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WORKSHOP OF COLLECTORS ON REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES FOR SCs AND STs BEGINS TODAY
New Delhi ~ August 9, 2001
A two-day Workshop of Collectors to review the implementation of development programmes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes began here today. Delivering the Welcome address the Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Shri Dileep Singh Bhuria asked the States to increase allocations under Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). Shri Bhuria pointed out that with a few exceptions allocations under SCP and TSP are often short of prescribed proportion and diversions from even these inadequate allocations are quite common.
Shri Bhuria said that detailed guidelines have been issued by Planning Commission for formulation of SCP and TSP which envisage allocation of resources by the Central Ministries and the States at least in proportion of SC and ST population and to formulate specific need based programmes for their economic development. Shri Bhuria said that level of education among SCs and STs continues to be much lower than other communities. As against the male and female literacy rates of 64% and 39% for the country in 1991 the corresponding figures for SCs was 50 and 24 and those for STs it was 41 and 18 respectively.
Addressing the meeting Shri Jual Oram Union Minister for Tribal Affairs expressed concern over the fact that several States are not allocating funds for Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) in proportion to the population of Scheduled Tribes. He asked the Collectors to deliberate upon this issue and take it up with their respective Governments. The Minister said that the Collectors in-charge of the Tribal dominated districts should give up the mind set up of "teaching tribals" and instead he said there is much that the non-tribals can learn from tribals. He pointed out that evils like dowry and corruption just do not exist in the tribal societies.
Smt. Malti S. Sinha Secretary National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes also spoke on the occasion. The two-day Workshop would conclude tomorrow with the Valedictory address by Smt. Maneka Gandhi Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
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