Sanjeev Kumar Sundriyal
The UPA Government’s third year in office was a landmark year in the field of social justice. Not only were there new legislative initiatives to help the disadvantaged groups integrate with society, but there were also administrative measures to attend to their problems more effectively. The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Mukul Wasnik, led the Ministry and its departments in devising programmes that have translated the UPA’s philosophy and commitment to social justice into a reality.

The Ministry’s objective was to empower the disadvantaged sections of the society and give them their due so that they lead a life of respect and contribute to their maximum capacity in the nation’s march towards prosperity.

A Central assistance of over Rs 2,700 crore was released under the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste students,covering nearly 48 lakh students. The scheme of post-matric scholarship for students belonging to Scheduled Tribes was revised to raise the eligible income ceiling from Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, rationalize the grouping to courses and enhance allowances by about 60%.

The scheme of post-matric scholarship for Other Backward Classes has also been revised to raise the eligible income ceiling from Rs 44,500 to Rs 1 lakh per annum, rationalize the grouping of courses and increase maintenance and other allowances by three fourths. During the year, central assistance of Rs 528 crore was released to states under the post-matric scholarship scheme to benefit approximately 17 lakh students belonging to the Other Backward Classes.

The Top Class Education scheme for Scheduled Caste students has been revised to raise the annual family income ceiling from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh with effect from the academic year 2012-13. 24 new institutions have been added to the list of notified premier institutions under the scheme thus increasing the number of institutions covered under the scheme to 205. During the year, scholarships of more than Rs 21 crore were given to 1,674 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students.

An amount of over Rs 100 crore was released to the University Grants Commission for new fellowships and renewal of ongoing fellowships for 2000 Scheduled Caste students to pursue courses leading to M.Phil, Ph.D and equivalent degrees under the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme. Likewise, fellowships amounting to Rs 84.93 crore were given to 3,335 Scheduled Tribe students under the scheme.

Concessional loans, amounting to over Rs 490 crore, were disbursed through the National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation and the National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation to 2.05 lakh beneficiaries for self-employment. The authorized share capital of the National Safai Karmcharis Finance and Development Corporation was also doubled to Rs 600 crore.

The Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana for integrated development of 1,000 Scheduled Caste majority villages has been revised to enhance central assistance under the gap filling component from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh per village. Consequently, an additional amount of Rs 100 crore was released to the five states taken up under the scheme viz. Himachal Pradesh, Bihar,Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu andAssam.

For greater focus on addressing issues confronting persons with disabilities,the Government has set up a separate Department for Disability Affairs. As per Census 2001, India has 2.2 crore persons with various types of disabilities. They are seen in all walks of life, discharging not only their normal responsibilities, but trying to do better than others. Aware of their difficulties in getting their due, the Government  is constantly undertaking initiatives to correct the situation. These initiatives include the comprehensive Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, a draft of which is under consideration for introduction in Parliament.

The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre has been sanctioned as an autonomous centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University at an estimated cost of Rs 45 crore. The National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation disbursed concessional loans of more than Rs 50 crore to 10,625 beneficiaries for self-employment.

On 2nd April 2012, World Autism Day, the Government reiterated its commitment to help development of people with autism in the country. India has about 10 million people with autism in the country. The Government has stressed the need to remove the myths associated with it, like autism is the result of bad parenting or “emotionally dysfunctional mothers.” The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the vehicle for the Right To Education, ensures support to children with autism, through resource teachers and teacher-aides. In many States, students with autism get a one on one support with care-giver or aide in the classroom. The Rajya Sabha passed in the last Budget Session a Bill to amend the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 to extend its benefits to children with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities. The children having these severe disabilities will have the option to receive education at home

The Ministry is implementing a “Self employment scheme for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers (SRMS). The Government drafted a new Bill “The Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2011.” The Government is committed to eliminate the demeaning practice as per the spirit of the resolution adopted by the National Advisory Council (NAC).