SIKKIM - STATE ANNUAL PLAN 2001-2002

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
WELFARE OF SC/ST & OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES

DEMAND NO. 39

The State of Sikkim has a large population belonging to the weaker sections namely scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. At present the State has 89 revenue blocks having majority scheduled tribe population and 64 blocks which have scheduled castes majority. Most of the population belonging to the weaker sections live below the poverty level and are mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The literacy level of these population is also very low which has hampered their proper development. Theses down trodden people face problems of malnutrition, poor health, education, housing etc. along with their economic hardships. It is therefore very important that this section of people are taken care of for special consideration under the plan.

This main limitation of the department is the lack of resources for taking up programmes for their disadvantaged section of society. The present existing practice in the State does not allow the Social Welfare Department from drawing up a comprehensive plan for uses of these resources. It is essential that the earmarked funds be placed at the disposal of the Social Welfare Department for effective utilization targeted at the upliftment of the weaker section of society of society. During the 9^th plan the department will emphasis on consolidating the gains made the 8^th plan period. Steps to fulfil targets not achieved will be given important. A three pronged strategy for development of SC/ST will comprise (a) Development measures for education and economic development. (b) Protection measures through Civil Rights Act and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 and protective discrimination in matters of employment and other facilities. (c) Intensive and Integrated development of areas having majority of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes peoples. In the Annual Plan period emphasise have been made on family oriented schemes and programmes will be targeted for each beneficiary group according to the individual households. Schemes for infrastructure development will also receive attention in SC/ST areas. Skill formation will be given importance so that the disadvantaged group can adopt new technological tool to increase their productivity. Along with the renewed family oriented schemes the position of institutional finance become crucial. Therefore, methods and means to provide affordable finance will be made to enable them to take up commercial ventures through SC, ST and OBC Development Corporation.

1. Direction and Administration:

Rs 88.00 lakhs

Welfare Development has four district Offices at district head quarter & Project Office for implementation of various schemes for the department. Head Office at Gangtok formulates policies and programme & supervises the function of all subordinate offices. We have four Drawing & Disbursing Officers in the district offices & one A.O. in the head Office. Department has procured on Computer and in order to Operate it a post of Computer Operator is proposed to be created during the year. As Secretary. Welfare is also the CMD, SABCCO he has been using the vehicle of SABCCO. With the appointment of Joint Secretary, Department is required to provide vehicles as per entitlement. Further the vehicle provided to Welfare Officer, East and MSO which were more than ten years old had been auctioned. We are required to replace these vehicles. Vehicles of Welfare Officer North, South West are more than ten yeas old and need replacements. Thus it is proposed to procure four vehicles for proper functioning of these officers.

2. Scholarship Schemes:

Rs 58.00 lakhs

The main thrust of the department is to improve the literacy level of both SC/ST during the 9^th plan. In order to encourage the students from backward section to complete their education, the department has been granting scholarship for SC/ST students according to the guidelines of Government of India. At present there are about 35000 students belonging to SC/ST communities. This number is expected to double during the next five years. Presently the department has been able to provide scholarship to 8000 students only due to scarcity of funds. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that sufficient fund be available for scholarship schemes if literacy level is to be improved. The department is also providing scholarship[ schemes it literacy level is to be improved. The department is also providing scholarship to be children of Safai Karmacharies according to the Central Government direction 50% of the expenditure is borne by the Government of India. In addition to regular school going students the department is implementing scholarship scheme for students of Lachen and Lachung School and students from Dzongu studying in TNA and in monastic schools in various parts of the State since 1996-97.

The department was compelled to differ the payment of scholarship to SC, ST students pertaining to 1998-99 to 1999-2000 due to financial constraint. The budget allotted under this scheme was re-appropriated to salary head where there was a shortfall due to payment of arrears of pay revision. Further, the plan allocation in 1998-99 remaining the same as in 1997-98, the Department had no option but to resort reappropriation with the approval of Planning and Development Department and the Finance Department.

3. Vocational training:

Rs 20.00 lakhs

In order that student belonging to SC, ST and OBC be able to earn a decent living after completing school and college education it is proposed to provide vocational training to educated SC. ST and OBC students in different vocations like computers, Hotel Management, Shorthand and Typing Courses. Motor mechanic & Driving training etc. It has been estimated that students interested in taking up vocational courses would be over 500 students per year. Presently the department has been providing vocational courses in computers, hotel management, motor driving, shorthand and typing to 100 students. We proposed to continue these schemes during 2001-2002.

4. Pre-Examination Coaching Centre:

Rs 1.00 lakhs

In order to prepare SC/ST and OBC candidates for various competitive examinations held by the different agencies, the Central Government has laid down directives to set up pre-examination training centres to provide help to Tribals, Schedule Caste and OBC people interested in appearing for various examinations conducted by UPSC, Staff Selection Commission, Banking recruitment Board, SPSC, State Recruitment. Coaching classes will also be started in the various schools to provide help to Tribal and Scheduled Caste students for Classes X to XII in subjects which are found difficult by the students. Sikkim is one of the very few State which does have such coaching centres. It has been found that due to lack of such coaching centres, the employment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in various Central Government departments and undertakings is very few.

5. Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe & OBC Development Corporation

Rs 150.00 lakhs

Under the directive of the Central Government, the Government of Sikkim has set up the Sikkim SC, ST and OBC Development Corporation with an authorised capital of Rs 10.00 crores for providing cheap financial help to the backward section of the SC/ST and OBC population. Under this scheme, the Central and State Government, holds 49% and 51% share respectively. In order to provide additional share capital to the Corporation it was proposed to be provided Rs 50.00 lakhs every year to the Corporation as Government share so that the corporation be in the better position to provide financial assistance to the backward sections of the population and also meet the administrative expenses of the corporation. A sum of Rs 250 lakhs has been earmarked during the 9^th Plan. We have so far granted Rs 91.41 lakhs to the Corporation. In order to make the corporation sustainable, it is proposed to provide Rs 100.00 lakhs during the year. Due to financial constraints a sum of Rs 11.40 lakhs was released during last year, Rs 28.60 lakhs has been provided in the current year for providing balance of last year.

6. Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe and Protection of Civil Rights

Rs 2.00 lakhs (50:50% CSS)

The Central Government has laid great stress on prevention of atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe and Protection of Civil Rights in the State Government. The State Government is required under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 and Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1966 to provide adequate facilities including legal aid to persons subjected to any disability arising out of violation of the above two Acts., The State Government is to set up special Courts and appoint public prosecutors for speedy trials of offences under the above Acts, State Government is also required to formulate proper rules & regulations for implementing various provision of the Acts and take suitable measures to prevent any atrocities on SC & ST population. Steps are also to be taken up rehabilitate persons affected by any disabilities arising out of atrocities on SC and ST.

7. Economic Development Programmes

Rs 20.00 lakhs

The Welfare Department has been implementing various programmes in Tribals and SC populated areas to improve their economic condition. These schemes are in addition to various other schemes being implemented by other department in the State. The schemes are chosen to supplement the efforts of the other departments to provide new sources of income for the ST and SC population in the State. The programmes are identified so as to provide the maximum benefit by supplementing or increasing income level of the SC and ST people. The programmes are tailored to the needs of the areas of implementation. It is also proposed to cover the OBCs under the above schemes in the modest scale.

8. Intensive Development of SC/ST Dominated Area:

Rs 10.00 lakhs

The present planning adopted by the State does not take note of the different levels of development between ST and SC dominated areas and other general areas. This has resulted in different levels of development among different areas. Though the present planning process has resulted in development of physical infrastructure in ST and SC dominated areas but such development has not always been conclusive to the development of SC and ST people. The present approach of investing in ST and SC dominated areas on the assumption that such investment would generate employment opportunity and raise the income level of these people has not always fulfilled its goal. Though investment has resulted is growth of infrastructure it has been done without corresponding stress on the growth of the people. To avoid such pit falls the department has been taking up a programme for intensive development of selected blocks of SC/ST dominated areas for development during each year. Government has declared 31 most backward villages in each of 31 constituency as model village. It is propose to cover 15 model villages for intensive development during the year.

9. Assistance to Voluntary Agency

NIL Lakhs

Voluntary organisations is found to have an important role in development of ST, SC, OBC AND OTHER POPULATION. It is proposed that deserving voluntary organisation would not only be helped but consciously build up in the field of ST, SC and OBC development. The working group of the Central Government of Tribal Sub Plan ahs laid importance of involving voluntary organisation particularly those having substantial tribal representations in implementation of various programmes having bearing on tribal development. Voluntary organisations can play a vital role in educating the backward section of the people for an effective implementations of various programmes. The voluntary organisation serve as a link between the backward section of the people and the Government and create confidence among the backward section towards schemes implemented for them. It is proposed to identify voluntary agency to work in tribal areas and backward areas and encourage them to operate in appropriate areas of activities. Grants to these voluntary associations will be given according to the responsibility for implementing specific programmes determined by the Government. The activities of the association will be monitered and only those actively involved in development of SC, ST and OBC population would be given financial help. We proposed to cover OBC population also under the above scheme from 2000-2001.

10. Welfare Boards

Rs 4.00 lakhs

The Government has formed two separate Boards for SC & SC Welfare which function under the Department. The Boards have been constituted to infuse fresh ideas into implementation of various programmes for the weaker sections of the population. The members of the Boards are chosen from the general public representing all the four districts so that the problems of the grass root level can be highlighted to the Department for formulating various schemes. The Boards play a vital role in advising the Department in taking up appropriate programmes for the people at the grass root level.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT

11. SC/St and OBC Hostel Buildings, Ashram Schools and Residential School:

Rs 85.00 lakhs

The Central Government has a programme of granting 50% grants for setting up Tribal, SC and OBC hostels for boys and girls in ST, SC and OBC dominated areas as well as Ashram Schools for students in tribal dominated areas and residential school of OBC students in South district. This programme is very essential it progress is to be made in the field of improvement of literacy among SC/ST and OBC population. This scheme is implemented by the Education Department. But presently Government of Sikkim has not been able to avail the full benefit of this scheme since the department of education does not have sufficient resources to meet the 50% share of the centrally sponsored Scheme. This scheme if avail of would not only lighten the burden of the State Government in building schools and hostels in tribal, SC and OBC dominated areas but would also go a long way in a ameliorating the educational quality imparted to SC, Stand OBC students.

12. Development of OBC and Minorities

Rs 23.00 lakhs

The Central Government has directed State Governments to take all steps for integration of minorities and OBC in the National mainstream for making them equal partners in the nation building process. According to the programmes laid down by the Central Government for the development of minorities the State Government has to take up various programmes to improve their economic condition and also provide security of life and property to these section of people. The emphasis has been laid on educational and economic development by taking up schemes which would benefit these section of the population. The State Government has already identified a number of castes which fall into this category. In order to meet the expenditure for taking up developmental schemes for the welfare of minorities of OBC.

13. Research Monitoring & Evaluation

Rs 10.00 lakhs

Under this schemes the Department proposes to evaluate the on-going project and formulate Action plan of applied nature to assess the impact of various development schemes taken up [by the department, for uplifting the economic condition of the Scheduled Caste population of the State.

ABSTRACT

(Rs in thousand)
Sl. No	Schemes	9th Plan	Annual Plan (2001-02)
	REVENUE SECTION
1.	Direction & Administration	417.00	88.00
2.	Scholarship/Edn.	292.00	58.00
3.	Vocational Training	60.00	20.00
4.	OBC & Minorities Development	100.00	23.00
5.	Pre-Examination Training	23.00	1.00
6.	Safai Karmachari Dev.	4.00	Nil
7.	Prevention of Atrocities	4.00	1.00
8.	Research & Monitoring	12.00	10.00
9.	Economic Development	153.00	20.00
10.	Intensive Development	73.00	10.00
11.	Voluntary Agencies	40.00	00.00
12.	Welfare Boards	32.00	4.00
	Total (Revenue Section)	1210.00	235.00
	CAPITAL SECTION
1.	Sikkim SC, ST & OBC Development Corporation	250.00	150.00
2.	SC, ST & OBC Hostel Building, Ashram Schools Residential School for OBC	40.00	85.00
	Total (Capital Sec.)	290.00	235.00
	Grand Total	1500.00	470.00