Lok Sabha Question No. 1596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Caste-based Discrimination
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Adv. Chandra Shekhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE  AND EMPOWERMENT

## LOK SABHA

## CASTE.BASED  DISCRIMINATION

## 1596. ADV. CHANDRA SHEKHAR:

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

- (a) whether in light of documented marginalization  of SCiOBC communities  in local Governance, the manner in which the Ministry ensure devolved powers actively address  their structural  inequities  including land rights,  resource  access and caste-based discrimination;
- (b) the details of the disaggregated  data (2019-2024)  on fund utilization, representation in decision making bodies and outcomes for these communities; and
- (c) the corrective  measures taken where adverse impacts (e.g., elite capture or exclusion)  are identified and timelines for systemic  safeguards  to prevent such failures?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a) to (c) : In addition  to the provisions  in Constitution  of India, various laws and rules provide legal and institutional  mechanisms to address land rights, resource  access and caste-based discrimination of marginalized communities. Whereas  Land is a state subject, several  states have state specific Land Revenue Codes and rules which provide  for the protection  of land rights of the margin alized  communities.

Two central  Acts have been enacted  namely,  The Protection  of Civil Rights  {PCR}  Act, 1955, which prescribes  punishment  for enforcement  of any disability arising from practice of 'untouchability' and The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA}  Act, 1989 to prevent the commission  of offences  of atrocities against members of Scheduled  Castes  (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes  (STs).

Provisions of the Constitution provides for reservation  of seats for the marginalized communities in the elected  decision-making  bodies at Panchayat, Municipal,  State and Central level.  The Government  has also put in place a policy for reservation  of seats for the marginalized communities  in educational  institutes and for Government jobs.

UNSTARRED  QUESTTON  NO.1596 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 29.07.2025

The National  Commission for Scheduled  Castes, National Commission  for Backward Classes have been setup to safeguard and promote the welfare  of Scheduled  Castes  (SCs) and Backward Classes  respectively.  Parliamentary Standing Committees are constituted to monitor government  policies,  programs,  and implementation of these safeguards. Apart from Parliamentary  Committees, there are Departmental  Committees (within ministries  and departments)  that are specifically tasked  with monitoring and implementing  welfare  measures and safeguards for these communities.

The Development Action Plan for Scheduled  Castes (DAPSC)  aims to promote the overall development  of poor SC families by directing targeted funds towards income-generating, welfare, and developmental schemes.  It's goal is to bridge socio-economic disparities between SCs and others  and foster inclusive and equitable growth. The fund utilization  under DAPSC from 2019-2024 is as under:

Rs. ln crores

| Year    | DAPSC (erstwhile AWSC/SCSP) of all Ministries/Department   | DAPSC (erstwhile AWSC/SCSP) of all Ministries/Department   | Utilisation   | Unutilised amount   | o/oage of Utilisation   |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------------|-------------------------|
|         | B.E.                                                       | R.E.                                                       |               |                     |                         |
| 2019-20 | 81,340.74                                                  | 72,936.29                                                  | 6l,894.10     | 11042.r9            | 84.86                   |
| 2020-21 | 83,256.62                                                  | 82,707.51                                                  | 62,785.16     | 19922.35            | 75.91                   |
| 202r-22 | 1,26,259.20                                                | 1,39,956.42                                                | 1,23,009.63   | r6946.79            | 87.89                   |
| 2022-23 | 1,42,342.36                                                | 1,52,604.29                                                | 1,38,639.29   | 1396s.01            | 90.8s                   |
| 2023-24 | 1,59,126.22                                                | 1,46,861 .09                                               | 1,35,1 78.59  | n682.49             | 92.05                   |

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