Lok Sabha Question No. 48 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Revamping of Major Welfare Schemes
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, Pritam Gopinath Munde

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

STARRED QUESTION NO. *48 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.06.2019

## REVAMPING OF MAJOR WELFARE SCHEMES

*48. SHRI SRIRANGA APPA BARNE: DR PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to revamp its major welfare schemes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the time schedule framed therefor;
- whether the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has estimated the expenditure to be incurred on revamping of major welfare schemes;
- (d if so, the details thereof;-and
- e the financial burden likely to be borne by the Central and the State Governments?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in Reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.48 for answer o 25-06-2019.

(a) to (e) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been revising the schemes from time to time to revamp the major welfare schemes of the Government: This is an ongoing process. The following schemes have been/proposed to be revamped:

## A\_ Scheduled Caste Welfare Division:

## 1. Scholarship Schemes

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scholarship schemes for SCs for both Post-Matric PreMatric and Pre-Matric for children of those engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards, Central Assistance is released to the StatesMUTs for all expenditure over and above their Committed Liability which is fixed at the beginning: of every Plan Finance Commission cycle based on the expenditure during the\_previous Plan Due to the Committed Liability concept, maximum part of the financial burden had to be borne by the State Governments/UT Administrations in 2017-18 and 2018-19 and the Central share became minimal: It has, therefore, been envisaged to change the funding pattern under the scheme from Committed Liability" to a pre-decided fixed sharing ratio' between Centre and the StatesMUTs: This will ensure certainty about flow of funds and reduce the financial burden on the State. period. period/

The total annual expenditure of the Centre and'the States will be about Rs.10,000 crores matric Scholarship to the children of those engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards respectively.

## 2\_ Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan; (SCA to SCSP):

Under this Centrally Sponsored   scheme, 100% 'Central Assistance is given to the: States/UTs as an additive to State Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan for selected income generating activities, skill development and infrastructure development for Scheduled Caste persons. It is, inter-alia,  proposed to increase the maximum level of subsidy for income generating a higher more viable level and to change the eligibility criteria from persons below poverty line" to persons with income upto Rs.2.5 lakhs per annum It is proposed to implement the Scheme within the available budget:

## 3\_ Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY):

The scheme was launched in 2009-10 with the objective of providing gap-filling funds for infrastructure development in SC majority villages. Upto October 2018, only 2500 villages had been taken up for implementation: In 2018-19,the scheme was revised to make it more focussed and provisions' were added for gap analysis, planning and implementation against 50 identified critical socio-economic monitorable indicators in 10 domains such as water & sanitation, education, electricity, rural roads and housing etc. Funds were also arranged for further expansion of the scheme in convergence with another scheme of the Ministry i.e,, SCA to SCSP. It is now proposed to cover all the SC majority villages having more "than 500 total population upto the end of 1Sth Finance Commission cycle by taking up 3000 to 3500 additional villages every year and also provide them with repeated rounds of funding at fixed intervals so that continuous development can be ensured,

An amount of Rs.6000 crore would be required for   covering all the: villages considering a Central Government contribution at the current level of Rs.21 lakh per village. Under the Scheme State contribution is not mandatory, however; State is   expected to contribute at   least three to four   times of gap-filling' Schemes or with matching grants from State Governments

## 4. Equity Contribution to NSFDC

Share Capital of NSFDC from Rs.1500.00 crore to Rs.3000.00 crore is proposed to be increased to enable more lending to the State channelizing agencies.

## 5. National Survey of Manual Scavengers in 170 Districts

There was demands from several quarters that all the manual scavengers who were engaged in manual scavenging after the enactment of the cProhibition of

Employment as Manual  Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013" were left out from identification. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; and NITI Aayog took cognizance of these demands and accordingly, the of Social Justice and Empowerment; with the support of NITI Aayog, initiated National Survey of Manual Scavengers for which National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is nodal agency. It was decided to conduct the survey in first phase, in 170 districts of 18 States. So far survey reports have been received from 159 of 170 districts and 39,093 manual scavengers have been identified. It is proposed to release One Time Cash Assistance (OTCA) to all the identified manual scavengers Ministry

## 6\_ Allocation for welfare of SC

Schemes under A WSC are being monitored regularly as per NITI Aayog guidelines and framework Now 41 Ministries are participating in the review' of the Scheme. Monthly review meeting to enhance the utilization of funds under various schemes is underway

## B. Backward Classes Division

## 1. Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs)

The Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities has been constituted vide gazette notification dated 21.02.2019. Chairperson and Member have also been appointed vide gazette notification dated 11.03.2019. Ministry of Finance has also been requested to create various, in DWBDNCs as per Cabinet Note. posts

## 2 National Commission for Backward Classes

NCBC has been made a constitutional body working as per Article 338B of the Constitution.

## 3. Venture Capital Fund for OBC

The Budget under VCF for SC and OBC are consolidated. From the current Financial year; a separate budget head is to be created to release funds for OBC Entrepreneurs:

## 4 Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC students

Scheme has been revised w.e.f 2017-18 and annual parental income ceiling has been revised from 1.00 lakh to 1.50 lakh. 30% of funds are earmarked for girl and 5% for students with disabilities. It is & fund limited Scheme and this department is striving to enhance the budget in the Scheme.

## 5\_ National Fellowship for OBC Students (NF-OBC)

Number of intake of Students in the Scheme has been -increased from; 300 to 1000. Modification in  eligibility criteria of making Net qualification  mandatory is also being finalized. This department is trying to enhance the budget in the Scheme:

## 6 Equity Contribution to NBCFDC

Budget has been  enhanced  froi Rs. 80.00 cr. to Rs. 130.00 cr. owing to higher demand from NBCFDC.

## Social Defence Division

## 1. Welfare of Senior Citizen

The following are proposed for: enhancing welfare activities of Senior Citizen:

- Based on the Policy and Act, a proposal for formulation of National Action' Plan for Welfare of Senior Citizens is under consideration:
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojna (RVY) is proposed to be will be extended from 325 selected districts to maximum districts in the country.
- Maintenance . and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 is also proposedito be amended;

## 2. Protection of Rights for the Transgender Persons

The Ministry proposes to introduce a Bill titled  "The Transgender Persons Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019" in the Lok Sabha, with the aim of mitigating the stigma, discrimination and abuse the   marginalized Transgender   population and   bring them into the mainstream of 'society. The   Ministry also proposes to provide Skill   Development to Transgender Persons in Order to make them productive members of the societyagainst

## 3\_ Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Prevention Division:

The Ministry had launched National Action Plan for Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) during the year 201&. The Action Plan aims at reduction of adverse consequences of abuse by focusing on Prevention; Treatment and Rehabilitation of drug dependent persons and their  families, through collaborative efforts of the Central & State Governments. and Non- Governmental Oganizations. For the coming years, Dug drug

- High risk districts have been identified to increase community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand for dependence-producing substances:
- Wider and improved coverage of services will be achieved through out the country by expanding the reach of Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs) and by having treatment facilities at hospitals, prisons and juvenile homes
- Widespread awareness generation programme will be undertaken: