Sample Material of Our IAS Mains GS Online Coaching Programme
Subject: General Studies (Paper 2 - Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
India is a welfare state, committed to the development of its people in general and of vulnerable sections in particular. The Preamble, the Directive Principles of State Policy, the Fundamental Rights and specific sections, Articles 38, 39 and 46 in the Constitution of India, stand testimony to the commitment of the State to its people. Welfare programmes in the beginning were directed to provide a few basic curative and rehabilitative services. Over the years, a developmental orientation in contrast to curative and custodial approach has been given to welfare programmes. At present these are oriented towards providing social justice and empowerment to the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society. viz., scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, minorities, disabled, aged persons, street children and victims of drug abuse, etc.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry for the development and welfare of these disadvantaged, marginalized and weaker sections of our society. The Ministry is running several schemes and programmes which are beneficiary oriented and intend to ensure qualitative improvement in people’s lives.
These schemes are run largely on a pilot basis to show the way to the local governments and community and promote similar initiatives through them. The Ministry inter alia also plays a proactive role in sensitizing the opinion leaders, the change agents and the public about the plight of these sections, the irrational prejudices that work against them and the need to ameliorate their situation by bringing about attitudinal changes. Such attitudinal changes aim at facilitating appreciation and social support from communities to the persons of these disadvantaged sections, enhanced financial support by the local governments to the welfare programmes and promotion of voluntary action for the specialised facilities and service.
SCHEDULED CASTES DEVELOPMENT
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry that oversees the interests of the Scheduled Castes. Besides implementing several welfare and protective schemes on its own, this Ministry also closely monitors the action taken by other Ministries for protection and promotion of the interests of SCs.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been set up as a Constitutional body for overseeing interests of the SCs/STs. Subsequently, National Commission for Safai Karamacharis was set up for looking into matters relating to Safai Karamcharis. With a view to follow up the high ideals advocated by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Ambedkar Foundation have been set up for pursuing matters relating to interest of SCs and socially and economically backward classes.