32 Government programmes and their impact

Sangeeta Dey

Contents:

1. Introduction.

2. Government Programmes.

2.1 Rajiv Gandhi scheme for empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) – Sabla.

2.2 Ladli Yojana

2.3 Kishori Shakti Yojana

2.4 Integrated Child protection scheme

2.5 Balika Samridhi Yojana

2.6 Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana

2.7 Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana

2.8 Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana

2.9 Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana

3. Government Scheme primarily based on Primitive Tribal Groups.

3.1 Tribal Research Institute (TRI).

3.2 Girls and Boys Hostels for Scheduled Tribes (Centrally Sponsored Scheme).

3.3 Ashram schools Tribal Sub – Plan Areas.

3.4 Vocational training to promote Entrepreneurship.

3.5 Education of Girls in low literacy pockets.

3.6 Village Grain Bank scheme.

3.7 Grant –In –Aid to Voluntary Organisation.

3.8 Post-Matric Scholarships.

3.9 Other Educational Schemes.

4. Major Impacts and Achievements of Government Programmes

5. Summary

Learning objectives:

Students will be able to learn about Government programmes.
Students will be able to discuss the various programmes implemented for the welfare of women and child development
Students will be able to understand about the various eligibility conditions required by the government programmes
Students will be able to explain about the government schemes which are primarily based on primitive tribal groups
Students will be able to learn about the major impacts and achievements of government programmes.

1. Introduction:

The Government of India have come up with different schemes from time to time, and these schemes could be under central, state specific or joint collaboration between centre and the states government.

The problem of development is primarily linked with the backwardness of the areas, poverty of the people, social injustice, and all forms of exploitation. Ministry of Women and Child Development, empowered women with dignity, and contributing as equal partners in development in an environment which are free from violence and discrimination, and well nurtured children with ample of opportunities for growth and development in a safe and protective environment.

The Central Government and the State Government have been implementing schemes / programs for the upliftment of SCs, STs and OBCs like reservation in services, Tribal sub-plan, central schemes, centrally sponsored schemes etc. However, a lot more is required to be done to achieve the desired development goals.

2. Government Programmes

2.1 Rajiv Gandhi scheme for empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) – Sabla.

SABLA is sponsored by Central Government and introduced on 01/04/2011 and valid up to 31/03/2015. It is a package of services to be provided to adolescent girls that is as follows:

1. Nutritional provision

2. Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation.

3. Health check up and referral services.

4. Nutritional and health education (NHE).

5. Counselling/guidance on family welfare, ARSH, Child care practices and home management.

6. Life skill education and accessing public services.

7. Vocational training for girls aged 16 and above under national skill development program (NSDP).

The pattern of funding the scheme is implemented by the state governments/UTs with hundred percent financial assistance from the central government of all input and the nutritional provision for which government of India will share up to the extent 50 percent of the financial norms or the actual expenditure incurred, whichever is less. Beneficiaries of the scheme are individual and women, and benefited by financially and non formal education, etc.

Eligibility criteria: The adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18 years under all ICDS projects in selected 200 districts. all the State /UTs in the country in order to give appropriate attention ,the target group is divided into two categories viz. 11-15, and 15-18 years and intervention planned accordingly. The information about the scheme is available at ICDS offices and Anganwadi centres (AWCs).

2.2 Ladli Yojana

Ladli scheme is a scheme that aims to alter the position of the girl kid in family and in the public. It also aims to help modify the people‟s mindsets for appropriate taking care of the girl kid and as well to offer the girl child their birth rights as stated in Indian constitution. On the birthday occasion of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi this scheme was started, in the year of 2008.

According to the scheme the daughter child obtains free education and upbringing with additionally after eighteen years of age she will be permitted to acquire one lakh rupees. This money is given in her name and it can be utilized for the marriage of the girl which is considered by some parents as burden in the society. Govt. of NCT of Delhi has launched a new scheme for protection of the girl child called „Delhi Ladli Scheme” with reference to 01.01.2008, the girls born on or after this date will get benefit immediately after their birth. The other girls born before this date will get benefits under this scheme with reference to the academic year 2008-09 on their admission to the 1st, 6th ,9th, 12th class and getting passed the 10th class in the Govt. recognized Schools.

Eligibility Condition for the scheme:

The applicant must be a bonafide resident of the National Capital Territory of Delhi for at least three years preceding the date of birth.
The annual income of the parents of the girls‟ child should not exceed Rs.100000.
The girl child must have been born in Delhi as shown by the birth certificate issued by Registrar (Births and Deaths).

2.3 Kishori Shakti Yojana

Health, nutrition, education and social status of adolescent girls are at intermediate level. According to survey, adolescent girls do not have adequate access to vital health and nutrition information. Kishori Shakti Yojana aimed to improve nutritional and health status, self development, awareness of health hygiene, nutrition family welfare and management, rural development. Adolescent girls with age group of 11-18 years whose families belonging to 6400/per annum income in the rural areas will be eligible for this scheme. Its prime objectives are:

To improve the health and nutritional status of girl group of 11-18 years.
To provide them required literacy and ample skills through the non formal pattern of education for their better and sound exposure and knowledge that help them to improve their self decision making skills.
To train and empowered the adolescent girls to improve and upgrade home-based and vocational skills.
Spreading awareness of health , hygiene, nutrition and family welfare , home management and child care and that to take al parameter to facilitate their marrying
Only after attaining the age of 18 year and possible even later.
To gain better understanding of their environment related social issues and the impact on their lives.
To motivate adolescent girls to initiate various activities to be productive and useful members of the society.

Kishori Shakti Yojana works by the following approach:

Girl to girl approach (11-15 yrs) – Selected ANGANWADI area with two girls of the age 11-15 yrs would be given with a meal of 500 calories of energy and 20 gms of protein, as needed for the pregnant women ,these two girls being trained at Anganwadi for six months in the supervision of worker , to become fully skilled individual and be able to manage the centre by their own .
Balika Mandal (age group 15-18) – The adulthood start from the time when she nears 15 years, thus scheme has more focus on mental and social development of girl at the age of 15-18 years. Scheme laid to motivation in the uneducated groups belonging to this age in non formal education and up gradation of home based skills.
Period of active enrolment – For the non-formal education, up grading literacy skills and improve home based skills among adolescent girls, active enrolment in the Balika mandal would vary from one adolescent girl to another depending upon her educational background, an adolescent girl may be active in Balika mandal for the period of six months with an average attendance of about 20 adolescent girls , each Balika mandal may cater about forty adolescent girls in a year.
Focal Point – The scheme for adolescent girls was put in action w.e.f 1st nov, 1991 , now the scheme has renamed as Kishori Shakti yojana and no separate budget is available and nutrition which is provided by state sector , beneficiaries are provided supplementary nutrition through ICDS under the Supplementary nutrition programme.

2.4 Integrated Child protection scheme ( ICPS)

The integrated child protection scheme (ICPS) is sponsored by central Government. It is aimed to building a protective surrounding and environment for children who is living in sarcastic circumstances as well as other vulnerable children through government –civil society partnership. In 2006 child protection scheme was proposed and in 2009 it was approved by Central government. The objectives of the schemes are as follows:

To establish the strengthen structures and essential services of institution,

To increase the level of capacities and the system and the person who is involved in this service delivery,
To establish a database and knowledge base for the child protection services at the institution.
The protection of child should be strengthening at family as well as community level.
Coordination and networking with government institution and non –government institution to insure effective implantation of the scheme,
To raise public awareness about child vulnerability, child protection, and child rights services, within care, support and rehabilitation services.

The scheme will provide CHILDLINE services, open shelters for children in need in urban and semi-urban areas, offer family based solutions through improving sponsorship, foster care, adoption and after –care services , improve quality institutional services, and general grant in aid for need based /innovative interventions. Within statutory support services the scheme calls for the strengthening of CWCs, JJBs, SJPUs, as well as seeing to the setup of these services in each district beyond this ICPS also outlines the need for human resources development for strengthening counselling services, training and capacity building, strengthening knowledge – base, conduct research studies which create and manage a child tracking system, carry out advocacy and public education programmes and monitoring and evaluation of the scheme.

In order to ensure or to meet the objectives and approaches of ICPS, the scheme also calls for the establishment of new bodies within a service delivery structure.

At the district level there are:

– District child protection (DCPS)

– District child protection committee (DCPC)

– Sponsorship and foster care approval committee (SFCAC)

– Block level child protection committee

– Village level child protection committee

At the state level there are:

– State child protection society (SCPS)

– State adoption resource agency (SARA)

– State child protection committee (SCPC)

– State adoption advisory committee.

At the regional level there are:

Child protection division in the regional centres of national institute of public cooperation and child development (NIPCCD)
Four regional centres of CHILDLINE India foundation (CIF)

At national level there are:

– CHILDLINE India foundation –headquarters

– Child protection division in the national institute of public cooperation and child development (NIPCCD)

The schemes outlines a specific implementation plan, it discusses the need of convergences of services to give the child integrated plan. This is achieved through coordination of all department and ministries and NGOs involved.

2.5 Balika Samridhi Yojana

Balika Samridhi Yojana was launched on 2 October, 1997. The Scheme covers up to two girls born on or after 15 August, 1997, in a family below the poverty line, in rural and urban areas. A grant of Rs 500 is given to the mothers of new born girl children. A grant of Rs 500 will be deposited in the name of the new born girl in a post office or bank account. The girl will also get scholarship for each completed year of schooling in Class I to X which will also be deposited in the same account. The matured value of the account will be paid to the girl on her attaining the age of 18 years and having remained unmarried till then.

2.6 Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGRY)

Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana Started on April 1, 1999. It has replaced the following programs:

Integrated Rural development program (IRDP): started in 1978-79.
Training rural youth for self –employment (TRYSEM): started in 1978-79
Development of women and children in rural areas (DWCRA): started in 1978-79.
Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY): started in 1997
Million Wells Scheme (MWS): started in 1989
Supply to Improved Tool-kits on Rural Artisans (SITRA).

The Yojana takes into account all the strength and weakness of the earlier self –employment programs. Every assisted family will be brought above the poverty line. It is proposed to cover 30 percent of the rural poor in each block. To target at least 50 percent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 40 percent women and 3 percent disabled.

2.7 Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana ( PMGY).

It was introduced in 2000-01 with the objective of focusing on village level development in five critical areas, i.e., primary health, primary education, housing, rural roads and drinking water and nutrition with the overall objective of improving the quality of life of people in rural areas. Rural electrification was added as an additional component from 2001-02. It has the following components:

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

It was launched on Dec 25, 2000 with the objective of providing road connectivity through good all weather roads to all rural habitations with a population of more than 1000 persons by the year 2003 and those with a population of more than 500 persons by the year 2007.

Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (Gramin Awas).

It is launched on April 1, 2000. Based on the pattern of Indira Awas Yojana, the scheme is being implemented in the rural areas throughout the country with the objective of sustainable habitat development.

2.8 Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY).

It was started on Sep. 25, 2001, with the mergence of the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) and the Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Rozgar (JGSR). Earlier Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, which started in 1989, was merged with Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana. The objective of the program is to provide additional wage employment in rural areas and also to provide food security.

2.9 Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY).

The SJSRY came into operation in Dec, 1997, through a restructuring and streamlining of the earlier urban poverty alleviation programs, the Nehru Rozgar Yojana (NRY), the urban basic services for the poor (UBSP) and the Prime Ministers Integrated Urban Poverty Alleviation Program (PMIUPEP).

It seeks to provide employment to the urban employed or underemployed living below poverty line and educated up to 9th standard through encouraging the setting up of self employment ventures or provision of wage employment.

2.10 Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

It was launched on Dec. 25, 2000. The scheme aims at providing food security to poor families. The scheme contemplates identification of 10 million poorest of the poor families and providing them with 25 kg of food grains per family per month at a low price of Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Rs.3 per kg for rice.

2.11 Annapurna Yojana.

It was inaugurated on March 19, 1999. Initially the scheme provided 10 kg food grains to senior citizens who were eligible for old age pension but could not get it due to one reason or the other. Later on, it was extended to cover those people who get old age pensions. Food grains are provided to the beneficiaries at subsidized rates of Rs.2 per kg of wheat and Rs.3 per kg of rice.

3. Government Scheme primarily based on Primitive Tribal Groups.

Based on the pre-agriculture level of technology, low level of literacy, declining or stagnant population, 75 tribal communities in 15 states /UTs, have been identified and categorised as Primitive Tribal groups. A central Sector scheme has been introduced for all- round development of these groups from 1998-99 under which financial assistance is made available to integrated Tribal Development Projects, Tribal Research institute and Non –Government Organisation for undertaking projects/activities not covered by any of the existing schemes. Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 16.13 crore has been mentioned under the scheme during 2003-04. Different schemes which are introduced for primitive tribal groups are as follows.

3.1 Tribal Research Institute (TRI).

There are fifteen tribal Research Institute (TRIs) one each in Andhra Pradesh , Assam , Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan ,Tamil Nadu ,West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh , Manipur, Tripura, and Andaman and Nicobar islands. The ministry funded the establishment of the tribal research institute at port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands during 2002- 03. These institutes provide planning inputs to the State governments, conduct research and evaluation studies, collect data is involved in codifying of customary law and conduct training seminars and workshops. Some of these institutes also house museums for exhibition of tribal artifacts. During 2003 – 04, Rs 2.53 crore was released to the state government /UTs administrations to support these institutes.

3.2 Girls and Boys Hostels for Scheduled Tribes (Centrally Sponsored Scheme).

Tribal children are deprived of education as the hamlets and villages they reside in do not have such facilities. The Girls hostels scheme was started in the Third Five Year Plan with the aim of providing residential facilities to the tribal girls in pursuit of education away from home. Central assistance of 50 percent cost of construction to the States and 100 percent to the Union Territories is provided under the scheme. The boys Hostels scheme was started in 1989-90 under the same pattern as the Girls Hostels. During 2003-04, an amount of Rs 18.15 crore was released for construction of 298 boys and 171 girls hostels.

3.3 Ashram schools Tribal Sub – Plan Areas.

The centrally sponsored scheme was started in 1990-91 to provide central assistance to the States and Union Territories on 50 percent and 100 percent basis respectively. During 2003-04, Rs 6.47 crore was sanctioned and released for construction of 315 ashram schools under the scheme.

3.4 Vocational training to promote Entrepreneurship.

This scheme under the central sector, introduced in 1992-93, aims at developing the skills of the tribal youth in order to gain employment /self employment opportunities. The scheme envisages setting up of vocational training centres (VTCs). During 2003-04, an amount of Rs 5.18 crore was released for 50 vocational training centres run by Non – Governmental Organisation and 150 vocational training centres run by State Government.

3.5 Education of Girls in low literacy pockets.

This scheme was launched in 1993-94 with the objective of raising the literacy level of tribal females in 48 identified tribal districts in 8 states with female literacy below 2 percent. This scheme was revised in July 1998 and now covers 136 districts having female literacy of less than 10 percent in 14 states. The scheme envisages setting up residential educational complex as from first to fifth standard. The scheme is implemented through the voluntary organisation and State Governments /UTs. During 2003 -04, an amount of Rs 5.73 crore was released for 183 complexes.

3.6 Village Grain Bank scheme.

A Central Sector Scheme of Grain Banks in tribal villages was launched in 1996-97. The scheme was started on a pilot basis in selected areas out of the areas identified by the CPC for preventive measures against death of children in remote and backward tribal areas by providing a safeguard against fall in nutritional standards of schedule tribes living in remote rural areas. The Ministry releases the funds through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFRED), which is the channelizing agency under the scheme. An amount of Rs 1.07 crore was released during 2003-04 under the scheme. Since inception, 1483 Grain Banks have been setup in the country. The existing village Grain Bank is being revised with a broader coverage of endemic drought prone area tribal areas.

3.7 Grant –In –Aid to Voluntary Organisation.

The ministry gives Grant- In –Aid to voluntary organisation working for the welfare of the schedule tribes for projects like residential school, hostel, medical units, computer training units, shorthand and typing training unit balwadis/crèches (in areas not covered by the ICDS program), libraries and audio visual units. The grant is generally restricted to 90 percent of the approved total cost of the project and the balance 10 percent is borne by the grantee organisations. During 2003-04, an amount of Rs 26.46 crore was released to 288 NGOs for implementation of approximately 900 projects.

3.8 Post-Matric Scholarships.

The scheme was introduced in 1944 for providing financial assistance to SC/ST students pursuing post-matriculation recognised courses including professional, technical as well as non – professional and non- technical courses. The scheme is implemented by the State Governments and UT administrations which receive 100 percent financial assistance over and above the committed liability. Rs 64.30 crore were released during 2003-04 benefiting an estimated 27 lakh ST students so far.

3.9 Other Educational Schemes.

The Ministry of Tribal affairs is also the implantation agency in respect of National Overseas Scholarship of higher studies abroad, book bank, coaching and allied areas and up gradation of merit for the benefit of ST students.

4. Major Impacts and Achievements of Government Programmes

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been taken some key initiatives since its creation in 1999. The Ministry adopted a project approach for funding projects under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution for selecting schemes based on more integrated and holistic planning. The parliament passed the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe Order (Amendment) Act, 2002. This Act provides for inclusion/ exclusion/modification of 270 communities in the lists of schedules Tribes, Revision on such a scale has been undertaken after more than 25 years.
An informative and detailed, bilingual website of the Ministry was launched on 21 August 2002. The Ministry has also tied –up with bilateral and multilateral agencies for international cooperation in the field of tribal development. A few projects are under implementation. Financial assistance of Rs seven crore was provided for protection and conservation of archeologically important sites of martyrdom of tribal leaders.
Due to implementation of the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA act), STs have been politically empowered in the nine major states – Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. It implies that a total of 2,40,000 seats have been reserved for the scheduled tribes in the three tier Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). At present 2,22,600 tribals have been elected.
Increased allocation of the funds for various schemes / programs for the tribal development from Rs 692.75 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs. 810 crore in 2000-01, Rs 1040 crore in 2001-02 Rs. 1090 crore in 2002-03 and Rs 1087 crore in 2003-04, representing an increase of about 56.91 percent over the year 1999-2000.
A new Scheduled Tribes Finance and development corporation (NSTFDC) was set up with an authorised share capital of Rs. 500 crore, as an apex institution for financing economically viable projects for Scheduled Tribes. A new scheme titled “Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana” was launched through NSTFDC for extending financial assistance up to Rs. 50,000 to the eligible Scheduled Tribe women at a more subsidized interest rate, a maximum up to four per cent .
Allocation for grants under article 275(1) of the Constitution increased from Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore.
Provided Post Metric scholarships for pursuing Post –Matriculation courses including professional, technical and non professional, non technical courses benefiting more than 27 lakh students about 5.5 lakh students per annum. The scheme has been revised and rates of scholarships have been increased from April 1, 2003.
Sanctioned construction of 298 boys and 171 girls hostels having 18,471 and 20,010 seats respectively and created employment for around 2345 persons.
The Ministry has sanctioned construction of 315 Ashrams Schools having 24,300 seats and employment opportunities for 3150 persons in the last four years.
For promoting education among tribal girls exclusively in 74 districts having female literacy rate below 10 percent as per 1991 census.183 Educational complexes have been set up. In these complexes over 20000 girls are enrolled annually. These educational complexes provide employment to approx 915 teaching and same number of non teaching personnel.
Provided special assistance to the tune of Rs. 163.36 crore for the development of infrastructure in the three newly created States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal.

The number of projects under scheme being implemented through NGOs has increased to more than 900 from 306 projects sanctioned during 1999-2000. Through the NGO run projects of the Ministry.

a. Over 0.25 lakh tribal students are availing the benefits of free education from 106 Residential school, 56 non-Residential school and 95 hostels annually. Approximately 1115 teaching and over 2000 non-teaching personnel are employed in such schools and hostels.

Over 1000 tribal students are receiving computer education through computer training centres. These computer centre providing employment to approx 90 computer trained personnel and 90 other supporting staff.
50 vocational training centres (VTCs) have been set up through NGOs to train approx. 5000 tribes in various trades having local employment potential. These VTCs provide employment to approx. 300 training personnel of different trades and 200 supporting staff. This is in addition to 150 VTCs sanctioned to the State Governments, which provide training to 9000 ST youths, and provides employment to 15000 people.
More than 25000 tribal patients are being treated through 28 hospitals and 90 mobile dispensaries set up with the grants of the Ministry annually. These hospitals and mobile dispensaries are providing employment to approximately 750 other supporting staff.
Approximately 1.5 lakh tribes are availing the benefits of other programmes like mobile library, typing and shorthand training centres, rural night schools, training in agriculture and allied subjects, etc. and in running these programs approximately 1000 personnel are engaged.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will launch new developmental and welfare initiatives for the welfare of the people. These will include construction of hostels for boys and girls in all districts, implementation of various scholarship schemes for educational development, increased employment opportunities for all the sections of people including backward classes, increased reservation of seats for weaker sections of society, rural developmental schemes and various other programmes for the upliftment of the status of the Indian people.

5. Summary

The Indian Constitution has realized that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes or Primitive Tribal groups are the main culprit of the problems and their development is a special responsibility of the president. For promoting the welfare of these backward classes various programmes was launched which aim at promoting social and economical empowerment of women and children through policies and by creating awareness about their rights facilitating institutional and legislative support for enabling them to realize their human rights and development to their full potential. The Central Government and the State Government have been implementing schemes/programs for the upliftment of SCs, STs and OBCs like reservation in services, Tribal sub-plan, central schemes, centrally sponsored schemes etc. However, a lot more is required to be done to achieve the desired development goals.

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