Lok Sabha Question No. 1940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Foundation
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +1940 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2017

## DR: BR AMBEDKAR FOUNDATION

## +1940. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of various activities organised by the autonomous organisation, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation under the Ministry;
- (b) the date on which and by whom the Foundation has been set up;
- (c) whether the Foundation also seeks to inspire the principles of Baba Saheb Ambedkar; and
- (d) if the details thereof? SO,

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

- (a) to (d): A statement is annexed,

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO REPLY TO LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 1940 TO BE REPLIED ON 14.03.2017

Dr. Ambedkar Foundation was  established by the Government of India on March 24, 1992 as & registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The main objective of the Foundation is to carry out the programmes and activities for furthering of Dr: Ambedkar'$ ideology and spread his message of social justice to the masses; not oly in the country but also abroad. Details of these activities are given below.

- I year; the Foundation celebrates the Birth Anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14th Aprii, and observes Mahaparinirvan on 6th December in a befitting manner in the Parliament House lawns Every Day
- II. With an intention to provide well-equipped centres of   learning to intellectuals,  academicians and students to undertake studies and research with an intention to understand, assess and   disseminate ideas and  thoughts of Dr, BR Ambedkar and also to undertake research and higher studies concerning the socioeconomic and cultural life of the marginalized groups and other weaker sections of the society; ten Dr: Ambedkar Chairs were initially instituted on subject like Economics, Political   Science,  Religion,   Philosophy, Constitutional   Studies, Education, Social Work; Human Rights as well as other disciplines considered relevant for attainment of our National Goal of Social Justice in various Universities Institutions. As a part of the year celebrations and the identified activities of the 125th Birth Anniversary year of Dr, BR Ambedkar eleven new Dr, Ambedkar Chairs in the various Universities/Institutions in India have been approved on 17.03.2016. long
- III. As a part of celebrations of 12Sth Birth Anniversary year of BabaSaheb Dr: BR Ambedkar; commemorative coins on Dr Ambedkar of Rs. 125 and Rs, 10 denomination were released on 6th December; 2015 by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. A Commemorative Postal of Dr. BR Ambedkar was also released on 30.9.2015 Stamp
- IV Under the Dr: Ambedkar Medical Aid Scheme financial aid is provided to poor  SC and ST patients with annual   family income of less   than Rs. 2.5 lakh; Brain threatening  diseases including organ transplant and spinal surgery.
- V Dr Ambedkar Foundation is implementing the Dr, Ambedkar  National Merit Award  Scheme for Secondary (Class 10th) Examination and Dr. Ambedkar National  Merit Award  Scheme   for  Senior Secondary Examination (Class-12th), to recognize merit,  financially  assist,  encourage and  motivate   students   belonging to Scheduled Castes
- VI. Under the Dr. Ambedkar National Relief Scheme for SC victims of atrocities the Foundation provides instant monetary relief to the victims of heinous offences of atrocities under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act; 1989. The relief amount up to Rs 5.00 lakh is to each victim, with the approval of the Chairperson of the Foundation: This amount is in addition to the minimum amount of relief as prescribed under Rule 12 (4) of the paid

The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation National Essay Competition is held for Students of recognized Schools (secondary & senior secondary schools i.e; from class 9th to class 12t) and colleges Universities Institutes. Prizes to the over-all best three entries in Hindi & English are given as part of this scheme. The aim of this annual Essay Competition is to encourage writing on social issues, among the Students of Schools Colleges Universities Institutes and arouse their interest in Dr. Ambedkar' s thoughts on  fundamental  social issues  like social justice, removal of untouchability, caste based   prejudices, removal of  inequality and discrimination, social democracy, national integration, communal harmony etc.

VIII. Under the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for celebration of BirthDDeath Anniversary of Great Saints- the Foundation provides grant-in-aid to the recognized Colleges/ Universities/ Institutions and   Registered   NGOs, subject to term and conditions for   celebrating birth/death   anniversary of Great Saints worked for promoting social justice, removal of inequality & discrimination and for amelioration of the conditions of weaker sections of the society. The Scheme covers the birth anniversary of Great Saints like Sant Kabir; Guru Ravidas, Guru Ghasidas, Chokhamela; Nandnar; Narayan Guru, Namdev, Mahatma Phule & Savitri Bai Phule etc. aS approved by the Foundation from time to time.

IX The translation and   publication of Collected Works of Babasaheb Ambedkar   (CWBA) Project is one of the   projects   being   implemented by the Foundation\_ These works are translated into Hindi and 8 regional  languages viz. Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali; Punjabi, Urdu & Gujarati: The Audio of CWBA Volumes   (English) has been  brought out through National Institute for Visually Handicapped, Dehradun. Braille Edition of the CWBA volumes (Vol. No 1-1/ in English) have been brought out with the help of NIVH, Telugu; Oriya;

X On the 125 birth anniversary of Baba Saheb, Govt. of India arranged for a study tour to Columbia University, New York and London School of Economics, London for about 100 deserving research scholars from all over India who are either working on or are interested in making an intervention into the issues of social justice in India and Ambedkar' s social, political and Economic thought

On behalf of the Dr Ambedkar Foundation; Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar University, Lucknow organized an on-line competition on the Indian Constitution; the Constituent Assembly and the life and work of Dr: Babasaheb Ambedkar all over India quiz

XII. Hon'ble Prime Minister; Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Dr. Ambedkar International Centre on 20th April 2015 and the foundation stone of Dr: Ambedkar National Memorial, 26, Alipur Road, Delhi.