Social Study Circle	Current upload: 15.1.2001
	Last upload: 9.2.2000
Revitalising Program's For Scheduled Castes And Scheduled Tribes ( Seventh Plan And Development Of weaker Sections ) India is big country with diverse people and regions, with unequal distribution of basic resources and division on caste lines. In such an unhealthy social structure, it is fortunate that we did not opt for an entirely free, market influenced capitalistic economy, but preferred massive, state-financed development with core sectors, important areas remaining under the direct responsibility of the Government. Weaknesses in planning The unfortunate outcome of our development planning has been that it directed benefited only the upper strata of society. This left the majority of the poor, underprivileged masses helpless and impoverished without any means of income and opportunity for development. They were told to wait for the social percolation of benefits from the planning and development to reach them through the higher castes. That this is to much to expect in a divided society like ours, dawned on our planners only recently. Of late, some separate planning for weaker section has been initiated. Perhaps, the single most serious flaw in our planning comes from the fact that our sociologists, political scientists and other scholars have never bothered to analyze the problem seriously. As a result, we still find that our national emphasis is towards planning for the development of and creation of facilities for the obviously well placed elite groups, upper and middle classes, and for improving the urban infrastructure. All these sectors taken together hardly constitute 15 to 20 percent of the nation. These are the comfortably placed sections of the society. On the other hand, hardly 10 percent of the plan allocations go for the direct benefit and welfare of the weaker sections who constitute as much as 80 to 85 percent of the Indian society. Therefore, it is no wonder that all our planning has so far left the weakest of the weaker sections, like the SC and ST untouched. The other significant weakness of the Indian planning is that large segments of more than 150 million SC and ST are taken for granted and planning for them is done by others without their involvement. This has been going on for the last four decades. There has not been an SC or ST member on the planning commission so far. As a result, the planning for SC and ST has remained like planning done by external rulers for their colonies. Even this limited planning for SC and ST is being administered and executed by those officials drawn from elitist and the so called high castes, who hardly have any idea of or are indifferent to the problems, needs and constraints faced by SC and ST. The government to seems indifferent about the development of SC and ST. Look at the office of the commissioner for SC and ST, which is a constitutional body. It is without a regular commissioner for the past three years or so. The SC and ST commission which was set up a few years ago, is also not functioning well. The south and north-east are represented by political appointments and north-west is represented by a Buddhist monk. Other areas are not even represented. The type of tours and the areas covered indicate political and other interests rather than the welfare of SC and ST. An analysis of the reputation, caliber and background of the personnel posted to the offices of the commission, Commissioner, and SC and ST Divisions in the Government will also show the hollowness of the Government policies when it comes to practice. SC and ST have hardly any representation in these offices, or in the Minority Commission. These also reflect the indifference and ineffectiveness of the SC and ST leaders in the Parliament and outside. One often hears complaints against the reservation policy for SC and ST. One of these complaints is that the reservation policy discriminates against the truly meritorious candidates. It is also being said that most of the reserved jobs are being cornered by the SC and ST elite. The truth of the matter, however, is very different. After more than 35 years of reservation in jobs, the representation of SC, for example, in class 1 category is less than 5 percent while their percentage in the population is 15 percent. In the matter of recruitment and promotion also SC and ST are at a great disadvantage Because of their very poor economic and educational conditions most of them find it difficult to satisfy even the so called relaxed age requirements. Unable to get in at the first stage, they are disqualified at other stages. For example, once recruited, one can always move into different Government departments. Here also SC and ST are at a definite disadvantage, since they are left out at the very first stage. Creative suggestions One of the ways to ensure SC and ST participation in the planning process is to employ SC and ST representatives at the village level. For example, from each village two or three SC or ST persons can be appointed for developmental and organizational work. They should be leaders elected by the SC and ST peoples themselves, not necessarily based on formal qualifications. These leaders will be in a position to organize and rally the SC and ST people of their respective villages. With their local knowledge of the area, people and problems, they will also be able to help the Government in planning and implementing programs. They can also act as a two way channel of communication by taking the development efforts of the Government to the people, and the problems of the people to the Government. Providing employment for just three SC or ST people in each tola or village should not pose a big problem or burden to the Government if we are serious about developing and reaching out to SC and ST. At the same time it will bring a significant improvement among SC and ST in rural areas. Such employment should cover the older generation, both sexes and the youth. Such a nucleus of three in each tola will also ensure that they can not misuse their position, or neglect their responsibilities as has often happened in the case of village workers and BDOs. Being local men and women, they will have an in-depth understanding, concern and involvement with their own people and will take personal interest. At a later date they can form a base for a taluk or district developmental cadre, for effective rural administration. If this selected personnel is properly trained with guidance by the Government, volunteering agencies and SC and ST associations, they will be in a position to encourage self help amongst SC and ST and to effectively utilize different schemes of the Government and banks. They can also help to preserve and develop local culture, skills and technologies, organize rural industries, technologies for rural needs, help in maintaining law and order, check indiscriminate exploitation by landlords, moneylenders, contractors and vested interests. We have a sizeable force of SC and ST engineers, scientists and other intellectuals and formally qualified personnel. They can be encouraged, even on a promotional basis, to work for appropriate technologies and development models for rural SC and ST, implementing specific plans and schemes in the planning commission, Department of Science and Technology, Rural Development, Health and other areas. The service of non-SC and ST official with a real sense of concern and proven record of commitment for the lot of SC and ST and their development should also be harnessed. Separate organizations and information centers for the SC and ST also need to be developed. Given the large number, the magnitude, the complexity and the special nature of their problems, the existing framework of the machinery for their rehabilitation and development is too meagre and inadequate. Some serious rethinking is, therefore, necessary in this direction. We have now a number of experienced SC and ST officials who have recently superannuated from services. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience and organizing capabilities. They can be formally organized so that their knowledge, skills and other resources can be tapped to provide the essential guidance and support to new enterprises that can be started by SC and ST in new areas and to manage SC and ST institutions of various kinds. There is an urgent need to identify adequate number of SC and ST with innovative ideas. Similarly SC and ST students with intellectual capabilities should be encouraged to pursue special education. Adequate support should be extended to them the present void of SC and ST in new areas and disciplines can be filled. SC and ST scholars should be provided with adequate scholarships and research grants. In spite of being a poor third world developing nation, we show great interest in latest technologies and areas of sciences. Then one can not hold it against SC and ST elite for aspiring for higher studies and access to advanced areas of research. The SC and ST are being cheated and deprived of their religious freedom by denying reservations and scholarships to them if they embraced any religion other that hinduism or shikhism. This discrimination needs to be lifted. There is a need to form a separate cadre of SC and ST officers in States and at the Center with specialists drawn from various fields who can be given posts such as development officers, liaison officers, administrative officers, personnel of SC and ST welfare departments, offices of the commissioners and commission for SC and ST. Such steps would help to remedy the present shortage of SC and ST officers as well as promotional discrimination they are subjected to at various levels. Conclusions In this paper we have deliberately referred to the development alternatives for SC and ST, because we believe, being the weakest of the weak, they deserve attention on top priority. Their development, will ultimately destroy all forces of political and socio-economic suppression and will free the entire society. Their liberation from the lowest levels through educational, cultural and economic development will put an end to the historic, hierarchic and exploitative dependency and the social system which perpetuates this dependency. They will provide a model and incentive to other comparatively and relatively better placed backward and other minority groups and release a new force of national development. They will also bring together the divided, isolated but significant groups of tribes and castes, into a major force and eradicate exploitation of weaker sections. The absence of an oppressible, exploitable 'Scheduled Caste and Tribes' in society will, finally, liberate the caste-ridden and feudalistic mentality of our people and will release their creative energies to build a new nation with justice and equality for all. ***************************************************************************************************************************