Lok Sabha Question No. 3426 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Discrimination faced by SCs and OBCs Community
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Kaushal Kishore, Arjunlal Meena, P.P. Chaudhary

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3426 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2021

## DISCRIMINA TION FACED BY SCs AND OBCs COMMUNITY

## 3426. SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

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

- (a) whether the Giovernment has taken cognizance of the discrimination faced by the members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) community during later stages of recruitment;
- (b) if so. the action taken by the Government to counter such discrimination;
- (c) whether the   Government has considered the   proposal of the Dalit Indian Chamber of social background of candidates should not be revealed at the interview stage in Civil Services and other Central or State-level examinations;
- (d if so, the details thereof;
- whether there are any systematic problems in utilization and implementation of budgetary allocation for  welfare of SC and OBC community leading to underutilization and if the details thereof: and SO,
- the details of the monitoring mechanism in place for monitoring the implementation and progress of schemes and utilization f 'budgetary allocations for the welfare of the SCs and OBCs community?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

- (a) & (b): Government has taken various measures for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in service not only at the time of initial   recruitment. but also al the time of   subsequent   appointments. The details of the concessions provided to SC, ST and OBC candidates are at Annexure

(c) & (d): Drafi report has been received through email in this Department on 12.02.2021.

(e): As a part of the socio-economic and financial inclusion strategy of the Government to ensure that all segments of the society, particularly the  Scheduled Castes; are benefited and adequate funds are allocated for their development, the concept of Development Action Plan for earlier known as Allocation for Welfare of SCs or SC Sub-Plan is being implemented by the Government so that targeted financial and physical benefits can accrue to the Scheduled ( astes. As per the Ministry of Finance guidelines, funds under the SC component are not re-appropriated to Non-SC heads. NITI Aayog and this Department has issued various instructions for implementation and monitoring of the Schemes/programs meant for SCs. Proper monitoring framework is already in place for monitoring of DAPSC. In addition to this all the Schemes/Policies also have inbuilt mechanism in the form of various committees for monitoring the physical and financial progress.

(f): Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has been made the nodal Ministry by the NITI Aayog for outcome based monitoring of   expenditure in these sectors by all the Ministries/Departments, for welfare of SCs, which deal with this matter, through earmarking of a certain percentage of funds exclusively for welfare of SCs A web application e-utthaan " was developed in 2017 and has been   implemented since outcome based monitoring of the identified Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes. AlL financial data of releases under Scheduled Castes component is received through PFMS on daily basis.

Moreover. Monitoring of funds is done through seeking physical and financial progress report alongwith utilization certificate from concerned State/UTs as well as review meeting with the concerned States/UTs.

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## services\_under\_the\_Central Government

- (a) Concession in Promotions within Group When promotion by selection is made from a Group A post to a Group post which carry Grade of Rs. 8700/or less the Scheduled Caste who are senior enough in the zone of consideration for promotion $0 as to be within the number of vacancies for which the select list has to be drawn up, would be included in that list provided are not considered unfit for promotion: Pay they
- (6) Consideration for Appointment by Deputation and Absorption Whenever a Ministry/ Department/Attached Office/Subordinate Office etc\_ propose to depute, in public interest; officers under them to a post  in or under  another Ministry/Department the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe employees serving under them, who are eligible to be sent be   considered with  other  eligible  employees   for  such deputation. serving etc , along
- Age Relaxation in Direct Recruitment The maximum age-limit prescribed for direct recruitment to a service O post shall be increased by 5 years in the case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and by 3 years in the case of candidates belonging to OBCs.
- (d\_ Relaxation in Promotion Where an upper age-limit not exceeding 50 years is prescribed for promotion to a servicelpost; it shall be relaxed by 5 years in the case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes This, however; would not apply to posts which have arduous field duties or are meant for operational safety and to posts in para-Military Organizations Age
- (e Concession in Fee The candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are not required to pay any fees for admission to any recruitment examination/selection:
- Relaxation of Experience Qualification for SCs and STs in Direct Recruitment When any vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are advertised or intimated to the Employment Exchange, it should be specifically mentioned in the advertisementhrequisition that the   period of   experience prescribed is   relaxable, at the discretion of the Union Public Service Commission or the competent authority, as the case may be, in the case   of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe   candidates as provided in the Recruitment Rules. Where some period of   experience is prescribed as an essential

qualification for direct recruitment to a post; and where, in the opinion of the Ministry/Department  concerned, the relaxation of the experience qualification will not be inconsistent with efficiency, a provision for relaxation of experience by competent authority can be considered.

- Relaxation of Standard of Suitability in Direct Recruitment In direct recruitment to the extent the number of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other   Backward   Classes cannot be   filled on the basis belonging to these communities will be taken by relaxed standard to make up the deficiency in the reserved quota,  subject to the fitness of these candidates  for appointment to the posthposts in question:
- (h) Relaxation of Standards in Departmental Competitive Qualifying Examinations If in case of promotions made   through   departmental  competitive   examinations,   sufficient number of Schedule Caste Scheduled Tribe candidates are not available on the basis of general standard to fill all the vacancies reserved for them; Scheduled Castel Scheduled Tribe candidates who have not acquired the general qualifying standard can also be considered for promotion to fill up the remaining vacancies reserved for them provided are not found unfit for such promotions. they

Howevec the\_issue\_of\_reservation \_in\_promotion\_is\_presently\_subiudice\_before\_the\_Hon"ble

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