
more systematized structure
structure whenwhen SelfSelf Employed
Employed Women’s
Women’s Association
Association (SEWA)
(SEWA) was was formed
formed as as aa Trade Union under
Trade Union under
the leadership
the leadership of of Ela
Ela Bhatt.
Bhatt. She
She organised
organised womenwomen workers
workers suchsuch as as hawkers,
hawkers, vendors,
vendors, homehome based based operators
operators like like
weavers, potters,
weavers, potters, papad
papad // agarbatti
agarbatti makers,
makers, manual
manual labourers,
labourers, service
service providers
providers and and small
small producers
producers like like cattle
cattle
rearers, salt
rearers, salt workers,
workers, gum gum collectors,
collectors, cooks
cooks andand vendors
vendors withwith the
the primary
primary objective
objective of of (a)
(a) increasing
increasing their their income
income and and
assets; (b)
assets; (b) enhancing
enhancing their their food
food andand nutritional
nutritional standards;
standards; and and (c)(c) increasing
increasing their
their organisational
organisational and and leadership
leadership
strength. The
strength. The overall
overall intention
intention was was toto organise
organise women
women for for full
full employment.
employment. In In order
order toto broaden
broaden their their access
access to to
market and
market and technical
technical inputs,
inputs, these
these primary
primary associations
associations were
were encouraged
encouraged to to form
form federations
federations like like the
the Gujarat
Gujarat State State
Mahila SEWA
Mahila SEWA Cooperative
Cooperative Federation,
Federation, Banaskantha
Banaskantha DWCRA,DWCRA, MahilaMahila SEWA
SEWA Association
Association etc.etc. Currently,
Currently, SEWA SEWA has has a a
membership strength of 9,59,000 which is predominantly urban. In the 1980s, MYRADA — a Karnataka based non-
membership strength of 9,59,000 which is predominantly urban. In the 1980s, MYRADA – a Karnataka based non-
governmental organisation,
governmental organisation, promoted
promoted several several locally
locally formed
formed groups
groups to to enable
enable the the members
members to to secure
secure credit credit
collectively and
collectively and useuse itit along
along with
with their
their ownown savings
savings forfor activities
activities which
which could
could provide
provide them
them economically
economically gainful gainful
employment.
employment.
Major experiments
Major experiments in in small
small group
group formation
formation at
at the
the local
local level
level were
were initiated
initiated inin Tamil
Tamil Nadu
Nadu and
and Kerala
Kerala about
about two
two
decades ago through the Tamil Nadu Women in Agriculture Programme (TANWA) 1986, Participatory Poverty
decades ago through the Tamil Nadu Women in Agriculture Programme (TANWA) 1986, Participatory Poverty
Reduction Programme
Reduction Programme of of Kerala,
Kerala, (Kudumbashree)
(Kudumbashree) 19951995 and
and Tamil
Tamil Nadu
Nadu Women’s
Women’s Development
Development Project
Project (TNWDP)
(TNWDP)
1989. These
1989. These initiatives
initiatives gave
gave aa firm
firm footing
footing to
to SHG
SHG movement
movement in in these
these states.
states. Today,
Today, around
around 44%
44% ofof the
the total
total Bank-
Bank-
linked SHGs
linked SHGs of
of the
the country
country are
are in
in the
the four
four southern
southern States
States ofof Andhra
Andhra Pradesh,
Pradesh, Tamil
Tamil Nadu,
Nadu, Karnataka
Karnataka and
and Kerala.
Kerala.
The positive
The positive experience
experience gained
gained from
from the
the above
above programmes
programmes has
has led
led to
to the
the emergence
emergence ofof a
a very
very strong
strong consensus
consensus that
that
the twin concepts of (a) small group organisation and (b) self-management are potent tools for economic and social
the twin concepts of (a) small group organisation and (b) self-management are potent tools for economic and social
empowerment of
empowerment of the
the rural
rural poor.
poor. Efforts
Efforts have
have been
been made
made almost
almost in
in all
all parts
parts of
of the
the country
country to
to adopt
adopt this
this model
model as
as aa
necessary component
necessary component ofof the
the poverty
poverty alleviation
alleviation programmes.
programmes.
Forming small
Forming small groups
groups and and linking
linking them
them to to bank
bank branches
branches for for credit
credit delivery
delivery has has been
been thethe most
most important
important feature feature of of
the growth
the growth of of the
the SHGSHG movement
movement in in our
our country.
country. The The SHG-Bank
SHG-Bank linkagelinkage programme
programme was was started
started as as aa test
test project
project in in
1989 when NABARD, the Apex Rural Development Bank in the country, sanctioned Rs.10.0 lakhs to MYRADA as seed
1989 when NABARD, the Apex Rural Development Bank in the country, sanctioned Rs.10.0 lakhs to MYRADA as seed
money assistance
money assistance for for forming
forming credit
credit management
management groups. groups. In In the
the same
same year,year, thethe Ministry
Ministry of of Rural
Rural Development
Development
provided financial
provided financial support
support to to PRADAN
PRADAN to to establish
establish Self-Help
Self-Help GroupsGroups in in some
some ruralrural pockets
pockets of of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan. On On the the basis
basis
of these
of these experiences,
experiences, a a full-fledged
full-fledged project
project involving
involving a a partnership
partnership among among SHGs,SHGs, Banks
Banks and and NGOs
NGOs was was launched
launched by by
NABARD in
NABARD in 1992.
1992. In In 1995,
1995, acting
acting onon the
the report
report of of.aa working
working group,
group, the the RBIRBI streamlined
streamlined the the credit
credit delivery
delivery procedure
procedure
by issuing
by issuing a a set
set of
of guidelines
guidelines to to Commercial
Commercial Banks. Banks. It It enabled
enabled SHGs SHGs to to open
open Bank
Bank Accounts
Accounts basedbased on on aa simple
simple inter-se
inter-se
agreement. The
agreement. scheme was
The scheme was further
further strengthened
strengthened by by aa standing
standing commitment
commitment given given byby NABARD
NABARD to to provide
provide refinance
refinance
and promotional
and promotional supportsupport to to Banks
Banks for
for credit
credit disbursement
disbursement under under the the SHGSHG – — Bank
Bank linkage
linkage programme.
programme. NABARD’s NABARD’s
corporate mission
corporate mission was was toto make
make available
available microfinance
microfinance servicesservices to to 20
20 million
million poor
poor households,
households, or or one-third
one-third of of the
the poor
poor
in the
in the country,
country, by by the
the end
end ofof 2008.
2008. InIn the
the initial
initial years,
years, the the progress
progress in in the
the programme
programme was was a a slow;
slow; onlyonly 33000
33000 groups
groups
could be
could be credit
credit linked
linked during
during thethe period
period 1992-99.
1992-99. But, But, thereafter,
thereafter, the the programme
programme grew grew rapidly
rapidly and and thethe number
number of of
SHGs financed
SHGs financed increased
increased from from 82000
82000 in in 1999-2000
1999-2000 to to more
more thanthan 6.20
6.20 lakhs
lakhs in in 2005-06
2005-06 and and 6.876.87 lakhs
lakhs in in 2006-07.
2006-07.
Cumulatively, 33
Cumulatively, 33 million
million poor
poor households
households in in the
the country
country have have beenbeen ableable toto secure
secure access
access to to micro-finance
micro-finance from from the
the
formal banking
formal banking system.
system.
(As a
(As a follow-up
follow-up read
read up
up on
on the
the success
success stories
stories particularly
particularly the
the Kudumbashree
Kudumbashree programme
programme of
of Kerala
Kerala in
in ARC
ARC 2
2 -- Report
Report
09 Social Capital Page 80-81)
09 Social Capital Page 80-81)
Q: What
Q: What other
other Agencies
Agencies are
are involved
involved in
in the
the SHG
SHG movement?
movement?
Apart from
Apart from NABARD,
NABARD, there
there are
are four
four other
other major
major organisations
organisations inin the
the public
public sector
sector which
which too
too provide
provide loans
loans toto financial
financial
intermediaries for
intermediaries for onward
onward lending
lending toto SHGs.
SHGs. They
They are
are (a)
(a) Small
Small Industries
Industries Development
Development Bank Bank ofof India
India (SIDBI),
(SIDBI),
(b)RashtriyaMahilaKosh (RMK),
(b)RashtriyaMahilaKosh (RMK), (c)
(c) Housing
Housing andand Urban
Urban Development
Development Corporation
Corporation (HUDCO)
(HUDCO) and(d)
and(d) then,
then, there
there are
are
public sector/other
public sector/other commercial
commercial banks
banks which
which are
are free
free to
to take
take up
up any
any lending
lending as
as per
per their
their policy
policy and
and RBI
RBI guidelines.
guidelines.
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RashtriyaMahilaKosh:
RashtriyaMahilaKosh:
The RashtriyaMahilaKosh
The RashtriyaMahilaKosh was was setset up
up byby the
the Government
Government of of India
India inin March
March 19931993 asas an
an Autonomous
Autonomous Body Body registered
registered
under Societies
under Societies Registration
Registration Act, Act, 1860
1860 under
under the the Department
Department (now (now Ministry)
Ministry) ofof Women
Women and and Child
Child Development.
Development. The The
objective was
objective was toto facilitate
facilitate credit
credit support
support to to poor
poor women
women forfor their
their socio-economic
socio-economic upliftment.It
upliftment.It was was felt
felt that
that the
the credit
credit
needs of
needs of poor
poor women,
women, especially
especially those
those in in the
the unorganized
unorganized sector,
sector, were
were notnot adequately
adequately addressed
addressed by by the
the formal
formal
financial institutions
financial institutions of of the
the country.
country. ThusThus RMK RMK was was established
established to to provide
provide loans
loans inin aa quasi-formal
quasi-formal credit
credit delivery
delivery
mechanism, which
mechanism, which is is client-friendly,
client-friendly, has has simple
simple and and minimal
minimal procedure,
procedure, disburses
disburses quickly
quickly andand repeatedly,
repeatedly, has has flexible
flexible
repayment schedules,
repayment schedules, links links thrifts
thrifts and
and savings
savings with with credit
credit and
and hashas relatively
relatively low
low transaction
transaction costs
costs both
both forfor the
the
borrower and
borrower and the
the lender.
lender. TheThe Kosh
Kosh lends
lends withwith a a unique
unique credit
credit delivery
delivery model
model “RMK
“RMK – — NGO-SHG-
NGO-SHG- Beneficiaries”.
Beneficiaries”. The The
support is
support is extended
extended through
through NGO’s,
NGO’s, Women
Women Development
Development Corporations,
Corporations, StateState Government
Government agencies
agencies like
like DRDA’s,
DRDA’s,
Dairy Federations,
Dairy Federations, and and Municipal
Municipal Councils
Councils etc.etc.
SIDBI:
SIDBI:
Small Industries
Small Industries Development
Development Bank Bank ofof India
India (SIDBI)
(SIDBI) launched
launched its its micro
micro finance
finance programme
programme on on aa pilot
pilot basis
basis in
in 1994
1994
using the
using the NGO
NGO // MFI MFI model
model of of credit
credit delivery
delivery wherein
wherein suchsuch institutions
institutions were
were used
used asas financial
financial intermediaries
intermediaries for for
delivering credit
delivering credit to to the
the poor
poor and
and unreached,
unreached, mainly
mainly women.
women. Learning
Learning fromfrom.the experience of
the experience of the
the pilot
pilot phase,
phase, SIDBI
SIDBI
reoriented and
reoriented and upscaled
upscaled itsits micro
micro finance
finance programme
programme in in 1999.
1999. A A specialised
specialised department
department viz. viz. ‘SIDBI
‘SIDBI Foundation
Foundation for for
Micro Credit’
Micro Credit’ (SFMC)
(SFMC) was was set
set up
up with
with the
the mission
mission toto create
create a a national
national network
network of of strong,
strong, viable
viable and and sustainable
sustainable Micro
Micro
Finance Institutions
Finance Institutions (MFIs)
(MFIs) from
from thethe informal
informal and
and formal
formal financial
financial’sectors. SFMC serves
sectors. SFMC serves as as anan apex
apex wholesaler
wholesaler for for
micro finance
micro finance in in India
India providing
providing aa complete
complete range
range ofof financial
financial andand non-financial
non-financial services
services toto the
the MFIs
MFls so so as
as to
to facilitate
facilitate
their development
their development into into financially
financially sustainable
sustainable entities,
entities, besides
besides developing
developing a a network
network of of service
service providers
providers andand
advocating for
advocating for appropriate
appropriate policy
policy framework
framework for for the
the sector.
sector. SFMC SFMC is is implementing
implementing the the National
National MicroMicro Finance
Finance
Support Programme
Support Programme (NMFSP).(NMFSP). The The overall
overall goal
goal ofof NMFSP
NMFSP is is toto bring
bring about
about substantial
substantial poverty
poverty elimination
elimination and and
reduced vulnerability in India amongst users of micro-finance services, particularly women.
reduced vulnerability in India amongst users of micro-finance services, particularly women.
Private
Private Initiatives:
Initiatives:
Though, government
Though, government efforts efforts havehave played
played a a. major
major role
role in in. advancing
advancing the the SHG
SHG movement
movement in in the
the country,
country, there
there havehave
been aa large
been large number
number of of voluntary
organisations (NGOs) (NGOs) which which too
too have
have facilitated
facilitated and and assisted
assisted SHGsSHGs in in organizing
organizing
savings and
savings and credit
credit in in different
different partsparts ofof India.
India. SEWA
SEWA in in Ahmedabad,
Ahmedabad, MYRADA MYRADA in in Karnataka,
Karnataka, Nav Nav Bharat
Bharat Jagriti
Jagriti Kendra
Kendra
and Ramakrishna Mission in Jharkhand, and ADITHI in Bihar are some of the names which took the lead in promoting
and Ramakrishna Mission in Jharkhand, and ADITHI in Bihar are some of the names which took the lead in promoting
Self-Help Groups
Self-Help Groups (mostly
(mostly of of women)
women) aroundaround income
income generation
generation activities
activities using
using local
local skills.
skills. From
From organizing
organizing villagers
villagers
into groups
into groups which
which couldcould workwork on on viable
viable activities,
activities, to to making
making a a project
project and and securing
securing fundsfunds (own(own contribution
contribution or or
through a
through a tie-up
tie-up with
with the the financial
financial institution),
institution), these
these VOs VOs have have worked
worked with with involvement
involvement and and dedication.
dedication. PRADANPRADAN
(Professional Assistance
(Professional Assistance for for Development
Development Action),
Action), DHAN
DHAN Foundation,
Foundation, ASSEFA
ASSEFA (Association
(Association of of SarvaSeva
SarvaSeva Farms,
Farms, MALAR
MALAR
(Mahalir Association for Literacy, Awareness
(Mahalir Association for Literacy, Awareness and
and Rights), SKS, Janodaya,
Rights), SKS, Janodaya, Cohesion
Cohesion Foundation
Foundation and Jan
and Jan
ChetnaSansthan are
ChetnaSansthan are some
some of of the
the other
other major
major non-governmental
non-governmental institutions institutions whichwhich are are promoting
promoting and and nurturing
nurturing a a
large number
large number of of SHGs
SHGs. of of poor
poor people,
people, mostly
mostly women
women into into effective
effective organisations
organisations which which could
could leverage
leverage credit
credit from
from
formal sources,
formal sources, and and develop
develop local local resources
resources and and skills
skills to to increase
increase productivity
productivity and and income.
income. It It is
is thus,
thus, due
due to to the
the
combined efforts
combined efforts of of the
the government
government and and these
these private
private voluntary
voluntary agencies
agencies that
that thethe SHGs
SHGs have
have come
come to to occupy
occupy a a place
place
of prominence
of prominence in in the
the socio-economic
socio-economic fabric fabric ofof rural
rural India.
India.
Q:
Q: What
What has
has been
been the
the impact
impact of
of SHGs
SHGs on
on rural
rural life?
life?
A random
A random impact
impact evaluation
evaluation study
study covering
covering 560
560 members
members of
of 223
223 SHGs
SHGs linked
linked to
to Banks
Banks located
located in
in 11
11 States
States was
was carried
carried
out by
out by NABARD.
NABARD. A A three
three year
year period
period was
was selected
selected for
for this
this study.
study. The
The results
results of
of this
this survey
survey released
released in
in 200018
200018
indicated that
indicated that
•e 58% of
58% of the
the households
households covered
covered underunder SHGs
SHGs reported
reported anan increase
increase inin assets;
assets;
•e the average
the average value value of
of assets
assets perper household
household increased
increased byby 72%
72% from
from Rs.6,843
Rs.6,843 toto Rs.11,793;
Rs.11,793;
•e majority of
majority of the
the members
members developed
developed savings
savings habit
habit against
against 23%
23% earlier;
earlier;
• there was
there was a a threefold
threefold increase
increase in in savings
savings and
and aa doubling
doubling of of borrowings
borrowings per per household;
household;
• the share
the share of of consumption
consumption loan loan in
in the
the borrowing
borrowing went
went down
down from
from 50%
50% toto 25%;
25%;
• 70% of
70% of the
the loans
loans taken
taken inin post-SHG
post-SHG period
period went
went towards
towards income
income generation
generation ventures;
ventures;
• employment expanded
employment expanded by by 18%;
18%;
•e the average
the average net net income
income per per household
household before
before joining
joining aa SHG
SHG was
was Rs.20,177
Rs.20,177 which
which rose
rose by
by 33%
33% to
to 26,889;
26,889; and
and
•e about 41.5% of the household studied were below their state specific poverty line in the pre-SHG enrolment
about 41.5% of the household studied were below their state specific poverty line in the pre-SHG enrolment
stage; it
stage; it came
came down down toto 22%.
22%.
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Participation in
Participation in group
group activity
activity significantly
significantly contributed
contributed to
to improvement
improvement of of self-confidence
self-confidence among
among the
the members.
members. In
In
general, group
general, group members
members and
and particularly
particularly women
women became
became more
more vocal
vocal and
and assertive
assertive on
on social
social and
and family
family issues.
issues.
The structure
The structure of of the
the SHG
SHG isis meant
meant to to provide
provide mutual
mutual support
support toto the
the participants
participants in
in saving
saving money,
money, preparing
preparing aa
common plan
common plan for
for additional
additional income
income generation
generation and and opening
opening bank
bank accounts
accounts that
that would
would help
help them
them inin developing
developing credit
credit
relationship with
relationship with aa lending
lending institution.
institution. ItIt ultimately
ultimately supports
supports them
them in in setting
setting up
up micro-enterprises
micro-enterprises e.g.e.g. personalised
personalised
business ventures
business ventures like
like tailoring,
tailoring, grocery,
grocery, and and tool
tool repair
repair shops.
shops. ItIt promotes
promotes the the concept
concept of of group
group accountability
accountability
ensuring that
ensuring that the
the loans
loans are
are paid
paid back.
back. ItIt provides
provides a a platform
platform toto the
the community
community wherewhere thethe members
members can can discuss
discuss and
and
resolve important
resolve important issues
issues of
of mutual
mutual concern.
concern.
While some
While some of of the
the SHGs
SHGs have
have been
been initiated
initiated by
by the
the local
local communities
communities themselves,
themselves, many many ofof them
them have
have come
come through
through
the help
the help of
of aa mentor
mentor Body
Body (either
(either government
government or or an
an NGO)
NGO) which
which provided
provided initial
initial information
information andand guidance
guidance toto them.
them.
Such support
Such support oftenoften consists
consists ofof training
training people
people onon how
how to to manage
manage Bank
Bank accounts,
accounts, how how to
to assess
assess small
small business
business
potential of
potential of the
the local
local markets
markets andand how
how toto upgrade
upgrade their
their skills.
skills. In
In the
the end,
end, it
it creates
creates aa local
local team
team of
of resource
resource persons.
persons.
Group formation
Group formation becomes
becomes a a convenient
convenient vehicle
vehicle forfor credit
credit delivery
delivery inin rural
rural areas.
areas. Commercial
Commercial Banks
Banks and
and other
other
institutions which
institutions which are
are otherwise
otherwise not
not receptive
receptive to to the
the demands
demands of of marginalized
marginalized individuals,
individuals, start
start considering
considering such
such
groups as
groups as their
their potential
potential customers.
customers. Overall
Overall such
such Joint-Liability Groups expand
Joint-Liability Groups expand the the outreach
outreach ofof the
the micro-finance
micro-finance
programme in
programme in an
an effective
effective way,
way, reaching
reaching outout toto the
the excluded
excluded segments
segments e.g.
e.g. landless,
landless, sharecroppers,
sharecroppers, small
small and
and
marginal farmers,
marginal farmers, women,
women, SCs/STs
SCs/STs etc.
etc.
The majority
The majority ofof Self-Help
Self-Help Groups
Groups comprise
comprise of of women
women members.
members. ThereThere is
is evidence
evidence inin this
this country
country as as well
well as
as elsewhere
elsewhere
that formation
that formation of of Self-Help
Self-Help Groups
Groups has has a a multiplier
multiplier effect
effect inin improving
improving women’s
women’s status
status inin society
society asas well
well asas in
in the
the
family. Their
family. Their active
active involvement
involvement in in micro-finance
micro-finance and and related
related entrepreneurial
entrepreneurial.activities not only
activities not only leads
leads to
to improvement
improvement
in their
in their socio-economic
socio-economic condition
condition butbut also
also enhances
enhances their
their self-esteem.
self-esteem. Women
Women in in a
a groupenvironment
groupenvironment become become more more
articulate in
articulate in voicing
voicing their
their concerns
concerns andand a a change
change occurs
occurs inin their
their self-perception.
self-perception. They
They start
start to
to see
see themselves
themselves not not only
only
as beneficiaries but also as clients / informed citizens seeking better services. On the home front, their new found
as beneficiaries but also as clients / informed citizens seeking better services. On the home front, their new found
awareness and
awareness and the
the confidence
confidence generated
generated out out of
of their
their entrepreneurial
entrepreneurial skills
skills make
make them
them moremore confident
confident vis-à-vis
vis-a-vis their
their
menfolk.
menfolk.
The SHG
The SHG programme
programme has has contributed
contributed toto aa reduced
reduced dependency
dependency on on informal
informal money
money lenders
lenders and
and other
other non-
non-
institutional sources.
institutional sources. It
It has
has enabled
enabled the
the participating
participating households
households to
to spend
spend more
more onon education
education than
than non-
non- client
client
households. Families
households. Families participating
participating inin the
the programme
programme have
have reported
reported better
better school
school attendance
attendance and
and lower
lower drop-out
drop-out
rates.
rates.
The financial
The financial inclusion
inclusion attained
attained through
through SHGs
SHGs has
has led
led to
to reduced
reduced child
child mortality,
mortality, improved
improved maternal
maternal health
health and
and the
the
ability of
ability of the
the poor
poor toto combat
combat disease
disease through
through better
better nutrition,
nutrition, housing
housing and
and health
health —– especially
especially among
among women
women and
and
children.
children.
But
But the
the SHG
SHG movement
movement has
has certain
certain weaknesses
weaknesses as
as well:
well:
•e —contrarytothevisionforSsHGdevelopment,membersofagroupdonotcome necessarily
contrarytothevisionforSHGdevelopment,membersofagroupdonotcome necessarily fromfrom thethe poorest
poorest families;
families;
•e the SHG
the SHG model
model hashas led
led to
to definite
definite socialempowerment
socialempowerment of of the
the poor
poor but
but whetherthe
whetherthe economiceconomic gains
gains are
are
adequate to
adequate to bring
bring a a qualitative
qualitative change
change inin their
their life
life is
is a
a matter
matter of of debate;
debate;
•e many
many of of the
the activities
activities undertaken
undertaken by by the
the SHGs
SHGs are are still
still based
based on on primitive
primitive skills
skills related
related mostly
mostly to
to primary
primary
sector enterprises.
sector enterprises. WithWith poor
poor value
value addition
addition per per worker
worker and and prevalence
prevalence of of subsistence
subsistence level level wages,
wages, such
such
activities often
activities often do
do not
not lead
lead to
to any
any substantial
substantial increase
increase in in the
the income
income of of group
group members.
members.
•e = There
There isis lack
lack of
of qualified
qualified resource
resource personnel
personnel in in the
the rural
rural areas
areas whowho could
could help
help inin skill
skill upgradation/acquisition
upgradation/acquisition
of new
of new skills
skills by
by group
group members.
members.
Q: What
Q: What then
then are
are the
the key
key issues
issues facing
facing SHGs
SHGs today?
today?
Though, during
Though, during aa short
short span
span ofof fifteen
fifteen years
years the
the SHG
SHG movement
movement has has recorded
recorded remarkable
remarkable progress
progress much
much still
still remains
remains
to be done. The movement shows steep territorial variations. Many areas of the country lack adequate banking
to be done. The movement shows steep territorial variations. Many areas of the country lack adequate banking
structure. Urban
structure. Urban and
and semi-urban
semi-urban areas,
areas, toto a
a large
large extent,
extent, stand
stand excluded
excluded from
from this
this mode
mode of of credit
credit delivery.
delivery. Further
Further
growth of
growth of this
this movement
movement facesfaces threat
threat from
from inadequacy
inadequacy of of skills
skills in
in the
the rural
rural areas.
areas. And
And finally
finally the
the pace
pace of of the
the
movement needs
movement needs to
to be
be accelerated.
accelerated. TheThe following
following eight
eight issues
issues of
of this
this sector
sector deserve
deserve priority
priority attention:
attention:
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•¢ Maintaining
Maintaining the
the participatory
participatory character:
character:
We saw
We saw the
the cooperative
cooperative sector
sector became
became a a springboard
springboard forfor political
political aspirants.
aspirants. Though
Though the
the SHG
SHG movement
movement is is relatively
relatively
new, government
new, government interventions
interventions andand subsidies
subsidies have
have already
already started
started showing
showing negative
negative results.
results. The
The patronage
patronage and and
subsidies provided
subsidies provided toto the
the SHGs
SHGs by
by government
government andand the
the Panchayats
Panchayats often
often lead
lead to
to their
their politicization.
politicization. Therefore,
Therefore, due due
care must
care must bebe taken
taken to to ensure
ensure that
that government
government initiatives
initiatives dodo not
not erode
erode the
the fundamental
fundamental principles
principles of
of self-help
self-help and
and
empowerment of
empowerment of the
the poor.
poor.
•¢ Need
Need to
to expand
expand the
the SHG
SHG movement
movement to
to States
States such
such as
as Bihar,
Bihar, Uttar
Uttar Pradesh,
Pradesh, Madhya
Madhya Pradesh,
Pradesh, Orissa,
Orissa, Rajasthan
Rajasthan and
and
in the
in the North-East
North-East (where
(where the
the SHG
SHG movement
movement and
and micro-finance
micro-finance entrepreneurship
entrepreneurship is
is weak):
weak):
Overall 73%
Overall 73% of of the
the farmer
farmer household
household (in
(in rural
rural areas)
areas) have
have nono access
access to to any
any formal
formal source
source ofof credit.
credit. In In March,
March, 2001,
2001,
71% of
71% of the
the total
total linked
linked SHGs
SHGs of
of the
the country
country werewere inin just four States
just four States of of the
the southern
southern region
region viz.
viz. Andhra
Andhra Pradesh,
Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala
Karnataka, Kerala and
and Tamil
Tamil Nadu.
Nadu. The
The figure
figure went
went down
down to to 58%
58% inin 2005,
2005, 54%
54% in in 2006
2006 and
and toto 44%
44% in in 2007.
2007. But
But even
even
the current
the current figure
figure is
is a
a cause
cause of
of concern
concern when
when one one talks
talks of
of financial
financial inclusion
inclusion forfor the
the whole
whole country.
country.
•¢ Need
Need to
to extend
extend small
small group
group organisations
organisations (SHGs)
(SHGs) to
to peri-urban
peri-urban and
and urban
urban areas:
areas:
According to
According to the
the 2001
2001 census,
census, 314.54
314.54 million
million persons
persons changed
changed theirtheir place
place of of residence
residence (vis-à-vis
(vis-a-vis the the situation
situation in in the
the
1991 census)
1991 census) within
within the
the country
country and and out
out of of this
this 29.90
29.90 million
million or
or 9%9% changed
changed their their place
place of of residence
residence in in search
search of of
better prospects
better prospects elsewhere.
elsewhere. SinceSince issue
issue of of any
any form
form ofof identity
identity card
card isis invariably
invariably linked
linked with
with the the possession
possession of of an
an
immovable property,
immovable property, such
such migrant
migrant workers
workers do do notnot have
have any any formal
formal document
document to to prove
prove their
their. domicile
domicile in in the
the city.
city. But
But
the overall economic and social well-being of the city is closely linked with the condition of this.section of the city
the overall economic and social well-being of the city is closely linked with the condition of this section of the city
dwellers. In
dwellers. In the
the absence
absence of of any
any documentary
documentary proof, proof, it it appears
appears thatthat this
this class
class of of people
people do do notnot have
have access
access to to
organised financial
organised financial services.
services. AsAs per
per the
the existing
existing statutory
statutory provisions,
provisions, NABARD’s
NABARD’s mandate mandate is is to
to provide
provide micro-finance
micro-finance
facilities only
facilities only to to rural
rural and
and semi-urban
semi-urban areas. areas. Branches
Branches of of the
the mainstream
mainstream Banks Banks too,too, though,
though, equipped
equipped with with
manpower and
manpower and technology,
technology, are are not
not keen
keen to to service
service this
this sector.
sector. Even
Even money
money lenders
lenders are are reluctant
reluctant to to lend
lend toto them.
them. TheThe
net result is that this segment of the urban population e.g. pavement sellers, street hawkers, construction workers
net result is that this segment of the urban population e.g. pavement sellers, street hawkers, construction workers
etc. remains
etc. remains financially
financially excluded.
excluded.
•¢ Mode
Mode of
of SHG
SHG development
development and
and financial
financial intermediation:
intermediation:
Establishing stable
Establishing stable linkage
linkage between
between aa SHG
SHG and
and aa local
local financial
financial. institution
institution is
is one
one of
of the
the key
key elements
elements ofof the
the SHG
SHG
movement. Currently,
movement. Currently, four
four distinct
distinct models
models of
of financial
financial intermediation
intermediation areare in
in operation
operation in
in various
various parts
parts of
of the
the country
country
namely:
namely:
•e SHG-Bank linkage
SHG-Bank linkage promoted
promoted by by aa mentor
mentor institute
institute
•e SHG-Bank direct
SHG-Bank direct linkage
linkage
•e SHG-Mentor Institution
SHG-Mentor Institution linkage;
linkage; and
and
•e SHG-Federation model
SHG-Federation model
Since the
Since the borrowing
borrowing SHGs
SHGs consist
consist mainly
mainly of
of low
low income
income members
members whowho cannot
cannot afford
afford to
to miss
miss even
even a a day’s
day’s wages,
wages, aa
hassle-free transaction
hassle-free transaction with
with aa Bank
Bank which
which is
is ready
ready to
to come
come toto their
their doorsteps
doorsteps with
with appropriate
appropriate credit
credit products
products isis of
of
great value to them. The SHG — Bank Linkage Model with a mentor SHPI in tow (Model | above) would be the most
great value to them. The SHG – Bank Linkage Model with a mentor SHPI in tow (Model I above) would be the most
appropriate one
appropriate one for
for delivery
delivery of
of financial
financial services
services to
to the
the SHGs.
SHGs.
•¢ Self-Help
Self-Help Groups
Groups and
and RegionalRural
RegionalRural Banks:
Banks:
As on
As on 1st
1st April,
April, 2007,
2007, out
out ofof a
a total
total of
of 622
622 districts
districts inin the
the country,
country, 535
535 have
have aa network
network of of Regional
Regional Rural
Rural Banks;
Banks; the
the
rest 87
rest 87 districts
districts have
have nono RRB
RRB presence.
presence. These
These branches
branches have have been
been created
created by by the
the Regional
Regional Rural
Rural Banks
Banks Act,
Act, 1976
1976
primarily for
primarily for providing
providing institutional
institutional credit
credit to
to the
the marginalized
marginalized sector
sector of
of the
the rural
rural economy
economy (small,
(small, marginal
marginal farmers,
farmers,
landless labour
landless labour andand rural
rural artisans).
artisans). Theextension
Theextension of of the
the RRB
RRB network
network toto the
the remaining
remaining 87 87 districts
districts would
would considerably
considerably
speed up
speed up the
the process
process of of inclusive
inclusive banking
banking and
and help
help in
in extending
extending micro-
micro- finance
finance toto local
local SHGs.
SHGs.
•¢ Issues
Issues of
of sustainability:
sustainability:
The institutional
The institutional sustainability
sustainability and
and the
the quality
quality ofof operations
operations of of the
the SHGs
SHGs areare matters
matters of of considerable
considerable debate.
debate. It It is
is
generally held that only a minority of the Self-Help Groups are able to raise themselves from a level of micro-finance
generally held that only a minority of the Self-Help Groups are able to raise themselves from a level of micro-finance
to that
to that of
of micro-entrepreneurship.
micro-entrepreneurship. Neither
Neither dodo such
such Bank
Bank linkages
linkages lead
lead to
to sanction
sanction of of larger
larger individual
individual loans
loans under
under the
the
Bank’s normal
Bank’s normal lending
lending programmes.
programmes. The The ultimate
ultimate objective
objective ofof such
such a a tie-up
tie-up isis to
to impart
impart financial
financial strength
strength toto the
the SHGs
SHGs
so that
so that they
they can
can enter
enter into
into aa stable
stable relationship
relationship with
with the
the local
local financial
financial institutions
institutions -- without
without anyany external
external support.
support.
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Even after
Even after many
many years
years of
of existence,
existence, by
by and
and large,
large, SHGs
SHGs are
are heavily
heavily dependent
dependent on
on their
their promoter
promoter NGOs
NGOs or
or government
government
agencies
agencies
•¢ Financial
Financial assistance
assistance toSHPIs
toSHPls and
and othersupportinstitutions:
othersupportinstitutions:
Forty-five per
Forty-five per cent
cent ofof the
the total
total numbers
numbers of of women
women SHGs SHGs of of the
the country
country are are located
located in in Andhra
Andhra Pradesh.
Pradesh. This
This enviable
enviable
position of
position of the
the State
State isis primarily
primarily duedue to
to the
the initiative
initiative shown
shown by by promoter
promoter NGOs NGOs often
often known
known as as Self-Help
Self-Help Promoting
Promoting
Institutions (SHPIs)
Institutions (SHPlIs) // mentor
mentor organisations.
organisations. IfIf the
the SHG
SHG movement
movement is is to
to spread
spread across
across the
the entire
entire country,
country, there
there isis need
need
to provide
to provide major
major incentives
incentives to to SHPIs
SHPls// promoter
promoter NGOs.
NGOs. Currently,
Currently, thethe financial
financial support
support to to SHPIs
SHPIs comes
comes from
from thethe Micro
Micro
Finance Development
Finance Development and and Equity
Equity Fund
Fund (MFDEF)
(MFDEF) of of NABARD.
NABARD. It It is
is limited
limited toto an
an amount
amount of of Rs.1500
Rs.1500 per
per SHG
SHG (formed
(formed
and activated).
and activated). To To attract
attract more
more and and more
more SHPIs
SHPIs toto the
the rural
rural areas,
areas, this
this quantum
quantum of of support
support needs
needs to
to be
be revised.
revised.
•¢ Role
Role of
of Micro-Finance
Micro-Finance Institutions:
Institutions:
Micro-credit is
Micro-credit is defined
defined as as provision
provision of of thrift,
thrift, credit,
credit, and and other
other financial
financial services
services (such
(such asas deposits,
deposits, loans,
loans, payment
payment
services, money
services, money transfer,
transfer, insurance
insurance andand related
related products)
products) of of very
very small
small amounts
amounts to to the
the poor
poor in in rural,
rural, semi-urban
semi-urban andand
urban areas for enabling them to raise their income levels and improve living standards. Micro-finance institutions are
urban areas for enabling them to raise their income levels and improve living standards. Micro-finance institutions are
those which
those which provide
provide suchsuch micro-credit
micro-credit facilities.
facilities. Micro-credit
Micro-credit is is an
an instrument
instrument of of both
both social
social asas well
well asas economic
economic
policy. It
policy. It opens
opens upup integral
integral development
development processes
processes such such as as use
use ofof financial
financial and
and technical
technical resources,
resources, basicbasic services
services and
and
training opportunities
training opportunities to to the
the unprivileged.
unprivileged. Access
Access to to savings,
savings, credit,
credit, money-
money- transfer,
transfer, payment,
payment, and and insurance
insurance can can help
help
poor people
poor people take
take control
control of of their
their financial
financial life.
life. ItIt also
also empowers
empowers them them toto make
make critical
critical.choices about investing
choices about investing inin
business, sending children to school, improving health care of the family, covering the cost of key social obligations
business, sending children to school, improving health care of the family, covering the cost of key social obligations
and unforeseen
and unforeseen situations.
situations. ButBut the
the most
most important
important of of all,
all, an
an access
access to to finance
finance generates
generates self-
self- esteem
esteem among
among them.
them.
ARC-2 has
ARC-2 has made
made the
the following
following recommendations
recommendations and and the
the Micro
Micro Finance
Finance Sector
Sector (Development
(Development and
and Regulation)
Regulation) Bill,
Bill,
2007 needs
2007 needs to
to be
be amended
amended toto include
include the
the following
following suggestions:-
suggestions:-
•e The scope
The scope of of Micro-finance
Micro-finance ServicesServices should
should be be substantially
substantially widened
widened to to cover
cover credit
credit // savings,
savings, insurance,
insurance,
pension services,
pension services, moneymoney transfer,
transfer, issue
issue // discount
discount ofof warehouse
warehouse receipts
receipts and
and future
future // option
option contracts
contracts forfor
agricultural commodities
agricultural commodities and and forest
forest produce.
produce.
•e =The activities
The activities of of Section
Section 25 25 Companies
Companies to to the
the extent
extent they
they concern
concern micro-financial
micro-financial services
services asas described
described under
under
the proposed
the proposed Bill Bill should
should also also be be brought
brought under
under thethe purview
purview of of this
this legislation.
legislation. However,
However, for for their
their
management and other functions, they will continue to be governed by the provisions of the Companies Act.
management and other functions, they will continue to be governed by the provisions of the Companies Act.
•e The issue
The issue ofof interest
interest raterate charged
charged by by the
the MFIs
MFIs should
should bebe left
left to
to the
the Regulatory
Regulatory Authority
Authority which
which is is being
being
created under
created under thethe proposed
proposed Bill.Bill.
•e ItIt should
should be be ensured
ensured that that ifif MFIs
MFIs are
are allowed
allowed to to handle
handle thrift
thrift // savings
savings and
and money
money transfer
transfer services,
services, they
they
would do
would do so
so only
only as as business
business correspondents
correspondents.of commercial Banks.
of commercial Banks.
Q: With
Q: With an
an eye
eye on
on the
the future,
future, let
let us
us explore
explore Corporate-SHG
Corporate-SHG linkages
linkages for
for rural
rural markets:
markets:
Rural Market
Rural Market offers
offers tremendous
tremendous potential
potential ofof growth
growth for for corporations
corporations by by making
making theirtheir products
products and
and services
services available
available
to these
to these areas.
areas. Lot Lot of of interventions
interventions are are designed
designed by by various
various companies
companies to to tap
tap the
the rural
rural market
market including
including designing
designing
tailor made
tailor made supply
supply chain,
chain, rural
rural marketing
marketing campaigns,
campaigns, pruning
pruning marketing
marketing mix mix elements
elements and and integrating
integrating social
social elements
elements
to develop
to develop theirtheir brand
brand awareness
awareness and and market
market for for their
their products.
products. Apart
Apart fromfrom allall these
these endeavours
endeavours therethere is is still
still a a
significant area
significant area largely
largely untapped.
untapped. Integration
Integration of of SHGs
SHGs with
with corporations
corporations as as aa part
part of
of their
their company
company policies
policies inin tackling
tackling
the issues
the issues of of reach
reach and and market
market awareness
awareness is is aa win-win
win-win solution.
solution. With
With various
various government
government initiatives
initiatives including
including
Promotion of
Promotion of SHG
SHG formation,
formation, microenterprise
microenterprise development,
development, microcredit
microcredit by by FIIs
Fils and
and NBFCs
NBFCs and and skill
skill training,
training, SHGs
SHGs are are
becoming viable
becoming viable in in their
their operations.
operations. Symbiotic
Symbiotic association
association of of corporations
corporations and and SHGs
SHGs utilizing
utilizing distinctive
distinctive competence
competence
can prove
can prove to
to be be fruitful
fruitful forfor both
both in
in the
the long
long run
run broadly
broadly in in the
the form
form ofof market
market and and socio-economic
socio-economic development.
development. SHGs SHGs
are broadly
are broadly studied
studied on on two
two basis-
basis- Microfinance
Microfinance and and Microenterprises.
Microenterprises. The The first
first aspect
aspect of of SHGs
SHGs (Microfinance)
(Microfinance) is is widely
widely
studied and
studied and several
several changes
changes havehave been
been incorporated
incorporated towards
towards making
making SHGs
SHGs viable.
viable. Development
Development of of Micro-enterprises
Micro-enterprises
is relatively
is relatively aa new new phenomenon.
phenomenon. As As per
per study
study of of M.Kunhaman,
M.Kunhaman, 2012, 2012, SHGs
SHGs can can better
better promote
promote Micro-enterprises,
Micro-enterprises,
especially in
especially in rural
rural areas.
areas.
The real
The real effort
effort toto support
support SHGs
SHGs in
in India,
India, however,
however, came
came inin the
the late
late 1990s
1990s when
when the
the central
central government
government of of India
India
introduced aa holistic
introduced holistic program,
program, SGSY-
SGSY- Swarnajayanti
Swarnajayanti Gram
Gram SwarozgarYojana
SwarozgarYojana based
based on
on the
the group
group approach
approach for
for rural
rural
development. The SGSY approach was to encourage the rural poor to organise themselves into SHGs and to
development. The SGSY approach was to encourage the rural poor to organise themselves into SHGs and to
independently take
independently take upup viable
viable economic
economic activities
activities as
as micro-enterprises
micro-enterprises with
with support
support from
from government
government subsidies
subsidies and
and
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bank credit.
bank credit. With
With thethe development
development of of industrial
industrial norms,
norms, micro-enterprises
micro-enterprises are
are also
also coming
coming up up apart
apart from
from large,
large,
medium and small industries. Micro-enterprises can be started and managed by individuals, groups or SHGs. Intended
medium and small industries. Micro-enterprises can be started and managed by individuals, groups or SHGs. Intended
to strengthen
to strengthen viable,
viable, small
small businesses,
businesses, resulting
resulting inin increased
increased household
household income
income and
and savings
savings and
and thus
thus alleviating
alleviating the
the
crunch of
crunch of economic
economic poverty,
poverty, Micro-enterprise
Micro-enterprise development
development aims aims at
at building
building self-esteem,
self-esteem, self-reliance,
self-reliance, encouraging
encouraging
autonomy and
autonomy and creating
creating a a community
community atmosphere.
atmosphere. It It builds
builds economic
economic capital
capital by
by creating
creating jobs and generating
jobs and generating income,
income,
ultimately working
ultimately working towards
towards community
community development
development in in impoverished
impoverished oror unemployed
unemployed areas.
areas.
The report
The report of
of the
the working
working committee
committee of of RBI
RBI (1994)
(1994) proposed
proposed the
the integration
integration of of SHGs
SHGs into
into the
the strategies
strategies and
and policies
policies of
of
corporations. SHGs
corporations. SHGs cancan provide
provide a a suitable
suitable option
option for
for companies
companies toto integrate
integrate into
into various
various functions
functions such
such as-
as- Marketing,
Marketing,
Distribution, Procurement
Distribution, Procurement of of various
various raw raw materials
materials andand semi-finished
semi-finished materials,
materials, Production
Production and and processing
processing ofof
indigenous products
indigenous products etc.
etc. For
For example,
example, TAJ TAJ group
group hashas adopted
adopted aa SHG
SHG for
for procurement
procurement of of sea
sea food
food and
and meet
meet 60%
60% of
of
their demands
their demands through
through the the SHG.
SHG. SHGsSHGs can can also
also become
become a a suitable
suitable vehicle
vehicle for
for distribution
distribution of of rural
rural products
products and
and help
help in
in
faster diffusion
faster diffusion ofof innovation
innovation in in the
the rural
rural market.
market.
Corporate Needs:
Corporate Needs: SHG Needs:
SHG Needs:
Business Expansion
Business Expansion Scale of
Scale of Production
Production
Greater Market
Greater Market Segment
Segment Marketability
Marketability
Product Penetration
Product Penetration &
& Diffusion
Diffusion Production Methods
Production Methods
Brand Awareness
Brand Awareness Capital, Technology
Capital, Technology and
and Skills
Skills
REFERENCES:
REFERENCES:
•e Mohit Bhattacharya-
Mohit Bhattacharya- Social
Social Theory
Theory and
and Development
Development Administration
Administration
•e ARC-2 Report
ARC-2 Report 9-
9- Social
Social Capital
Capital
•e Yojana Nov,
Yojana Nov, 2011
2011 issue
issue on
on NGOs
NGOs
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G.S. PAPER
G.S. PAPER II
II —– SOCIAL
SOCIAL JUSTICE
JUSTICE
Welfare Schemes
Welfare Schemes for
for Vulnerable
Vulnerable Sections
Sections ofof the
the Population
Population byby the
the
Centre and
Centre and States
States and
and the
the Performance
Performance of of these
these Schemes
Schemes
Mechanisms, Laws,
Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions
Institutions and
and Bodies
Bodies Constituted
Constituted for
for the
the
Protection and
Protection and Betterment
Betterment of of these
these Vulnerable
Vulnerable Sections
Sections
Copyright ©
Copyright © byby Vision
Vision IAS
IAS
All rights are
reserved. NoNo part of this
part of this document
document may may be
be reproduced,
reproduced, stored
stored in
in a
a retrieval
retrieval system
system or
or
transmitted in
transmitted in any
any form or by
form or by any
any means,
means, electronic,
recording or
or
otherwise, without
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prior permission of Vision
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Q1.
Q1. How
How would
would you
you define
define the
the term
term ‘vulnerable
‘vulnerable sections’?
sections’?
There are
There are various
various ways
ways to
to define
define who
who vulnerable
vulnerable sections
sections are.
are. Consider
Consider for
for instance
instance the
the following
following definitions:
definitions:
•e Avulnerable
A section in
vulnerable section in aa population
population is is one
one that
that has
has some
some specific
specific characteristics
characteristics that that make
make itit at
at higher
higher risk
risk of
of
falling into
falling into poverty
poverty than
than others.
others. Vulnerable
Vulnerable sections
sections include
include the
the elderly,
elderly, the
the mentally
mentally and and physically
physically disabled,
disabled,
at-risk children
at-risk children and
and youth,
youth, ex-combatants,
ex-combatants, internally
internally displaced
displaced people
people and and returning
returning refugees,
refugees, HIV/AIDS-
HIV/AIDS-
affected individuals and households, religious and ethnic minorities and, in some societies, women. (World
affected individuals and households, religious and ethnic minorities and, in some societies, women. (World
Bank)
Bank)
•e People who
People who are
are long-term
long-term unemployed,
unemployed, and and also
also others
others who
who areare inactive
inactive butbut not
not registered
registered as as unemployed.
unemployed. It It
should include
should include workers
workers who who are
are inin some
some formform of of employment
employment but but are
are at
at aa high
high risk
risk of
of losing
losing their
their jobs.
jobs. ItIt is,
is,
therefore, aa very
therefore, very heterogeneous
heterogeneous group, group, whose
whose members
members shareshare perhaps
perhaps only only the
the involuntary
involuntary character
character of of
their present status. (Atkinson, 2000)
their present status. (Atkinson, 2000)
•e Groups that
Groups that experience
experience aa higher
higher riskrisk ofof poverty
poverty and and social
social exclusion
exclusion thanthan thethe general
general population.
population. Ethnic
Ethnic
minorities, migrants,
minorities, migrants, disabled
disabled people,
people, the the homeless,
homeless, those
those struggling
struggling withwith substance
substance abuse,
abuse, isolated
isolated elderly
elderly
people and
people and children
children all
all often
often face
face difficulties
difficulties that
that can
can lead
lead toto further
further social
social exclusion,
exclusion, suchsuch.as low levels
as low levels ofof
education and unemployment or underemployment. (European Commission)
education and unemployment or underemployment. (European Commission)
Q2. Is
Q2. Is there
there a
a fixed
fixed criterion
criterion on
on the
the basis
basis of
of which
which vulnerability
vulnerability can
can be
be defined?
defined?
There are
There are multiple
multiple and
and complex
complex factors
factors behind
behind vulnerability
vulnerability with
with different
different layers
layers and
and itit often
often cannot
cannot bebe analyzed
analyzed in
in
isolation. Further,
isolation. Further, aa section
section of of the
the population
population may
may face
face discrimination
discrimination on on aa number
number of of grounds
grounds duedue toto their
their multiple
multiple
identities. For
identities. For example,
example, in in aa patriarchal
patriarchal society,
society, disabled
disabled women
women faceface double
double discrimination
discrimination of of being
being a a women
women andand
being disabled.
being disabled. SoSo it
it is
is difficult
difficult toto provide
provide aa fixed
fixed criterion
criterion or
or classify
classify vulnerable
vulnerable sections
sections into
into separate
separate watertight
watertight
compartments.
compartments.
However, for
However, for our
our purposes
purposes we we can
can identify
identify the
the prominent
prominent factors
factors on
on the
the basis
basis of
of which
which individuals
individuals or or members
members of of
groups are
groups are discriminated
discriminated inin India,
India, as
as structural
structural factors,
factors, age,
age, disability,
disability, caste,
caste, class,
class, gender
gender etc.
etc. It
It is
is usually
usually these
these
factors, which
factors, which become
become the
the basis
basis of
of discrimination
discrimination and
and vulnerability.
vulnerability.
Q3. On
Q3. On basis
basis of
of the
the above
above definitions
definitions and
and criteria
criteria which
which sections
sections do
do you
you think
think we
we can
can include
include as
as being
being ‘vulnerable’
‘vulnerable’
in India?
in India?
IfIf we
we use
use the
the above
above criteria
criteria and
and definitions,
definitions, in
in the
the context
context of
of India,
India, we
we can
can include
include the
the following
following sections
sections as
as vulnerable
vulnerable
sections:
sections:
• Differently Abled
Differently Abled Persons
Persons
• Old age
Old age people/
people/ Senior
Senior Citizens
Citizens
• Orphans and
Orphans and Street
Street Children
Children
• Women
Women
• Sexual Minorities
Sexual Minorities
•e Schedule Caste/
Schedule Caste/ Schedule
Schedule Tribe/
Tribe/ Minorities/
Minorities/ Other
Other Vulnerable
Vulnerable groups
groups
Q4.
Q4. So
So now
now we
we know
know the
the sections
sections that
that are
are vulnerable
vulnerable in
in India.
India. But
But we
we don’t
don’t yet
yet know
know whether
whether it
it is
is an
an individual
individual or
or
aa group
group phenomenon.
phenomenon. Discuss.
Discuss.
Vulnerability is
Vulnerability is not
not confined
confined to
to individuals,
individuals, rather
rather relates
relates to
to groups
groups oror sections.
sections. Thus,
Thus, aa social
social component
component is is usually
usually
involved. This
involved. This isis particularly
particularly true
true inin the
the case
case ofof India
India where
where inequality
inequality and
and exclusion
exclusion are
are facts
facts of
of life.
life. Thus,
Thus, some
some
people not
people not only
only have
have aa greater
greater share
share ofof valued
valued resources
resources – — money,
money, property,
property, education,
education, health,
health, and
and power
power —– than
than
others, but
others, but social
social identities
identities play
play aa dominant
dominant role
role in
in acquiring
acquiring these
these resources.
resources.
This can
This can be
be more
more easily
easily understood
understood ifif we
we divide
divide these
these social
social resources
resources into
into three
three forms
forms of
of capital-
capital- economic
economic capital
capital in
in
the form of material assets and income; cultural capital such as educational qualifications and status; and social
the form of material assets and income; cultural capital such as educational qualifications and status; and social
capital in
capital in the
the form
form of
of networks
networks ofof contacts
contacts and
and social
social associations.
associations. Often,
Often, these
these three
three forms
forms of of capital
capital overlap
overlap and
and one
one
can be
can be converted
converted into
into the
the other.
other. For
For example,
example, a a person
person from
from aa well-off
well-off family
family (economic
(economic capital)
capital) can
can afford
afford expensive
expensive
22 www.visionias.in
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higher education,
higher education, and
and so
so can
can acquire
acquire cultural
cultural or
or educational
educational capital.
capital. Someone
Someone with
with influential
influential relatives
relatives and
and friends
friends
(social capital) may — through access to good advice, recommendations or information — manage to get a well-paid
(social capital) may – through access to good advice, recommendations or information – manage to get a well-paid
job.
job.
A section
A section of
of society
society that
that lacks
lacks a
a plurality
plurality of
of these
these resources
resources is
is more
more prone
prone to
to discrimination
discrimination than
than others
others in
in a
a number
number of
of
spheres.
spheres.
Q5. We
Q5. We mentioned
mentioned that
that caste
caste is
is one
one of
of the
the factors
factors on
on the
the basis
basis of
of which
which individuals
individuals or
or members
members of of groups
groups are
are
discriminated in
discriminated in India.
India. Explain
Explain how
how caste
caste can
can perpetuate
perpetuate vulnerability
vulnerability among
among some
some sections
sections of
of our
our population?
population?
The caste
The caste system
system isis aa distinct
distinct Indian
Indian social
social institution
institution that
that legitimizes
legitimizes and
and enforces
enforces practices
practices of
of discrimination
discrimination against
against
people born
people born into
into particular
particular castes.
castes. These
These practices
practices of
of discrimination
discrimination are
are humiliating,
humiliating, exclusionary
exclusionary and
and exploitative.
exploitative.
Historically, the
Historically, the caste
caste system
system classified
classified people
people by
by their
their occupation
occupation and
and status.
status. In
In actual
actual practice
practice both
both economic
economic and
and
social status tended to coincide. There was thus a fairly close correlation between social (i.e. caste) status and
social status tended to coincide. There was thus a fairly close correlation between social (i.e. caste) status and
economic status
economic status –— the
the high
high castes
castes were
were almost
almost invariably
invariably ofof high
high economic
economic status,
status, while
while the
the ‘low’
‘low’ castes
castes were
were almost
almost
always of
always of low
low economic
economic status.
status.
Even now
Even now the
the caste-class
caste-class correlation
correlation is
is still
still remarkably
remarkably stable
stable at
at the
the macro
macro level.
level. As
As the
the system
system has
has become
become less
less rigid,
rigid,
the distinctions
the distinctions between
between castes
castes of
of broadly
broadly similar
similar social
social and
and economic
economic status
status have
have weakened.
weakened. Yet,
Yet, between
between different
different
socio-economic groupings,
socio-economic groupings, the
the distinctions
distinctions continue
continue toto be
be maintained.
maintained. Therefore,
Therefore, caste
caste continues
continues to
to affect
affect the
the life
life
chances of
chances of Indians
Indians in
in the
the twenty-first
twenty-first century.
century.
Q6. It
Q6. It is
is often
often mentioned
mentioned that
that untouchability
untouchability is
is an
an extreme
extreme and
and particularly
particularly vicious
vicious aspect
aspect of
of the
the caste
caste system.
system.
Explain what
Explain what untouchability
untouchability is
is and
and analyze
analyze the
the vulnerable
vulnerable status
status of
of dalits
dalits in
in the
the light
light of
of untouchability
untouchability practiced
practiced in
in
the caste system.
the caste system.
Untouchability is
Untouchability is indeed
indeed anan extreme
extreme and and particularly
particularly vicious
vicious aspect
aspect of
of the
the caste
caste system
system that
that prescribes
prescribes stringent
stringent
sanctions against
sanctions against members
members of of castes
castes located
located at
at the
the bottom
bottom ofof the
the caste
caste pyramid.
pyramid. Notions
Notions ofof ‘distance
‘distance pollution’
pollution’
existed in
existed in many
many regions
regions of
of India
India for
for aa long
long time.
time.
However, untouchability
However, untouchability refers
refers not
not just to the
just to the avoidance
avoidance oror prohibition
prohibition of
of physical
physical contact
contact but
but to
to aa much
much broader
broader set
set
of social sanctions. For instance, it is almost always associated with economic exploitation of various kinds, most
of social sanctions. For instance, it is almost always associated with economic exploitation of various kinds, most
commonly through
commonly through the
the imposition
imposition of of forced,
forced, unpaid
unpaid (or
(or under-paid)
under-paid) labour,
labour, or
or the
the confiscation
confiscation ofof property.
property. There
There are
are
three main
three main dimensions
dimensions of of untouchability-
untouchability- namely
namely exclusion,
exclusion, humiliation-subordination
humiliation-subordination and and exploitation
exploitation —– all
all are
are
equally important
equally important toto understand
understand thethe phenomenon.
phenomenon.
Although other
Although other (i.e.,
(i.e., ‘touchable’)
‘touchable’) lowlow castes
castes areare also
also subjected
subjected to to subordination
subordination and and exploitation
exploitation to to some
some degree,
degree, they
they
do not
do not suffer
suffer the
the extreme
extreme forms
forms of of exclusion
exclusion reserved
reserved forfor ‘untouchables.’
‘untouchables.’ Dalits
Dalits experience
experience formsforms of of exclusion
exclusion that
that
are unique
are unique andand not
not practiced
practiced against
against other
other groups
groups – — for
for instance,
instance, being
being prohibited
prohibited fromfrom sharing
sharing drinking
drinking water
water
sources or
sources or participating
participating in in collective
collective religious
religious worship,
worship, social
social ceremonies
ceremonies and and festivals.
festivals. AtAt thethe same
same time,
time,
untouchability may
untouchability may alsoalso involve
involve forced
forced inclusion
inclusion in in a
a subordinated
subordinated role, role, such
such as
as being
being compelled
compelled to to play
play the
the drums
drums at at
aa religious
religious event.
event. The
The performance
performance of of publicly
publicly visible
visible acts
acts of
of (self-)
(self-) humiliation
humiliation andand subordination
subordination is is an
an important
important partpart
of the
of the practice
practice of
of untouchability.
untouchability. Further,
Further, it it is
is a
a pan-Indian
pan-Indian phenomenon,
phenomenon, althoughalthough its
its specific
specific forms
forms andand intensity
intensity vary
vary
considerably across
considerably across regions
regions and
and socio-historical
socio-historical contexts.
contexts.
The word
The word ‘Dalit’
‘Dalit’ which
which has
has been
been coined
coined toto refer
refer to
to the
the ex-untouchable
ex-untouchable community
community means
means ‘downtrodden’
‘downtrodden’ and
and conveys
conveys
the sense
the sense of
of an
an oppressed
oppressed people.
people. Though
Though it it was
was not
not coined
coined by
by Dr.
Dr. Ambedkar,
Ambedkar, it
it resonates
resonates with
with his
his philosophy
philosophy and
and the
the
movement for
movement for empowerment
empowerment thatthat he
he led.
led.
Q7. It
Q7. It is
is evident
evident that
that untouchability
untouchability is
is an
an extremely
extremely exploitative
exploitative system
system that
that has
has been
been in
in practice
practice for
for ages.
ages. Does
Does the
the
Constitution of
Constitution of India
India contain
contain any
any provision
provision to
to curb
curb its
its practice?
practice?
Yes, the
Yes, the Constitution
Constitution abolished
abolished untouchability
untouchability and
and its
its practice
practice in
in any
any form.
form. Article
Article 17
17 of
of the
the Constitution
Constitution
(Fundamental Right) that abolishes untouchability has been provided without any exception. It empowers the
(Fundamental Right) that abolishes untouchability has been provided without any exception. It empowers the State
State to
to
33 www.visionias.in
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prescribe by
prescribe by law
law providing
providing punishment
punishment for for the
the practice
practice ofof untouchability.
untouchability. The The Parliament
Parliament enacted
enacted the
the Untouchability
Untouchability
Offences Act, 1955 which has been subsequently amended and renamed as the Civil Rights Protection Act,
Offences Act, 1955 which has been subsequently amended and renamed as the Civil Rights Protection Act, 1976.
1976. ItIt
provides stringent
provides stringent punishment
punishment for for the
the practice
untouchability. However,
However, neither
neither the
the Constitution
Constitution nor
nor the
the law
law
defines what
defines what untouchability
untouchability is.
is. But
But the
the Judiciary
Judiciary has
has defined
defined itit as
as a
a social
social practice
practice among
among the
the Hindus
Hindus where
where aa person
person is
is
looked down
looked down upon
upon and
and discriminated
discriminated against
against solely
solely on
on the
the basis
basis of
of his
his birth.
birth.
Q. 8
Q. 8 Given
Given the
the vulnerable
vulnerable status
status of
of Scheduled
Scheduled Castes,
Castes, the
the Constitution
Constitution includes
includes certain
certain provisions
provisions for
for their
their welfare.
welfare.
List them.
List them.
The Constitution
The Constitution includes
includes the
the following
following provisions
provisions for
for the
the Scheduled
Scheduled castes:
castes:
•e =Article 15(4):
Article 15(4): It It was
was introduced
introduced by by the
the first
first Amendment
Amendment Act Act after
after thethe SCSC judgment.in
judgment in the the case
case ofof Champakam
Champakam
Dorairajan vs. State of Madras. Under this the State can make special provisions for the advancement of
Dorairajan vs. State of Madras. Under this the State can make special provisions for the advancement of
socially and
socially and educationally
educationally backward backward class class of of citizens
citizens including
including SCs SCs and
and STs.
STs.
•e Article
=©Article 16(4):
16(4): This
This clause
clause allows
allows thethe state
state to to reserve
reserve vacancies
vacancies in in public
public service
service for for any
any backward
backward classes
classes ofof the
the
state that
state that areare notnot adequately
adequately represented
represented in in the
the public
public services.
services.
•e = Article
Article 16 16 (4A):
(4A): It It empowers
empowers the the State
State to to provide
provide by by law
law for
for thethe reservation
reservation of of seats
seats inin favour
favour ofof SCs
SCs and
and STs
STs inin
public employment
public employment in in promotions.
promotions.
•e Article
=Article 16(4B):
16(4B): It It states
states thethe carry
carry forward
forward policy policy followed
followed in in favour
favour of of SCs
SCs and
and STsSTs where
where the the unfilled
unfilled vacancies
vacancies
of the
of the SCsSCs andand STs STs in in aa particular
particular yearyear are are carried
carried forward
forward to to the
the following
following yearsyears and and filled
filled. up
up from
from among
among SCs SCs
and STs. It provides that the carry forward policy would be valid even if the overall reservation exceeds 50% in
and STs. It provides that the carry forward policy would be valid even if the overall reservation exceeds 50% in
the subsequent
the subsequent years. years.
•e Article
Article 40: 40: Provides
Provides reservation
reservation in in one-third
one-third seats seats inin Panchayats
Panchayats to to SC/ST.
SC/ST.
•e Article
Article 46: 46: Enjoins
Enjoins the the states
states to to promote
promote with with care
care thethe educational
educational and and economic
economic interests
interests of of the
the weaker
weaker
sections, specially
sections, specially SC SC andand STs.
STs.
•e Article
Article 330/332:
330/332: Allows Allows reservation
reservation of of seats
seats for for SC/ST
SC/ST in in.the parliament as
the parliament as well
well asas in
in state
state legislatures.
legislatures.
•e § Article
=6Article 335:
335: It It sates
sates that that claims
claims of of the
the members
members of of the
the Scheduled
Scheduled Castes Castes and and the the Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes Tribes shall
shall bebe
taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of
taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of
appointments to
appointments to services
services and and posts
posts in in connection
connection with with thethe affairs
affairs ofof the
the Union
Union or or of
of aa State
State
•e = Article
Article 338/338A/339:
338/338A/339: Establishes Establishes a a National
National Commission
Commission of of SCs
SCs and
and STs.
STs. Article
Article 339339 allows
allows the
the central
central govt.
govt.
to direct
to direct states
states to to implement
implement and and execute
execute plans plans forfor the
the betterment
betterment of of SC/STs.
SC/STs.
•e Article
§6Article 340:
340: Allows
Allows the the President
President to to appoint
appoint a a commission
commission to to investigate
investigate the the condition
condition of of socially
socially andand
economically backward
economically backward classes classes andand table
table the the report
report in in the
the parliament.
parliament.
Q. 9
Q. 9 In
In addition
addition to
to the
the Constitutional
Constitutional provisions,
provisions, the
the Government
Government of
of India
India has
has also
also constituted
constituted certain
certain mechanisms,
mechanisms,
laws, institutions
laws, institutions and
and bodies
bodies for
for their
their protection
protection and
and betterment.
betterment. Discuss.
Discuss.
The Ministry
The Ministry of of Social
Social Justice
Justice andand Empowerment
Empowerment is is the
the nodal
nodal Ministry
Ministry to to oversee
oversee thethe interests
interests of of the
the Scheduled
Scheduled
Castes. Under
Castes. Under thethe Scheduled
Scheduled Castes
Castes Development
Development Bureau, Bureau, thethe Ministry
Ministry implements
implements Scheduled
Scheduled Castes Castes Sub-Plan
Sub-Plan (SCSP)
(SCSP)
which is
which is an
an-umbrella strategy to
umbrella strategy to ensure
ensure flow
flow of of targeted
targeted financial
financial andand physical
physical benefits
benefits from
from all all the
the general
general sectors
sectors of of
development for
development for the
the benefit
benefit of of Scheduled
Scheduled castes.
castes. Under
Under the the strategy,
strategy, states/UTs
states/UTs are are required
required to to formulate
formulate and and
implement Special
implement Special Component
Component Plan Plan (SCP)
(SCP) for
for Scheduled
Scheduled Castes
Castes asas part
part ofof their
their Annual
Annual Plans
Plans by by earmarking
earmarking resources.
resources.
Another policy
Another policy initiative
initiative for
for the
the development
development of of Scheduled
Scheduled Castes
Castes is is Special
Special Central
Central Assistance
Assistance to to Special
Special Component
Component
Plan, in
Plan, in which
which centcent percent
percent assistance
assistance is is given
given as as additive
additive to to Scheduled
Scheduled Caste Caste Sub-Plan
Sub-Plan of of the
the States/UTs
States/UTs on on the
the basis
basis
of certain
of certain criteria
criteria such
such asas SC
SC population
population of of the
the States/UTs,
States/UTs, relative
relative backwardness
backwardness of of the
the States/UTs,
States/UTs, percentage
percentage SC SC
families in
families in the
the States/UTs,
States/UTs, covered
covered by by composite
composite economic
economic development
development programmes
programmes in in the
the State
State Plan
Plan to
to enable
enable
them to
them to cross
cross the
the poverty
poverty line,
line, percentage
percentage of of SCP
SCP toto the
the Annual
Annual PlanPlan asas compared
compared to to SC
SC population
population percentage
percentage of of the
the
States/UTs.
States/UTs.
The Ministry
The Ministry implements
implements two
two acts
acts for
for protecting
protecting the
the civil
civil rights
rights of
of the
the Scheduled
Scheduled Castes,
Castes, viz.:
viz.:
•e = Protection
Protection of
of Civil
Civil Rights
Rights Act,
Act, 1955;
1955; and
and
•e The
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention
(Prevention of
of Atrocities
Atrocities Act,
Act, 1989)
1989)
44 www.visionias.in
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Constitutional
Constitutional Measures:
Measures:
•e National
National Commission
Commission for
for Scheduled
Scheduled Castes
Castes
The National
The National Commission
Commission for for Scheduled
Scheduled Castes,
Castes, aa Constitutional
Constitutional body
body monitors
monitors the
the safeguards
safeguards provided
provided forfor
Scheduled Castes
Scheduled Castes and
and also
also reviews
reviews issues
issues concerning
concerning their
their welfare.
welfare. The
The Commission
Commission has has wide
wide powers
powers to to protect,
protect,
safeguard and
safeguard and promote
promote the the interests
interests ofof the
the SCs.
SCs. The
The Commission
Commission hashas been
been conferred
conferred powers
powers ofof aa civil
civil court
court trying
trying a a
suit, to summon and enforce the attendance of any persons from any part of India and examining on oath, receiving
suit, to summon and enforce the attendance of any persons from any part of India and examining on oath, receiving
evidence on
evidence on affidavits.
affidavits.
•e National Commission
National Commission for
for Safai
Safai Karmacharis
Karmacharis
The National
The National Commission
Commission forfor Safai
Safai Karmacharis,
Karmacharis, a a statutory
statutory body
body has,
has, inter-alia,
inter-alia, been
been empowered
empowered toto
investigate into
investigate into specific
specific grievances
grievances as
as well
well as
as matters
matters relating
relating to
to implementation of
implementation of programmes
programmes and and schemes
schemes for
for
welfare of
welfare of Safai
Safai Karmacharis.
Karmacharis.
•e Protection of
Protection of Civil
Civil Rights
Rights Act,
Act, 1955
1955
In pursuance
In pursuance of of article
article 17
17 of
of the
the Constitution
Constitution of of India,
India, the
the Untouchability
Untouchability (Offences)
(Offences) Act,Act, 1955
1955 waswas enacted.
enacted.
Subsequently it
Subsequently it was
was amended
amended and and renamed
renamed in in the
the year
year 1976
1976 asasthe
the ““Protection
Protection of of Civil
Civil Rights
Rights Act,
Act, 1955”.
1955”. Rules
Rules
under this Act, viz. “The Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 1977” were notified in 1977. The Act extends to the
under this Act, viz. “The Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 1977” were notified in 1977. The Act extends to the
whole of
whole of India
India and
and provides
provides punishment
punishment for for thethe practice
untouchability. It
It is
is implemented
implemented by by the
the respective
respective
State Governments
State Governments and and Union
Union Territory
Territory Administrations.
Administrations.
•e Scheduled Castes
Scheduled Castes and
and Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes
Tribes (Prevention
(Prevention of
of Atrocities)
Atrocities) Act,
Act, 1989
1989
The Scheduled
The Scheduled Castes
Castes and
and Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes
Tribes (Prevention
(Prevention of
of Atrocities)
Atrocities) Act,
Act, 1989,
1989, specifies
specifies offences,
offences, which
which areare
considered as
considered as atrocities,
atrocities, and
and provides
provides for
for deterrent
deterrent punishments
punishments for
for commission
commission of of the
the same.
same. Comprehensive
Comprehensive RulesRules
were also
were also framed
framed under
under the
the SCs
SCs and
and STs
STs (POA)
(POA).Act in 1995,
Act in 1995, which
which among
among other
other things
things provided
provided for
for relief
relief and
and
rehabilitation of
rehabilitation of the
the affected
affected people.
people.
•e Committee to
Committee to review
review implementation
implementation of
of PCR
PCR and
and POA
POA Acts
Acts
Educational Development
• Pre Matric
Pre Matric Scholarship
Scholarship
• Pre-Matric Scholarships
Pre-Matric Scholarships for
for Children
Children of
of those
those engaged
engaged in
in Unclean
Unclean Occupations:
Occupations:
• Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi National
National Fellowship
Fellowship Scheme
Scheme
• National Overseas
National Overseas Scholarship
Scholarship
• Upgradation of
Upgradation of Merit
Merit for
for SC
SC Students
Students
• Free Coaching
Free Coaching for
for SCs
SCs and
and OBCs
OBCs
• Babu Jagjivan
Babu Jagjivan Ram
Ram Chhatrawas
Chhatrawas Yojana
Yojana
• Dr. Ambedkar
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation
Foundation
Economic Empowerment
Economic Empowerment
•e Special central
Special central Assistance
Assistance to
to Scheduled
Scheduled Castes
Castes Sub
Sub Plan
Plan (SCSP)
(SCSP)
• Assistance to
Assistance to State
State Scheduled
Scheduled Castes
Castes Development
Development Corporations
Corporations
• National Scheduled
National Scheduled Castes
Castes Finance
Finance Development
Corporation
• Self-Employment Scheme
Self-Employment Scheme for
for Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of of Manual
Manual Scavengers
Scavengers (SRMS)
(SRMS)
• Voluntary Organizations
Voluntary Organizations Working
Working forfor the
the Welfare
Welfare ofof SCs
SCs
•e National Safai
National Safai Karamcharis
Karamcharis Finance
Finance andand Development
Corporation
(Refer the
(Refer the chapter
chapter on
on Welfare
Welfare in
in India
India Year
Year Book
Book and
and Economic
Economic Survey
Survey for details of
for details of these
these schemes).
schemes).
55 www.visionias.in
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Q. 10
Q. 10 Adivasis
Adivasis or
or tribals
tribals are
are another
another section
section of
of the
the population
population who
who often
often face
face discrimination.
discrimination. Explain
Explain who
who they
they are
are
and why they are included as a vulnerable section.
and why they are included as a vulnerable section.
Tribes or
Tribes or Adivasis
Adivasis in
in India
India have
have generally
generally been
been defined
defined in
in terms
terms of of what
what they
they were
were not.
not. Tribes
Tribes were
were defined
defined asas
communities that
communities that did
did not
not practice
practice aa religion
religion with
with aa written
written text;
text; did
did not
not have
have aa state
state or
or political
political form
form of
of the
the normal
normal
kind; did
kind; did not
not have
have sharp
sharp class
class divisions;
divisions; and,
and, most
most important,
important, did
did not
not have
have caste
caste and
and were
were neither
neither Hindus
Hindus nor
nor
peasants.
peasants.
Like the
Like the Dalits,
Dalits, Tribes
Tribes asas social
social groups
groups were
were recognized
recognized by by the
the Indian
Indian Constitution
Constitution asas specially
specially marked
marked by by poverty,
poverty,
powerlessness and
powerlessness and social
social stigma.
stigma. They
They were
were believed
believed to
to be
be ‘people
‘people ofof the
the forest’
forest’ whose
whose distinctive
distinctive habitat
habitat in
in the
the hill
hill
and forest
and forest areas
areas shaped
shaped their
their economic,
economic, social
social and
and political
political attributes.
attributes. However,
However, their
their long
long and
and close
close association
association with
with
Hindu society
Hindu society and
and culture,
culture, made
made thethe boundaries
boundaries between
between ‘tribe’
‘tribe’ and
and ‘caste’
‘caste’ quite
quite porous.
porous.
In the
In the areas
areas where
where tribal
tribal populations
populations are are concentrated,
concentrated, theirtheir economic
economic and and social
social conditions
conditions are are usually
usually much
much worse
worse
than those of non-tribals. The impoverished and exploited circumstances under which adivasis live can be traced
than those of non-tribals. The impoverished and exploited circumstances under which adivasis live can be traced
historically to
historically to the
the pattern
pattern of of accelerated
accelerated resource
resource extraction
extraction started
started by by the
the colonial
colonial British
British government
government and and continued
continued
by the
by the government
government of of independent
independent India. India. The
The independence
independence of of India
India inin 1947
1947 should
should have
have made
made life
life easier
easier for
for adivasis
adivasis
but this
but this was
was notnot the
the case.
case. Firstly,
Firstly, the
the government
government monopoly
monopoly over over forests
forests continued.
continued. If If anything,
anything, the the exploitation
exploitation of of
forests accelerated.
forests accelerated. Secondly,
Secondly, the the policy
policy ofof capital-intensive
capital-intensive industrialization
industrialization adopted
adopted by by the
the Indian
Indian government
government
required mineral
required mineral resources
resources and and power-generation
power-generation capacities
capacities whichwhich were
were concentrated
concentrated in in Adivasi
Adivasi areas.
areas. Adivasi
Adivasi lands
lands
were rapidly
were rapidly acquired
acquired for for new
new mining
mining and and dam
dam projects.
projects. In In the
the process,
process, millions
millions of of adivasis
adivasis were
were displaced
displaced without
without
any appropriate
any appropriate compensation
compensation or or rehabilitation.
rehabilitation. Justified
Justified in in the
the name
name of of ‘national
‘national development’
development’ and and ‘economic
‘economic
growth’, these
growth’, these policies
policies were
were actually
actually a a form
form ofof internal
internal colonialism,
colonialism, subjugating
subjugating adivasis
adivasis and and alienating
alienating the the resources
resources
upon which
upon which theythey depended.
depended.
Q.
Q. 11
11 Mention
Mention thethe Constitutional
Constitutional provisions
provisions and
and other
other laws
laws and
and institutions
institutions established
established for
for the
the welfare
welfare of
of
Scheduled Tribes.
Scheduled Tribes.
Constitutional Provisions:
Constitutional Provisions:
Refer the
Refer the Constitutional
provisions mentioned
mentioned above
above for
for Scheduled
Scheduled castes.
castes. Apart
Apart from
from them,
them, certain
certain other
other articles
articles
deal exclusively with problems faced by STs. They are as follows:
deal exclusively with problems faced by STs. They are as follows:
•e = Article
Article 19(5):
19(5): It
It allows
allows the
the state
state to
to impose
impose restriction
restriction onon freedom
freedom of of movement
movement or or of
of residence
residence in
in the
the benefit
benefit
of Scheduled
of Scheduled Tribes.
Tribes.
•e Article
=Article 164:
164: Appoint
Appoint special
special.minister for tribal
minister for tribal welfare
welfare in in the
the states
states of
of MP,
MP, Bihar,
Bihar, and
and Orrisa.
Orrisa.
•e Article
§=Article 275:
275: Allows
Allows special
special grant
grant in
in aids
aids to
to states
states for
for tribal
tribal welfare.
welfare.
Other welfare
Other welfare schemes,
schemes, laws,
laws, mechanisms,
mechanisms, bodies
bodies and
and institutions:
institutions:
•e Scheduled Areas
Scheduled Areas and
and Tribal Areas
Tribal Areas
Scheduled Tribes
Scheduled Tribes live
live in
in contiguous
contiguous areas
areas unlike
unlike other
other communities.
communities. ItIt is,
is, therefore,
therefore, much
much simpler
simpler to
to have
have an
an
area-approach for
area-approach for development
activities and
and also
also regulatory
regulatory provisions
provisions to
to protect
protect their
their interests.
interests.
In order
In order toto protect
protect the
the interests
interests of
of Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes
Tribes with
with regard
regard to
to land
land alienation
alienation and other
and other social
social factors,
factors,
provisions of
provisions of ‘‘Fifth
“Fifth Schedule
Schedule and
and “Sixth
“Sixth Schedule”
Schedule” have
have been
been enshrined
enshrined in
in the
the Constitution.
Constitution.
The Fifth
The Fifth Schedule
Schedule under
under Article
Article 244(1)
244(1) of
of Constitution
Constitution defines
defines ‘‘Scheduled
“Scheduled Areas"
Areas" asas such
such areas
areas as
as the
the
President may by Order declare to be Scheduled Areas after consultation with the Governor of the State.
President may by Order declare to be Scheduled Areas after consultation with the Governor of the State.
The Sixth
The Sixth Schedule
Schedule under
under Article
Article 244
244 (2)
(2) of
of the
the Constitution
Constitution relates
relates to
to those
those areas
areas inin the
the States of
States of Assam,
Assam,
Meghalaya, Tripura
Meghalaya, Tripura andand Mizoram
Mizoram which
which are
are declared
declared as
as ‘‘Tribal
“Tribal Areas"
Areas" andand provides
provides for
for District
District Councils
Councils and/or
and/or
Regional Councils
Regional Councils for
for such
such Areas.
Areas. These
These Councils
Councils have
have been
been conferred
conferred with
with wide
wide ranging
ranging legislative,
legislative, judicial and
judicial and
executive powers.
executive powers.
66 www.visionias.in
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• The Fifth
The Fifth Schedule
Schedule Areas
Areas
The criteria
The criteria for
for declaring
declaring any
any area
area as
as a
a ‘‘Scheduled
‘Scheduled Area"
Area" under
under the
the Fifth
Fifth Schedule
Schedule are:
are: (a)
(a) Preponderance
Preponderance of of
tribal population,
tribal population, (b) (b) Compactness
Compactness andand reasonable
reasonable size
size of
of the
the area,
area, (c)
(c) AA viable
viable administrative
administrative entity
entity such
such as
as a
a
district, block
district, block oror taluk,
taluk, and
and (d)
(d) Economic
Economic backwardness
backwardness ofof the
the area
area asas compared
compared to to neighbouring
neighbouring areas.
areas.
The advantages
The advantages of
of Scheduled
Scheduled Areas
Areas are
are as
as follows:
follows:
©
o The Governor
The Governor of of a a state,
state, which
which has has Scheduled
Scheduled Areas,
Areas, is is empowered
empowered to to make
make regulations
regulations in in respect
respect of of
the following:
the following:
a. Prohibit
a. Prohibit or or restrict
restrict transfer
transfer of of land
land from
from tribal
tribal people;
people;
b. Regulate
b. Regulate the the business
business of of money
money lending
lending to to the
the members
members of of Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes.
Tribes.
o
o The Governor
The Governor may may be be public
public notification
notification direct
direct that
that any any particular
particular Act Act of of Parliament
Parliament or or ofof the
the
Legislature of the State, shall not apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State or shall
Legislature of the State, shall not apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State or shall
apply to
apply to such
such area
area subject
subject to to such
such exceptions
exceptions and and modifications
modifications as as he
he may
may specify.
specify.
o
o The Governor
The Governor of of aa State
State having
having Scheduled
Scheduled AreasAreas therein,
therein, shall
shall annually,
annually, or or whenever
whenever so so required
required by by
the President
the President of of India,
India, make
make aa report
report toto the
the President
President regarding
regarding the the administration
administration of of the
the Scheduled
Scheduled
Areas in
Areas in that
that State
State and and thethe executive
executive power
power of of the
the Union
Union shall
shall extend
extend to to the
the giving
giving ofof directions
directions to to
the State as to the administration of the said area.
the State as to the administration of the said area.
o
o Tribes Advisory
Tribes Advisory Council
Council (TAC)(TAC) shall
shall be
be established
established in in States
States having
having Scheduled
Scheduled Areas.Areas: The
The role
role ofof TAC
TAC isis
to advise
to advise the the State
State Government
Government on on matters
matters pertaining
pertaining to to the
the welfare
welfare and and advancement
advancement of of the
the
Scheduled Tribes
Scheduled Tribes in in the
the State
State as
as may
may bebe referred
referred to to it
it by
by the
the Governor.
Governor.
o
o The Provisions
The Provisions of of the
the Panchayats
Panchayats (Extension
(Extension to to Scheduled
Scheduled. Areas) Areas) Act,Act, 1996
1996 (PESA)
(PESA) which
which were were
extended to Scheduled Areas, also contain special provisions for the benefit of Scheduled Tribes.
extended to Scheduled Areas, also contain special provisions for the benefit of Scheduled Tribes.
• The Sixth
The Sixth schedule
schedule –
— Tribal Areas
Tribal Areas
The Sixth
The Sixth Schedule
Schedule under
under Article
Article 244
244 ofof the
the Constitution
Constitution identifies
identifies Autonomous
Autonomous districts
districts inin the
the Tribal
Tribal Areas
Areas in in
the states
the states ofof Assam,
Assam, Meghalaya,
Meghalaya, Tripura
Tripura and
and Mizoram.
Mizoram. It It also
also makes
makes provisions
provisions for for recognition
recognition of of
Autonomous Regions
Autonomous Regions within
within these
these Autonomous
Autonomous Districts.
Districts. These
These have
have been
been specified
specified in in Parts
Parts I,|, II,
Il, IIA
IIA && III
Ill of
of
the table
the table appended
appended to to paragraph
paragraph 2020 ofof the
the Sixth
Sixth Schedule.
Schedule. In In other
other words,
words, areas
areas where
where provisions
provisions of of Sixth
Sixth
Schedule are
Schedule are applicable
applicable are
are known
known asas Tribal
Tribal Areas.
Areas. The
The State-wise
State-wise details
details of
of Tribal
Tribal Areas
Areas areare asas under:
under:
o.
o Part-I Assam
Part-I Assam
1... The
1. The North
North Cachar
Cachar Hills
Hills District
District
2. The Karbi-Anglong District
2. The Karbi-Anglong District
3. The
3. The Bodo
Bodo LandLand Territorial
Territorial Area
Area Districts
Districts
o.
o PartllII Meghalaya
Part Meghalaya
1. Khasi
1. Khasi Hills
Hills District
District
2. Jaintia
2. Jaintia Hills
Hills District
District
3. The Garo Hills District
3. The Garo Hills District
o
o PartIIA
Part Tripura
IIA Tripura
1.. Tripura
1. Tripura Tribal
Tribal Areas
Areas District
District
Oo.
o Part
Part III Mizoram
II}Mizoram
1. The
1. The Chakma
Chakma District
District
2. The
2. The Mara
Mara District
District
3. The
3. The Lai
Lai District
District
The administration
The administration of of Autonomous
Autonomous Districts and
Districts and Autonomous
Autonomous Regions is
Regions is done
done through
through District
District
Councils/Regional Councils.
Councils/Regional Councils. These
These Councils
Councils areare elected
elected bodies
bodies and
and have
have powers
powers of of legislation,
legislation, administration
administration
of justice
of apart from
justice apart from executive,
executive, developmental
developmental and and financial
financial responsibilities.
responsibilities. The
The District
District or
or Regional
Regional Councils
Councils
are empowered
are empowered to to make
make rules
rules with
with the
the approval
approval of of the
the Governor
Governor with with regard
regard toto matters
matters like
like establishment,
establishment,
construction or
construction or management
management of of primary
primary schools,
schools, dispensaries,
dispensaries, markets,
markets, cattle
cattle ponds,
ponds, ferries,
ferries, fisheries,
fisheries, roads,
roads,
road transport
road transport and
and waterways
waterways in in the
the district.
district. The
The Autonomous
Autonomous Councils
Councils ofof the
the North
North Cachar
Cachar Hills
Hills and
and Karbi
Karbi
Anglong have
Anglong have been
been granted
granted additional
additional powers
powers to to make
make lawslaws with
with respect
respect toto other
other matters
matters likelike secondary
secondary
education, agriculture,
education, agriculture, social
social security
security and and social
social insurance,
insurance, public
public health
health and
and sanitation,
sanitation, minor
minor irrigation,
irrigation, etc.
etc.
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The Councils
The Councils have
have also
also been
been conferred
conferred powers
powers under
under the
the Civil
Civil Procedure
Procedure Code
Code and
and Criminal
Criminal Procedure
Procedure Code
Code
for trial of certain suits and offences, as also the powers of a revenue authority for their area for collection of
for trial of certain suits and offences, as also the powers of a revenue authority for their area for collection of
revenue and
revenue and taxes
taxes and
and other
other powers
powers for
for the
the regulation
regulation and
and management
management of of natural
natural resources.
resources.
•e = Tribal
Tribal Sub-Plan
Sub-Plan (TSP)
(TSP)
Upgradation of
Upgradation of administration
administration through
through the
the innovative
innovative strategy
strategy of
of the
the Tribal
Tribal Sub-Plan
Sub-Plan (TSP)
(TSP) for
for STs
STs was
was
launched at the beginning of the 5th Five Year Plan in 1974-75, covering 21 States and 2 U.T.S., where Scheduled
launched at the beginning of the 5th Five Year Plan in 1974-75, covering 21 States and 2 U.T.S., where Scheduled
Tribes constitute
Tribes constitute a
a sizeable
sizeable population.
population.
This special
This special strategy
strategy was
was expected
expected to to ensure
ensure that
that all
all the
the general
general development
development sectors,
sectors, both
both at
at the
the Central
Central and
and
State levels,
State levels, earmark
earmark funds
funds for
for STs
STs in
in proportion
proportion toto their
their population
population so so that
that adequate
adequate benefits
benefits from
from all
all the
the concerned
concerned
sectors flow
sectors flow to
to this
this disadvantaged
disadvantaged group.
group. Thus
Thus the
the TSP
TSP strategy
strategy seeks
seeks to to ensure
ensure adequate
adequate flow
flow of
of funds
funds for
for tribal
tribal
development not only under every State Plan funds, but also from all the Central Ministries/Departments. TSP is
development not only under every State Plan funds, but also from all the Central Ministries/Departments. TSP is a
a
part of
part of the
the overall
overall plan
plan of
of a
a State/UT
State/UT or or a
a Central
Central Ministry/Department,
Ministry/Department, and and is
is therefore
therefore called
called a
a Sub-Plan.
Sub-Plan.
The TSP
The TSP promotes
promotes development
activities through
through legal
legal and
and administrative
administrative support.
support. The
The TSP. strategy is
TSP strategy is
being implemented
being implemented through
through 195
195 Integrated
Integrated Tribal
Tribal Development
Development Projects
Projects (ITDPs)/Integrated
(ITDPs)/Integrated Tribal
Tribal Development
Development
Agencies (ITDAs),
Agencies (ITDAs), 259
259 Modified Area
Modified Area Development Approach
Development Approach (MADA)
(MADA) and
and 82
82 Clusters.
Clusters. The
The benefits
benefits ofof the
the Tribal
Tribal
Sub-Plan are also extended to the scattered tribal population.
Sub-Plan are also extended to the scattered tribal population.
The TSP
The TSP is
is financed
financed byby four
four sources
sources namely,
namely, flow
flow from
from Centrally
Centrally Sponsored
Sponsored Schemes.
Schemes. Special
Special Central
Central
Assistance, State
Assistance, State Plan,
Plan, and
and Institutional
Institutional finance.
finance. The
The Central
Central Ministries
Ministries have
have also
also been
been requested
requested toto utilize
utilize at
at
lease 8%
lease 8% of
of their
their budget
budget for
for the
the welfare
welfare and
and development
development of of Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes.
Tribes.
•e Special Central
Special Central Assistance
Assistance for
for Tribal
Tribal Sub-Plan
Sub-Plan
In support
In support of of TSP,
TSP, the
the Government
Government of of India
India launched
launched the
the SCA
SCA scheme
scheme inin 1974
1974 toto the
the States
States and
and the
the UTs,
UTs, as
as an
an
additive to
additive to fill
fill up
up the
the gaps,
gaps, especially
especially inin the
the family
family based
based income-generating
income-generating programmes.
programmes. As As a
a result,
result, there
there has
has been
been
aa substantial
substantial increase
increase in in the
the flow
flow of
of funds
funds during
during thethe Ninth
Ninth Five
Five Year
Year Plan
Plan for
for the
the development
development of of STs
STs besides
besides
enlargement of
enlargement of the
the share
share of
of benefits
benefits for
for STs
STs under
under all
all the
the development
development programmes.
programmes.
The SCA
The SCA toto TSP is provided
TSP is provided by
by the
the Ministry
Ministry of
of Tribal
Tribal Affairs
Affairs to
to 21
21 Tribal
Tribal Sub-
Sub- Plan
Plan States
States including
including North
North
Eastern States
Eastern States of
of Assam,
Assam, Manipur
Manipur and
and Tripura.
Tripura. Since
Since 2003-04
2003-04 the
the Ministry of
Ministry of Home
Home Affairs
Affairs is
is releasing
releasing the
the funds
funds
under SCA
under SCA to
to TSP
TSP meant
meant for
for the
the UTS.
UTS.
The SCA
The SCA isis to
to bebe utilised
utilised inin conjunction
conjunction with
with the
the TSP
TSP flow
flow with
with aa view
view to
to meeting
meeting thethe gaps,
gaps, which
which areare not
not
otherwise taken
otherwise taken care
care of of by
by the
the State
State Plan.
Plan. The
The objective
objective and
and scope
scope ofof SCA
SCA to
to TSP was originally
TSP was originally meant
meant for
for filling
filling up
up of
of
the critical gaps in the family-based income-generation activities of the TSP. From the Tenth Five Year Plan, the
the critical gaps in the family-based income-generation activities of the TSP. From the Tenth Five Year Plan, the
objective and
objective and scope
scope of of SCA
SCA to
to TSP
TSP has
has been
been expanded
expanded toto cover
cover the
the infrastructure
infrastructure incidental
incidental to
to income-generation.
income-generation.
o Grants under
Grants under thethe First
First Proviso
Proviso toto Article
Article 275(1)
275(1) ofof the
the Constitution
Constitution
0 0 0
o Program for
Program for development
development of of Forest
Forest Villages
Villages
000000000000
o Scheme for
Scheme for Primitive
Primitive TribalTribal Groups
Groups (PTGs)
(PTGs)
o Scheme of Construction of Hostels for ST
Scheme of Construction of Hostels for ST Boys
Boys and
and Girls
Girls
o Establishment of
Establishment of Ashram
Ashram Schools Schools in in Tribal
Tribal Sub-Plan
Sub-Plan Area
Area
o Upgradation of
Upgradation of Merit
Merit of of ST
ST students
students
o Post Matric
Post Matric Scholarships
Scholarships for for ST
ST students
students
o Vocational Training
Vocational Training in in Tribal
Tribal Areas
Areas
o Education of
Education of Girls
Girls inin Low
Low Literacy
Literacy Pockets
Pockets
o Grants-in-Aid to
Grants-in-Aid to Voluntary
Voluntary Organisations
Organisations
o Rajiv Gandhi
National Fellowship
Fellowship (RGNF)
(RGNF)
o National Overseas
National Overseas Scholarship
Scholarship Scheme Scheme for for Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes
Tribes (NON-Plan)
(NON-Plan)
o Scheme of
Scheme of TOP
TOP Class
Class Education
Education for for STST Students
Students
o Grants-in-Aid for
Grants-in-Aid for Minor
Minor Forest Forest Produce
Produce (MPP)(MPP) Operations
Operations
o Exchange of
Exchange of visits
visits byby STs
STs
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•e National Scheduled
National Scheduled Tribes
Tribes Finance
Finance and
and Development
Corporation
•e Special Schemes
Special Schemes
o
o Adivasi Mahila
Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran
Sashaktikaran Yojana
Yojana (AMSY)
(AMSY)
o
o Micro-credit scheme
Micro-credit scheme —– launch
launch of
of aa new
new scheme
scheme
•e Tribal Cooperative
Tribal Cooperative Marketing
Marketing Development
Development Federation
Federation of
of India
India Ltd.
Ltd. (TRIFED)
(TRIFED)
(Refer the
(Refer the chapter
chapter on
on Welfare
Welfare in
in India
India Year
Year Book
Book and
and Economic
Economic Survey
these schemes).
schemes).
Q.
Q. 12
12 Having
Having discussed
discussed Tribals,
Tribals, we
we now
now discuss
discuss who
who the
the Backward
Backward Classes
Classes are.
are.
Though untouchability
Though untouchability was was the
the most
most visible
visible and
and comprehensive
comprehensive form form of
of social
social discrimination.
discrimination. However,
However, therethere were
were aa
large group of castes that were of low status and were also subjected to varying levels of discrimination short of
large group of castes that were of low status and were also subjected to varying levels of discrimination short of
untouchability. These
untouchability. These were
were thethe service
service and
and artisan
artisan castes
castes who
who occupied
occupied thethe lower
lower rungs
rungs ofof the
the caste
caste hierarchy.
hierarchy. TheThe
Constitution of
Constitution of India
India recognizes
recognizes the the possibility
possibility that
that there
there may
may be be groups
groups other
other thanthan the
the Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes
Tribes andand
Scheduled Castes
Scheduled Castes whowho suffer
suffer from
from social
social disadvantages.
disadvantages. TheseThese groups
groups —– which
which need
need notnot be
be based
based on on caste
caste alone,
alone, but
but
generally are
generally are identified
identified by by caste
caste —– were
were described
described as as the
the ‘socially
‘socially;and educationally backward
and educationally backward classes’.
classes’. This
This is
is the
the
constitutional basis
constitutional basis of
of the
the popular
popular term
term ‘Other
‘Other Backward
Backward Classes’
Classes’ (OBCs),
(OBCs), which
which isis in
in common
common use use. today.
today.
Like the
Like the category
category of of the
the ‘tribe’
‘tribe’ the
the OBCs
OBCs areare defined
defined negatively,
negatively, by by what
what they
they areare not.
not. They
They are
are neither
neither part
part ofof the
the
‘forward’ castes
‘forward’ castes at
at the
the upper
upper endend ofof the
the status
status spectrum,
spectrum, nornor ofof the
the Dalits
Dalits at
at. the
the lower
lower end.
end. But
But since
since caste
caste has
has
entered all
entered all the
the major
major Indian
Indian religions
religions and
and is
is not
not confined
confined toto Hinduism
Hinduism alone,
alone, there
there areare also
also members
members of of other
other religions
religions
who belong
who belong to to the
the backward
backward castes
castes and
and share
share the
the same
same traditional
traditional occupational
occupational identification
identification and
and similar
similar oror worse
worse
socio-economic status.
socio-economic status.
However, the
However, the OBCs
OBCs are
are severely
severely under-represented
under-represented in in all
all spheres
spheres except
except landholding
landholding and
and political
political representation
representation
(they have
(they have aa large
large number
number of of MLAs
MLAs and
and MPs).
MPs). Although
Although thethe upper
upper OBCs
OBCs are
are dominant
dominant inin the
the rural
rural sector,
sector, the
the situation
situation
of urban
of urban OBCs
OBCs is
is much
much worse,
worse, being
being much
much closer
closer to
to that
that of
of the
the Scheduled
Scheduled Castes
Castes and
and Tribes
Tribes than
than to
to the
the upper
upper castes.
castes.
Q. 13
Q. 13 The
The Government
Government has
has enacted
enacted schemes
schemes for
for the
the welfare
welfare of
of backward
backward classes.
classes. Discuss
Discuss them.
them.
Statutory Body
Statutory Body
for Backward
Backward Classes
Classes
In pursuance
In pursuance ofof the
the Supreme
Supreme Court
Court Judgement
Judgement popularly
popularly known
known asas Mandal
Mandal Judgement
Judgement (1992),
(1992), the
the National
National
Commission for Backward Classes was set up in 1993 asa_ permanent body for entertaining, examining and advising
Commission for Backward Classes was set up in 1993 as a permanent body for entertaining, examining and advising
the Government
the Government on on requests
requests for
for. inclusion
inclusion and
and complaints
complaints of of over-inclusion
over-inclusion andand under
under inclusion
inclusion in
in the
the lists
lists of
of Other
Other
Backward Classes
Backward Classes (OBCs)
(OBCs) ofof citizens.
citizens. As
As per
per the
the provision
provision ofof the
the Act,
Act, the
the advice
advice tendered
tendered by by the
the Commission
Commission shallshall
ordinarily be
ordinarily be binding
binding upon
upon the
the Government.
Government.
•e Pre-matric Scholarships
Pre-matric Scholarships for
for OBCs
OBCs
•e Post-matric Scholarships
Post-matric Scholarships for
for OBCs
OBCs
•e Hostels for
Hostels for OBC
OBC Boys
Boys and
and Girls
Girls
•e Assistance to
Assistance to Voluntary
Voluntary Organisations
Organisations for
for Welfare
Welfare of
of OBCs
OBCs
Economic
Economic Development
Development
•e National Backward
National Backward Classes
Classes Finance
Finance and
and Development
Corporation
(Refer the
(Refer the chapter
chapter on
on Welfare
Welfare in
in India
India Year
Year Book
Book and
and Economic
Economic Survey
these schemes)
schemes)
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Reservation in
Reservation in Services
Services
Reservation is
Reservation is given
given to to Scheduled
Scheduled Castes Castes (SCs),
(SCs), Scheduled
Scheduled Tribes Tribes (STs)
(STs) and
and Other
Other Backward
Backward Classes
Classes (OBCs)
(OBCs) in in services
services
under the
under the control
control ofof Government.
Government. Reservation
Reservation is is also
also provided
provided to to persons
persons withwith disabilities
disabilities andand the
the ex-servicemen
ex-servicemen in in
certain categories
certain categories of of posts.
posts. The
The quantum
quantum of of reservation
reservation for for SCs,
SCs, STs,
STs, and
and OBCs
OBCs in in direct
direct recruitment
recruitment on on all-India
all-India basis
basis
by open
by open competition
competition is is 15
15 per
per cent,
cent, 7.5
7.5 per
per cent
cent andand 27 27 per
per cent
cent respectively.
respectively. In In direct
direct recruitment
recruitment on on all-India
all-India basis,
basis,
otherwise than
otherwise than by
by open
open competition,
competition, reservation
reservation is is 16.66
16.66 perper cent
cent forfor SCs,
SCs, 7.5
7.5 per
per cent
cent for
for STs
STs and
and 25.84
25.84 per
per cent
cent forfor
OBCs. In case of promotion SCs and STs get reservation at the rate of 15 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively. There
OBCs. In case of promotion SCs and STs get reservation at the rate of 15 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively. There
is no
is no reservation
reservation for for OBCs
OBCs is is case
case ofof promotion.
promotion. Three Three per per cent
cent of of vacancies
vacancies are are kept
kept reserved
reserved for for persons
persons withwith
disabilities. Ten
disabilities. Ten per
per cent
cent of of the
the vacancies
vacancies in in the
the posts
posts of of the
the level
level ofof Assistant
Assistant Commandant
Commandant in in all
all paramilitary
paramilitary forces,
forces,
10 per
10 per cent
cent of
of the
the vacancies
vacancies in in Group-C
Group-C posts
posts andand 20 20 per
per cent
cent of of the
the vacancies
vacancies in in Group-D
Group-D posts
posts areare reserved
reserved forfor the
the
ex-servicemen.
ex-servicemen.
Article 341
Article 341 andand 342
342 ofof the
the Constitution
Constitution define
define as as to
to who
who would
would bebe the
the SCsSCs and
and the
the STs
STs with
with respect
respect of of any
any State
State oror
Union Territory.
Union Territory. The The Government
Government has has prepared
prepared a a list
list of
of OBCs
OBCs has
has been
been prepared
prepared by by the
the Government.
Government. The The inter-state
inter-state
area restrictions
area restrictions havehave been
been imposed
imposed so so that
that the
the people
people belonging
belonging to to the
the specific
specific community
community residing
residing in in aa specific
specific area
area
which has
which has been
been assessed
assessed to to qualify
qualify forfor SC,
SC, ST
ST and
and OBCOBC status
status only
only benefit
benefit. from
from the
the facilities
facilities provided
provided for for them.
them.
Definition of
Definition of ‘ex-servicemen’
‘ex-servicemen’ for for the
the purpose
purpose of of getting
getting reservation
reservation in in services
services is is contained
contained in in Ex-servicemen
Ex-servicemen
(Reemployment in Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979 and conditions for reservation to persons with disabilities are
(Reemployment in Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979 and conditions for reservation to persons with disabilities are
given under
given under thethe Persons
Persons withwith Disabilities
Disabilities (Equal
(Equal Opportunities,
Opportunities, Protection
Protection of of Rights
Rights and
and FullFull.Participation)
Participation) Act, Act, 1995.
1995.
To ensure
To ensure thatthat reserved
reserved vacancies
vacancies are are filled
filled by
by candidates
candidates belonging
belonging to to appropriate
appropriate category,
category, certain
certain relaxations
relaxations and and
concessions like
concessions like relaxation
relaxation in in upper
upper age-limit,
age-limit, etc.,
etc., are
are provided.
provided. Liaison
Liaison officers
officers have
have been
been appointed
appointed for for SCs/STs
SCs/STs andand
OBCs in
OBCs in each
each Ministry/Department
Ministry/Department to to ensure
ensure proper
proper implementation
implementation of of reservation
reservation policy
policy forfor them.
them.
Q.
Q. 14
14 Let
Let us
us discuss
discuss the
the issues
issues related
related to
to minorities
minorities next.
next.
The notion
The notion of
of minority
minority groups
groups isis widely
widely discussed
discussed and
and is
is more
more than
thanaa merely
merely numerical
numerical distinction
distinction —– it
it usually
usually involves
involves
some sense
some sense of of relative
relative disadvantage.
disadvantage. Thus,
Thus, privileged
privileged minorities
minorities such
such asas extremely
extremely wealthy
wealthy people
people areare not
not usually
usually
referred to
referred to as
as minorities;
minorities; if
if they
they are,
are, the
the term
term isis qualified
qualified inin some
some way,
way, asas in
in the
the phrase
phrase ‘privileged
‘privileged minority’.
minority’. When
When
minority is used without qualification, it generally implies a relatively small but also disadvantaged group.
minority is used without qualification, it generally implies a relatively small but also disadvantaged group.
The sociological
The sociological sense
sense of
of minority
minority also
also implies
implies that
that the
the members
members of of the
the minority
minority form
form a a collectivity
collectivity —– that
that is,
is, they
they have
have
aa strong
strong sense
sense of of group
group solidarity,
solidarity, aa feeling
feeling ofof togetherness
togetherness and and belonging.
belonging. This
This is
is linked
linked toto disadvantage
disadvantage because
because the the
experience of
experience of being
being subjected
subjected to to prejudice
prejudice andand discrimination
discrimination usually
usually heightens
heightens feelings
feelings ofof intra-group
intra-group loyalty
loyalty and
and
interests. Thus,
interests. Thus, groups
groups that
that may
may bebe minorities
minorities in in aa statistical
statistical sense,
sense, such
such asas people
people who who are
are left-handed
left-handed or or people
people
th
th
born on
born on 29
29 February,
February, areare not
not minorities
minorities inin the
the sociological
sociological sense
sense because
because they
they dodo not
not form
form aa collectivity.
collectivity.
However, it
However, it is
is possible
possible to to have
have anomalous
anomalous instances
instances where
where a a minority
minority group
group is is disadvantaged
disadvantaged in in one
one sense
sense butbut not
not in
in
another. Thus,
another. Thus, for for example,
example, religious
religious minorities
minorities likelike the
the Parsis
Parsis oror Sikhs
Sikhs may
may be be relatively
relatively well-off
well-off economically.
economically. But But
they. may
they may still
still bebe disadvantaged
disadvantaged in in aa cultural
cultural sense
sense because
because of of their
their small
small numbers
numbers relative
relative to to the
the overwhelming
overwhelming
majority of
majority of Hindus.
Hindus. Religious
Religious oror cultural
cultural minorities
minorities needneed special
special protection
protection because
because of of the
the demographic
demographic dominance
dominance of of
the majority.
the majority. In In democratic
democratic politics,
politics, itit is
is always
always possible
possible to to convert
convert aa numerical
numerical majority
majority into
into political
political power
power through
through
elections. This
elections. This meansmeans thatthat religious
religious or or cultural
cultural minorities
minorities – — regardless
regardless of of their
their economic
economic or or social
social position
position – — are
are
politically vulnerable.
politically vulnerable. They They must
must face
face the
the risk
risk that
that the
the majority
majority community
community will will capture
capture political
political power
power and and use
use the
the
state machinery
state machinery to to suppress
suppress their
their religious
religious or or cultural
cultural institutions,
institutions, ultimately
ultimately forcing
forcing them
them toto abandon
abandon their their distinctive
distinctive
identity.
identity.
Q. 15
Q. 15 List
List the
the measures
measures taken
taken by
by the
the Government
Government to
to address
address the
the problems
problems of
of the
the minorities
minorities in
in India.
India.
Constitutional Measures
Constitutional Measures
for Minorities
Minorities
The Minorities
The Minorities Commission
Commission which
which was
was set
set up
up in
in January
January 1978
1978 by
by aa Resolution
Resolution issued
issued by
by Ministry
Ministry of
of
Home Affairs
Home Affairs became
became aa statutory
statutory body
body with
with the
the enactment
enactment ofof the
the National
National Commission
Commission for
for Minorities
Minorities Act,
Act, 1992
1992 and
and
renamed as
renamed as The
The National
National Commission
Commission for
for Minorities.
Minorities.
10
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for Religious
Religious and
and Linguistic
Linguistic Minorities
Minorities
The Government
The Government of of India
India has
has been
been seized
seized ofof the
the welfare
welfare needs
needs of of socially
socially and
and economically
backward
sections among
sections among religious
religious and
and linguistic
linguistic minorities.
minorities. For
For having
having aa detailed
detailed examination
examination to to determine
determine the the criteria
criteria for
for
identifications of
identifications of socially
socially and
and economically
backward sections
sections among
among religious
religious and
and linguistic
linguistic minorities
minorities and
and to to suggest
suggest
measures for
measures for their
their welfare,
welfare, thethe Government
Government has has constituted
constituted a a National
National Commission
Commission for for Religious
Religious and
and Linguistic
Linguistic
Minorities, with the following terms of reference: (a) to suggest criteria for identification of socially and economically
Minorities, with the following terms of reference: (a) to suggest criteria for identification of socially and economically
backward sections
backward sections among
among religious
religious andand linguistic
linguistic minorities;
minorities; (b)(b) to
to recommend
recommend measures
measures for for welfare
welfare ofof socially
socially andand
economically backward sections
sections among
among religious
religious and
and linguistic
linguistic minorities,
minorities, including
including reservation
reservation in in education
education and and
government employment;
government employment; (c) (c) to
to suggest
suggest the
the necessary
necessary constitutional,
constitutional, legal
legal and
and administrative
administrative modalities,
modalities, as as required
required
for the
for the implementation
implementation of of their
their recommendations;
recommendations; and and to to present
present aa Report
Report of of their
their deliberations
deliberations and and
recommendations.
recommendations.
•e Special Officer
Special Officer for
for Linguistic
Minorities
The Office
The Office of of the
the Special
Special Officer
Officer for
for Linguistic
Minorities (commonly
(commonly known
known as as the
the. Commissioner
Commissioner for for Linguistic
Linguistic
Minorities) was
Minorities) was created
created in in July
July 1957,
1957, in in pursuance
pursuance of of the
the provision
provision of of Article
Article 350-B
350-B of of the
the Constitution.
Constitution. The The
Commissioner for
Commissioner for Linguistic
Minorities of of India
India (CLM)
(CLM) hashas his
his Headquarters
Headquarters at at Allahabad
Allahabad withwith Regional
Regional Offices
Offices atat
Kolkata, Belguam
Kolkata, Belguam and and Chennai.
Chennai. The The CLM
CLM takes
takes up up all
all the
the matters
matters pertaining
pertaining totothe grievances arising
the grievances arising out
out ofof the
the non-
non-
implementation of
implementation of the
the Constitutional
Constitutional and and Nationally
Nationally Agreed
Agreed Scheme
Scheme of of Safeguards
Safeguards provided
provided to to linguistic
linguistic minorities
minorities
that come
that come to
to its
its notice
notice or or are
are brought
brought to to its
its knowledge
knowledge by by the
the linguistic
linguistic minority
minority individuals,
individuals, groups,
groups, associations
associations or or
organisations at
organisations at the
the highest
highest political
political and
and administrative
administrative levels
levels of
of the
the State
State Governments
Governments and and UTUT Administrations
Administrations and and
recommends remedial
recommends remedial actions
actions to to be
be taken.
taken.
•e The Central
The Central Wakf
Wakf Council
Council
A Wakf
A Wakf is is aa permanent
permanent dedication
dedication of
of movable
movable or
or immovable
immovable properties
properties for
for purposes
purposes recognised
recognised by
by the
the Muslim
Muslim Law
Law as
as
religious, pious
religious, pious or
or charitable.
charitable. Apart
Apart from
from these
these religious
religious aspects,
aspects, the
the Wakfs
Wakfs are
are also
also instruments
instruments of
of social
social and
and
economic upliftment.
economic upliftment.
Administration of
Administration of Central
Central Legislation
Legislation for
for Wakfs
Wakfs isis the
the responsibility
responsibility of of the
the Ministry
Ministry ofof Social
Social Justice and
Justice and
Empowerment. For
Empowerment. For the
the purpose
purpose of of advising
advising itit on
on matters
matters relating
relating toto working
working ofof the
the Wakf
Wakf Boards
Boards andand thethe proper
proper
administration of
administration of Wakfs
Wakfs in in the
the country,
country, the
the Central
Central Wakf
Wakf Council
Council was
was established
established asas aa statutory
statutory body
body by by the
the Central
Central
Government in
Government in December,
December, 19641964 under
under Section
Section 8A8A of
of the
the Wakf
Wakf Act,
Act, 1954
1954 (now
(now read
read asas Sub-Sec(1)
Sub-Sec(1) ofof the
the Section
Section 9 9 of
of
Wakf Act,
Wakf Act, 1995).
1995). The
The Council
Council implements
implements schemes
schemes for for development
development of of urban
urban Wakf
Wakf properties
properties andand educational
educational
programmes schemes.
programmes schemes.
•e The Durgah
The Durgah Khwaja
Khwaja Saheb
Saheb Act,
Act, 1955
1955
ItIt is
is an
an Act
Act to
to make
make provision
provision for
for the
the proper
proper administration
administration ofof Durgah
Durgah and
and Endowment
Endowment of
of the
the Durgah
Durgah Khwaja
Khwaja
Moinuddin Chisty
Moinuddin Chisty (R.A.).
(R.A.). Under
Under this
this Central
Central Act
Act the
the administration,
administration, control
control and
and management
management ofof the
the Durgah
Durgah
Endowment has been vested. in a representative Committee known as the Durgah Committee appointed by
Endowment has been vested in a representative Committee known as the Durgah Committee appointed by the
the
Central Government.
Central Government.
•e Prime Minister’s
Prime Minister’s 15
15 Point
Point Programme
Programme for
for the
the Welfare
Welfare of
of Minorities
Minorities
•e Exclusive scholarship schemes for students belonging to the minority
Exclusive scholarship schemes for students belonging to the minority communities
communities
o
o Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
oO
o Post-Matric Scholarships
Post-Matric Scholarships
oO.
o Pre-Matric Scholarships
Pre-Matric Scholarships
•e Identification of
Identification of Minority
Minority Concentration
Concentration Districts
Districts
•e Free Coaching
Free Coaching and
and Allied
Allied Scheme
Scheme
•e National Minorities
National Minorities Development
Development andand Finance
Finance Corporation
Corporation
•e Initiatives taken in Pursuance of the Sachar Committee Recommendations
Initiatives taken in Pursuance of the Sachar Committee Recommendations
(Refer the
(Refer the chapter
chapter on
on Welfare
Welfare in
in India
India Year
Year Book
Book and
and Economic
Economic Survey
these schemes)
schemes)
11
11 www.visionias.in
©Vision
Q. 16
Q. 16 Explain
Explain the
the term
term -- Persons
Persons with
with Disabilities.
Disabilities. What
What are
are the
the kind
kind of
of problems
problems that
that this
this section
section of
of the
the population
population
faces.
faces.
The differently
The differently abled
abled are
are not
not ‘disabled’
‘disabled’ only
only because
because they
they are
are physically
physically oror mentally
mentally impaired’
impaired’ butbut also
also because
because society
society
is built
is built in
in aa manner
manner thatthat does
does not
not cater
cater to
to their
their needs.
needs. InIn contrast
contrast toto the
the struggles
struggles over
over Dalit,
Dalit, adivasi
adivasi or
or women’s
women’s
rights, the
rights, the rights
rights of
of the
the differently abled
differently abled have
have been
been recognized
recognized only
only very
very recently.
recently. Yet
Yet in
in all
all historical
historical periods,
periods, in
in all
all
societies there
societies there have
have been
been people
people who
who are
are differently
differently abled.
abled.
The social
The social construction
construction of of disability
disability has
has another
another dimension.
dimension. There
There is is a
a close
close relationship
between disability
disability and
and
poverty. Malnutrition,
poverty. Malnutrition, mothers
mothers weakened
weakened by by frequent
frequent childbirth,
childbirth, inadequate
inadequate immunization
immunization programmes,
programmes, accidents
accidents inin
overcrowded homes,
overcrowded homes, all
all contribute
contribute to to an
an incidence
incidence of of disability
disability among
among poorpoor people
people that
that is
is higher
higher than
than among
among people
people
living in
living in easier
easier circumstances.
circumstances. Furthermore,
Furthermore, disability
disability creates
creates andand exacerbates
exacerbates poverty
poverty by by increasing
increasing isolation
isolation and
and
economic strain,
economic strain, not
not just for the
just for the individual
individual but
but for
for the
the family;
family; there
there is
is little
little doubt
doubt that
that disabled
disabled people
people are
are among
among thethe
poorest in poor countries.
poorest in poor countries.
Q. 17
Q. 17 List
List the
the measures
measures taken
taken by
by the
the government
government to
to address
address the
the concerns
concerns of
of the
the Persons
Persons with
with Disabilities.
Disabilities.
•e Persons with
Persons with Disabilities
Disabilities Act,
Act, 1995
1995
A comprehensive
A comprehensive law, law, namely,
namely, the
the Persons
Persons with
with Disabilities
Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of
Protection of Rights
Rights and
and
Full Participation)
Full Participation) Act,
Act, 1995
1995 has
has been
been enacted
enacted and
and enforced
enforced in in February
February 1996.
1996. The
The law
law deals
deals with
with both
both
prevention and
prevention and promotion
promotion aspects
aspects of the rehabilitation
of the rehabilitation such
such as as education,
education, employment
employment and and vocational
vocational training,
training,
creation of
creation of barrier-free
barrier-free environment,
environment, provision
provision of
of rehabilitation
rehabilitation services
services for
for persons
persons with
with disabilities,
disabilities, institutional
institutional
services and
services and supportive
supportive social
social security
security measures
measures like
like unemployment
unemployment allowance
allowance and
and grievance
grievance redressal
redressal machinery
machinery
both at the Central and State-Level.
both at the Central and State-Level.
•e National Trust
National for the
Trust for the Welfare
Welfare of
of Persons
Persons with
with Autism,
Autism, Cerebral
Cerebral palsy,
palsy, Mental
Mental Retardation
Retardation and
and Multiple
Multiple
Disabilities
Disabilities
The National
The National Trust
Trust is
is aa statutory
statutory body
body under
under “The
“The National
National Trust
Trust for
for the
the Welfare
Welfare of of Persons
Persons with
with Autism,
Autism,
Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999”. The main objectives of the Trust are to enable
Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999”. The main objectives of the Trust are to enable
and empower
and empower persons
persons with
with these
these disabilities to
disabilities to live
live independently
independently as as fully
fully as
as possible,
possible, toto extend
extend support
support to
to
registered organisations
registered organisations providing
providing need-based
need-based. services
services and
and toto evolve
evolve procedure
procedure for for appointment
appointment of of legal
legal guardians
guardians
for persons
for persons with
with disabilities
disabilities requiring
requiring such
such protection.
protection.
•e Office of
Office of the
the Chief
Chief Commissioner
Commissioner for
for Persons
Persons with
with Disabilities
Disabilities
The Chief
The Chief Commissioner
Commissioner is is an
an important
important statutory
statutory functionary,
functionary, appointed
appointed under
under Section
Section 57
57 of
of the
the Persons
Persons
with Disabilities
with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection
Protection of
of Rights
Rights and
and Full
Full Participation)
Participation) Act,
Act, 1995.
1995. The
The functions
functions andand duties
duties
of the
of the Chief
Chief Commissioner
Commissioner include
include.coordinating the work
coordinating the work ofof State
State Commissioners
Commissioners for for persons
persons with
with disabilities,
disabilities,
monitoring of
monitoring of utilisation
utilisation ofof funds
funds disbursed
disbursed byby the
the Central
Central Government,
Government, takingtaking steps
steps to
to safeguard
safeguard rights
rights and
and facilities
facilities
made available to persons with disabilities and also to look into complaints with respect to deprivation of rights of
made available to persons with disabilities and also to look into complaints with respect to deprivation of rights of
persons with
persons with disabilities.
disabilities.
The Chief
The Chief Commissioner
Commissioner can can also
also take
take suo
suo motu
motu notice
notice of of non-implementation
non-implementation of of any
any Rule,
Rule, Law,
Law, etc.
etc. meant
meant
for persons
for persons with
with disabilities
disabilities and
and isis vested
vested with
with the
the powers
powers of
of aa civil
civil court
court relating
relating to
to summoning
summoning ofof witness,
witness, discovery,
discovery,
requisitioning and
requisitioning and production
production of of any
any document,
document, etc.
etc.
•e Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Council
Council of
of India
India
The Rehabilitation
The Rehabilitation Council
Council of of India
India isis aa statutory
statutory bodybody set
set up
up under
under the
the Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Council
Council of of India
India Act,
Act,
1992. The
1992. The Council
Council is is responsible
responsible for for regulating
regulating the the training
training policies
policies andand programmes
programmes for various
for various categories
categories of of
professionals in
professionals in the
the area
area ofof rehabilitation
rehabilitation and and special
special education.
education. Its Its functions
functions include:
include: (i)(i) standardization
standardization and and
regulation of
regulation of training
training courses
courses atat different
different levels
levels in in all
all the
the training
training institutions
institutions throughout
throughout the the country,
country, (ii)(ii) recognition
recognition
of institutions/universities
of institutions/universities running
running training
training courses
courses in in the
the area
area of
of rehabilitation
rehabilitation of of the
the disabled
disabled within
within and
and outside
outside the
the
country on
country on a a reciprocal
reciprocal basis,
basis, (iii)
(iii) promotion
promotion of of research
research in in rehabilitation
rehabilitation andand special
special education,
education, (iv) (iv) maintenance
maintenance of of aa
Central Rehabilitation
Central Rehabilitation Register
Register forfor professionals
professionals possessing
possessing the the recognized
recognized qualifications
qualifications inin the
the area
area of
of rehabilitation
rehabilitation
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and (v)
and (v) encouragement
encouragement of of Continuing
Continuing Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Education
Education programmes
programmes in
in collaboration
collaboration with
with organisations
organisations
working in the area of disability.
working in the area of disability.
•e India is
India is a
a signatory
signatory to to the
the Declaration
Declaration on on the
the Full
Full Participation
Participation and
and Equality
Equality of
of People
People with
with Disabilities
Disabilities inin the
the
Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific Region.
Region. India
India is
is also
also a
a signatory
signatory to to the
the Biwako
Biwako Millennium
Millennium Framework
Framework for for action
action towards
towards an an
inclusive, barrier
inclusive, barrier free
free and
and rights
rights based
based society.
society. India
India signed
signed the
the UN
UN Convention
Convention on on Protection
Protection andand Promotion
Promotion
of the
of the Rights
Rights and
and Dignity
Dignity ofof Persons
Persons with
with Disabilities
Disabilities on on 30th
30th March,
March, 2007,
2007, the
the day
day it
it opened
opened forfor signature.
signature.
st
India ratified
India ratified the
the UN
UN Convention
Convention on on 11* October,
October, 2008.
2008.
•e National Handicapped
National Handicapped Finance
Finance and
and Development
Corporation
•e Scheme for
Scheme for Assistance
Assistance to
to disabled
disabled Persons
Persons for
for Purchase/Fitting
Purchase/Fitting of
of aids
aids and
and appliances
appliances
•e = Artificial Limbs
Artificial Limbs Manufacturing
Manufacturing Corporation
Corporation ofof India
India
•e Composite Regional
Composite Regional Centers
Centers and
and Regional
Regional Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Centers
Centers
Q. 18
Q. 18 Explain
Explain the
the issues
issues related
related to
to an
an ageing
ageing population.
population. How
How does
does the
the Government
Government plan
plan to
to. address
address them?
them?
Demographic ageing
Demographic ageing is
is a
a global
global phenomenon.
phenomenon. It It has
has implications
implications atat both
both the
the macro
macro.and household level.
and household level. It
It is
is true
true that
that
due to
due to strong
strong family
family ties
ties in
in India,
India, majority
majority of
of elderly
elderly people
people live
live with
with their
their sons
sons or
or are
are supported
supported by by them
them inin one
one way
way
or the
or the other.
other. However,
However, there
there have
have been
been changes
changes in in recent
recent times,
times, which
which have
have made
made the
the position
position of of many
many elderly
elderly
people vulnerable.
people vulnerable. These
These have
have mainly
mainly to
to do
do with
with changing
changing nature
nature ofof occupations
occupations of of the
the children,
children, changing
changing lifelife styles,
styles,
extended periods of dependency and higher health and other costs.
extended periods of dependency and higher health and other costs.
Constitutional
Constitutional and
and Other
Other Provisions
Provisions
•e =Article 41
Article 41 of
of the
the DPSP
DPSP directs
directs that
that the
the State
State shall,
shall, within
within the
the limits
limits of
of its
its economic
economic capacity
capacity and
and development,
development,
make effective
make effective provision
provision for
for securing
securing the
the right
right of
of public
public assistance
assistance inin cases
cases of
of old
old age.
age.
•e National Social
National Social Assistance
Assistance Programme
Programme (NSAP)
(NSAP)
The National
The National Social
Social Assistance
Assistance Programme
Programme (NSAP)
(NSAP) which
which came
came into
into effect
effect from
from 15th
15th August,
August, 1995
1995
represents aa significant
represents significant step
step towards
towards the
the fulfillment
fulfillment of
of the
the Directive
Directive Principles
Principles in
in Article
Article 41
41 of
of the
the
Constitution. It
Constitution. It introduces
introduces aa National
National Policy
Policy for
for Social
Social Assistance
Assistance for
for the
the poor and aims
poor and aims at
at ensuring
ensuring minimum
minimum
national standard
national standard for
for social
social assistance
assistance in
in addition
addition to
to the
the benefits
benefits that
that the
the states
states are
are currently
currently providing and might
providing and might
rovide in
rovide in future.
future. NSAP at present
NSAP at present comprises
comprises of
of the
the following:
following:
•e Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi National Old Age
National Old Age Pension
Pension Scheme
Scheme (IGNOAPS)
(IGNOAPS)
•e = Indira
Indira Gandhi
Gandhi National Widow Pension
National Widow Pension Scheme
Scheme (IGNWPS)
(IGNWPS)
•e Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension
National Disability Pension Scheme
Scheme (IGNDPS)
(IGNDPS)
•e National Family
National Family Benefit
Benefit Scheme
Scheme (NFBS)
(NFBS)
•e — Annapurna
Annapurna Scheme
Scheme
•e Integrated Programme
Integrated Programme for
for Older
Older Person
Person
Objectives:
Objectives:
o
o Providing support
Providing support forfor the
the capacity
capacity building
building of
of senior
senior citizens
citizens by
by establishing
establishing and
and maintaining
maintaining Old
Old Age
Age
Homes; Day
Homes; Day Care
Care Centers;
Centers; Mobile
Mobile Medicare
Medicare Units
Units and
and Non-Institutional
Non-Institutional services.
services.
o
o Popularize the
Popularize the concept
concept of of life
life through
through re-enforcement
re-enforcement & & strengthening
strengthening ofof the
the ability
ability &
& commitment
commitment
of the
of the family
family toto provide
provide care
care toto older
older persons.
persons.
o
o Productive ageing.
Productive ageing.
o
o Preparation of
Preparation of old
old age.
age.
o
o Generating greater
Generating greater awareness
awareness on on issues
issues concerning
concerning older
older persons
persons
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Q. 19
Q. 19 Who
Who are
are Sexual
Sexual Minorities?
Minorities? Why
Why are
are they
they considered
considered a a vulnerable
vulnerable section
section of
of the
the population?
population? Does
Does the
the
Constitution provide for any provisions to safeguard their interests?
Constitution provide for any provisions to safeguard their interests?
Another group
Another group thatthat faces
faces stigma
stigma andand discrimination
discrimination areare the
the sexual
sexual minorities.
minorities. Those
Those identified
identified asas gay,
gay, lesbian,
lesbian,
transgender, bisexual,
transgender, bisexual, kothi
kothi and
and hijra,
hijra, experience
experience various
various forms
forms of of discrimination
discrimination within
within the
the society
society and
and the
the health
health
system. Due
system. Due toto the
the dominance
dominance of of hetero-sexual
hetero-sexual relations
relations asas the
the only
only form
form of of normal
normal acceptable
acceptable relations
relations within
within the
the
society, individuals
society, individuals whowho are
are identified
identified asas having
having same-sex
same-sex sexual
sexual preferences
preferences are are ridiculed
ridiculed and
and ostracized
ostracized by by their
their own
own
family and
family and are
are left
left with
with very
very limited
limited support
support structures
structures and
and networks
networks of of community
community that that provide
provide themthem conditions
conditions of of
care and
care and support.
support. Their
Their needs
needs and
and concerns
concerns areare excluded
excluded from
from the
the various
various health
health policies
policies and
and programmes.\
programmes.\
Constitutional
Constitutional Provisions
Provisions for
for sexual
sexual minorities
minorities
•e =6Art. 15(1):
Art. 15(1): The
The State
State shall
shall not
not discriminate
discriminate against
against any
any citizen
citizen on
on grounds
grounds only
only. of
of religion,
religion, race,
race, caste,
caste, sex,
sex,
place of birth or any of them.
place of birth or any of them.
Others:
Others:
•e National
National AIDS
AIDS Prevention
Prevention and
and Control
Control Policy.
Policy.
Q. 20
Q. 20 Orphans
Orphans and
and street
street children
children are
are also
also considered
considered as
as vulnerable
vulnerable sections.
sections. Explain
Explain how.
how:
A Street
A Street child
child is is aa term
term used
used toto refer
refer toto aa child
child who
who lives
lives on
on the
the streets
streets of
of.aa city.
city. Such
Such children
children are
are deprived
deprived of of family
family
care and
care and protection.
protection. Most Most children
children on on the
the streets
streets are
are between
between the the ages
ages ofof about
about 5 5 and
and 1717 years
years old,
old, and
and their
their
population between
population between different
different cities
cities isis varied.
varied. Street
Street children
children live
live in
in abandoned
abandoned buildings,
buildings, cardboard
cardboard boxes,
boxes, parks
parks oror on
on
the street
the street itself.
itself. A A great
great deal
deal has
has been
been written
written defining
defining street
street children,
children, but
but the
the primary
primary difficulty
difficulty isis that
that there
there are
are nono
precise categories, but rather a continuum, ranging from children who spend some time in the streets and sleep in a
precise categories, but rather a continuum, ranging from children who spend some time in the streets and sleep in a
house with
house with ill-prepared
ill-prepared adults,
adults, toto those
those whowho livelive entirely
entirely inin the
the streets
streets. and
and have
have no no adult
adult supervision
supervision or or care.
care. A A widely
widely
accepted set
accepted set ofof definitions,
definitions, commonly
commonly attributed
attributed to to UNICEF,
UNICEF, divides
divides street
street children
children into
into two
two main
main categories:
categories:
Children on
Children on the
the street
street areare those
those engaged
engaged inin some
some kind
kind of
of economic
economic activity
activity ranging
ranging from
from begging
begging to
to vending.
vending. Most
Most gogo
home at
home at the
the end
end of
of the
the day
day and
and contribute
contribute their
their earnings
earnings toto their
their family.
family. They
They may
may be
be attending
attending school
school and
and retain
retain aa
sense of
sense of belonging
belonging to to aa family.
family. Because
Because of
of the
the economic
economic fragility
fragility of
of the
the family,
family, these
these children
children may
may eventually
eventually opt
opt for
for aa
permanent life
permanent life on
on the
the streets.
streets.
Children of
Children of the
the street
street actually
actually live
live on
on the
the street
street (or
(or outside
outside of
of aa normal
normal family
family environment).
environment). Family
Family ties
ties may
may exist
exist but
but
are tenuous
are tenuous and
and are
are maintained
maintained only
only casually
casually or
or occasionally.
occasionally.
Q. 21
Q. 21 List
List the
the Constitutional
provisions that
that safeguard
safeguard the
the interests
interests of
of children.
children.
Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Provisions for
for children
children
•e = Article
Article 15(3)
15(3) empowers
empowers the the state
state to to make
make special
special provisions
provisions for for welfare
welfare of of children
children and and women.
women.
•e Article
=6Article 19
19.A: Education up
A: Education up toto 1414 yrs
yrs has
has been
been mademade a a fundamental
fundamental right. right. Thus,
Thus, the the state
state isis required
required to to provide
provide
school education to children.
school education to children.
•e InInthe case of
the case of Unni
Unni Krishnan
Krishnan vs vs State
State of of AP,
AP, SCSC held
held that
that right
right toto education
education for for children
children between
between 6 6 to
to 1414 yrs
yrs ofof
age is
age is a
a fundamental
fundamental right right asas itit flows
flows fromfrom Right
Right toto Life
Life U/A
U/A 21.21. After
After this
this decision,
decision, education
education was was mademade a a
fundamental right
fundamental right explicitly
explicitly through
through 86th 86th amendment
amendment in in 2002.
2002.
•e Article
Article 24: 24: Children
Children have have a a fundamental
fundamental right right against
against exploitation
exploitation and and it it is
is prohibited
prohibited to to employ
employ children
children
below 14
below 14 yrs
yrs ofof age
age inin factories
factories and and anyany hazardous
hazardous processes.
processes. Recently
Recently the the list
list of
of hazardous
hazardous processes
processes has has
been update
been update to to include
include domestic,
domestic, hotel, hotel, andand restaurant
restaurant work.work.
•e Article
=Article 39(e)
39(e) of of DPSP
DPSP puts
puts responsibility
responsibility of of State
State toto ensure
ensure that that children
children of of tender
tender age age should
should not not bebe misused.
misused.
•e Several
Several PILs PILs have
have beenbeen filed
filed inin the
the benefit
benefit of of children.
children. For For example,
example, MC MC Mehta
Mehta vs vs State
State ofof TN,
TN, SCSC hashas held
held that
that
children cannot
children cannot be be employed
employed in in match
match factories
factories or or which
which are are directly
directly connected
connected with with thethe process
process as as itit is
is
hazardous for
hazardous for the
the children.
children.
•e InInthe case of
the case of Lakshmi
Lakshmi Kant Kant Pandey
Pandey vs. vs. Union
Union of of India,
India, JJ Bhagvati
Bhagvati has has laid
laid down
down guidelines
guidelines for for adoption
adoption of of
Indian children
Indian children by by foreigners.
foreigners.
•e Article
Article 45:45: Urges
Urges the the state
state to to provide
provide early
early childhood
childhood care care and
and education
education for for children
children up up to
to 6 6 years
years of of age.
age.
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Q. 22
Q. 22 Apart
Apart from
from the
the Constitutional
provisions which
which other
other policies
policies and
and schemes
schemes have
have been
been enacted
enacted to
to protect
protect the
the
rights of children? Specify.
rights of children? Specify.
Statutory Bodies
Statutory Bodies
for protection
protection of
of Child
Child Rights
Rights
The Commissions
The Commissions for for Protection
Protection ofof Child
Child Rights
Rights Act,
Act, 2005
2005 waswas notified
notified inin 2006.
2006. It It has
has started
started functioning
functioning from
from
March 2007. The National Commission for Protection of Child rights is a statutory body. Its mission is to protect,
March 2007. The National Commission for Protection of Child rights is a statutory body. Its mission is to protect,
promote and
promote and defend
defend child
child rights
rights in
in India.
India. Its
Its mandate
mandate is is to
to ensure
ensure that
that all
all laws,
laws, policies,
policies, programmes,
programmes, practices
practices and
and
administration structure
administration structure inin the
the country
country areare in in consonance
consonance with with thethe child
child rights
rights perspective
perspective as as enshrined
enshrined inin the
the
constitution of
constitution of India
India and
and also
also the
the UN
UN Convention
Convention on on the
the Rights
Rights of
of Children.
Children.
Policies
Policies
•e National Policy
National Policy for
for Children
Children
The National
The National Policy
Policy for
for Children
Children was
was adopted
adopted in in 1974.
1974. This
This policy
policy lays
lays.down that the
down that the State
State shall
shall provide
provide
adequate service
adequate service for
for children,
children, both
both before
before and
and after
after birth
birth and
and during
during the growing
the growing stages
stages forfor their
their full
full physical,
physical,
mental and
mental and social
social development.
development. The The measures
measures suggested
suggested in in the
the policy
policy include,
include, amongst
amongst. others,
others, a a comprehensive
comprehensive
health programme,
health programme, supplementary
supplementary nutrition
nutrition for
for mothers
mothers and and children,
children, free
free and
and compulsory
compulsory education
education forfor all
all
children up
children up to
to the
the age
age ofof 44 years,
years, promotion
promotion of of physical
physical education
education and and recreational
recreational activities,
activities, special
special consideration
consideration
for children
for children etc.
etc. The
The Policy
Policy isis being
being reviewed
reviewed byby the
the Ministry
Ministry asas per
per present
present needs
needs and
and priorities.
priorities.
•e National
National Charter
Charter for
for Children
Children
The Government
The Government of of India
India adopted
adopted the the National
National Charter
Charter forfor Children
Children in in 2004.
2004. The National Charter
The National Charter is is aa
statement of intent embodying the Government’s agenda for children. The document emphasizes GOl’s
statement of intent embodying the Government’s agenda for children. The document emphasizes GOI’s
commitment to
commitment to children’s
children’s rights
rights to
to survival,
survival; health
health and
and nutrition,
nutrition, standard
standard of of living,
living, play
play and
and leisure,
leisure, early
early
childhood care,
childhood care, education,
education, protection
protection of of girl
girl child,
child, empowering
empowering adolescents,
adolescents, equality
equality ofof life
life and
and liberty,
liberty, name
name and and
nationality, freedom
nationality, freedom of of expression,
expression, freedom
freedom of of association
association andand. peaceful
peaceful assembly,
assembly, thethe right
right toto a
a family
family and
and right
right to
to
be protected
be protected from
from economic
economic exploitation
exploitation and and all
all forms
forms ofof abuse.
abuse. It It also
also provides
provides forfor protection
protection of of children
children in in
difficult circumstances, children with disabilities, children from marginalized and disadvantaged communities and
difficult circumstances, children with disabilities, children from marginalized and disadvantaged communities and
child victims,
child victims, The
The document,
document, whilewhile stipulating
stipulating thethe duties
duties of
of the
the State
State and
and the
the Community
Community towards towards children,
children, also
also
emphasizes the
emphasizes the duties
duties of
of children
children towards
towards family,
family, society
society and
and the
the Nation.
Nation.
Schemes
Schemes
•e Integrated Child
Integrated Child Development
Development Services
Services (ICDS)
(ICDS) Scheme
Scheme
The Integrated
The Integrated ChildChild Development
Development ServicesServices (ICDS)
(ICDS) Scheme
Scheme was was launched
launched in in 1975
1975 asas a
a Centrally
Centrally
Sponsored Scheme
Sponsored Scheme with with the
the following
following objectives:
objectives: (a) (a) to
to improve
improve thethe nutritional
nutritional and health
and health status
status of of children
children
below the
below the age
age ofof six
six years
years and
and pregnant
pregnant and and lactating
lactating mothers; (b)
mothers; (b) toto lay
lay thethe foundation
foundation for for thethe proper
proper
psychological, physical
psychological, physical and and social
social development
development of of the
the child,
child, (c)
(c) toto reduce
reduce thethe incidents
incidents of of mortality,
mortality, morbidity,
morbidity,
malnutrition
malnutrition and school
and school dropouts,
dropouts, (d) (d) to
to achieve
achieve effective
effective coordination
coordination of of policy
policy andand implementation
implementation among
among
various departments
various departments to to promote
promote childchild development,
development, (e) (e) to
to enhance
enhance the the capability
capability of the
of the mother
mother to to look
look after
after the
the
health and
health and nutritional
nutritional needs
needs of of the
the child
child through
through properproper health
health and
and nutrition
nutrition education.
education. The The Scheme
Scheme provides
provides forfor aa
package of
package of services
servicesto children below
to children below 6 6 years
years andand pregnant
pregnant womenwomen and and lactating
lactating mothers,
mothers, comprising
comprising (i) (i)
Supplementary nutrition
Supplementary nutrition (ii)
(ii) Immunization,
Immunization, (iii) (iii) Health
Health check-ups,
check-ups, (iv)(iv) Nutrition
Nutrition andand Health
Health education,
education, (v) (v) Referrals,
Referrals, (vi)
(vi)
Pre-school, non
Pre-school, non formal
formal education.
education.
•e ~=Rajiv Gandhi
National Creche
Creche Scheme
Scheme for
for the
the Children
Children ofof Working
Working Mothers
Mothers
•e Integrated Child
Integrated Child protection
protection Scheme
Scheme (ICPS)
(ICPS)
•e Scheme for
Scheme for Welfare
Welfare ofof Working
Working Children
Children in in Need
Need of of Care
Care and
and Protection
Protection
• Dhanlakshmi-Conditional Cash
Dhanlakshmi-Conditional Cash Transfer
Transfer for
for Girl
Girl Child
Child with
with insurance
insurance Cover
Cover
• Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi Manav
Manav Seva
Seva Award
Award For
For Service
Service To To Children
Children
• Balika Samriddhi
Balika Samriddhi Yojana
Yojana (BSY)
(BSY)
• Kishori Shakti
Kishori Shakti Yojana
Yojana (KSY)
(KSY)
15
15 www.visionias.in
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