As
a welfare State, India is committed to the welfare and development of
its people, particularly the vulnerable sections like the scheduled castes
(SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), backward classes, minorities and the handicapped.
This section of the society constitutes nearly 85% of the population.
Welfare
of the SCs, STS, Backward Classes and others
Almost
a quarter of India's population consists of SCs and STs, who had been
grievously neglected for centuries. The government has taken several
steps for their welfare. The representation of the SCs and STs in all
Parliament and State Assemblies is assured.
Under
the Special Assistance scheme, nearly 300, 000 families were expected
to benefit during 1994-95. There is a Special Component Plan for the
SCs. The central government participates in the share capital investment
of the Scheduled Caste Development Corporation, set up in the states.
The National SC and ST Finance and Development Corporation is a 100%
government-owned no profit no loss corporation for developing entrepeneurial
and other skills of this section.
To deal with
the problem of scavengers, called Safai Karmacharis, a National Commission
for Safai Karmacharis has been set up. There is a National Scheme of
Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers. Scholarships are offered
to SC/ST students who can also draw from the Book Banks. They also receive
coaching for civil services examinations and professional institutions
through special centres across India.
The Tribal Sub
Plan strategy and Special Central Assistance programmes aim at improving
the lot of the STs. Under the 20-point programme, over one million ST
families were assisted during 1994. A Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development
Federation of India (TRIFED) has been set up with its turnover in 1994
crossing Rs. 173 crore. For the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the government
has announced a 27% reservation in civil services and posts. A National
Backward Class Finance and Development Corporation has also been set
up.
Minorities
The
minorities have received a new deal with the establishment of the Minorities
Finance and Development Corporation in September 1994. It will primarily
benefit the backward sections amongst the minorities. The Central Wakf
Council takes up the job of developing Wakf properties. A 15-point programme
for the welfare of the minorities is being implemented. It also needs
to be stressed that there is no bar against practicing any religion
in India.
Children
and Drug Abuse
A
National Policy on Children was adopted in 1974. It states that the
nurture and solicitude of the children is the responsibility of the
States. In line with the UN Declaration on the Right of the Child, India
enacted the Juvenile Justice Act 1986. India became the first country
to adopt that legislation.
There are over
450 day care centres, old-age homes and mobile medicare units. Over
60 units also function for the welfare of street children. A Central
Adoption Resource Agency has been set up to function as the clearing
house of information on children available for adoption.
There are 359
counselling centres for drug abuse prevention, which also propagate
awareness. The government finances 250 NGOs which are involved in drug
abuse prevention activities. A tripartite agreement between the government,
ILO and UNDCP has been signed to help full rehabilitation and recovery
of drug addicts.
Family
Welfare Programme
India
has 2.4% of the world's land, but supports 16% of the entire global
population. According to the latest (1991) census report, India has
a population of 846.30 million. Since the last census (1981), the country's
population has increased by 150 million. Thus the task of eradicating
poverty is a daunting one, indeed.
But
the latest census figures have also brought some hope and indicated
that efforts being made in the field of family welfare have not entirely
gone waste. For the first time, the growth rate of population has declined
from 2.22% (in 1981) to 2.14%. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which
was 140 per 1000 live births in 1981, came down to 80. The death rate
declined sharply from 15 per 1000 to 9.6. The Eighth Plan goal is to
achieve a birth rate of 7 per 1000, IMR of 70 and death rate of 9 per
1000. The life expectancy is expected to hit 64 from 58 years at present.
Child
and Mother Care
In
view of the close relationship between high birth rate and high infant
mortality, various child and mother health care programmes are being
implemented. In 1992, a Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme
was launched to provide for universal immunisation and safe motherhood
intiatives. NGOs are being given increasing support in an effort to
involve the community for promoting spacing methods to stabilise the
population. Innovative programmes which use the local dialect and folklore
have been prepared under the Information, Entertainment and Communication
scheme. The target of these programmes is the low performing States
and districts.
Rural
Health Services
The
Government is paying increasing attention to integrated health, maternity
and child care in rural areas. An increasing number of community health
workers and doctors are being sent to rural health centres. Primary
health care is being provided to the rural population through a network
of over 150, 000 primary health centres and sub-centres by 586, 000
trained midwives and 410, 000 health guides.
Housing
and Urban Development
Various
policies and initiatives of the Government have put the country on the
threshold of a major qualitative and quantitative change in the housing
and urban development sector. The target is to ensure a minimum level
of shelter and basic amenities by the year 2001 AD.
Integrated
Rural Development Programme
The
Integrated Rural Development Programme provides practical assistance
to economically deprived families; the upgradation of skills via the
Training for Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM) will cover 600
families in each block. In 1983, ten million such families were covered.
The National Rural Employment Programme gives direct wage employment
by utilising labour power to build durable community assets. In the
field of agriculture, the management of non-irrigated, rain fed agriculture
(which constitutes 73 per cent of the country's cropped area) has led
to the identification of around 4, 246 watersheds. 46 of these have
already been taken up by various agricultural institutions and universities.
One such agricultural institution is the National Bank for Agriculture
and Rural Development (NABARD), which mobilises resources and provides
credit to the rural sector.
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