OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES

SOCIAL WELFARE

Organisation: The Department of Social Welfare was constituted at the ministerial level in 1956. It took shape at the Directorate level from 1957. The backward class welfare work done in the past by the Backward Class Department was transferred to the backward class wing of the Social Welfare Department. The other wing of this Department is the correctional wing. The designation of Director of Backward Class Welfare was changed to that of Director of Social Welfare, who is the head of the Department. The post of the Chief Inspector of Certified Schools and Institutions was redesignated as Deputy Director of Social Welfare (correctional wing). The Special Officer looks after the welfare and education of physically handicapped. At the divisional level the Divisional Welfare Officers are responsible for the social welfare work in their respective divisions. The department has district officers termed as District Social Welfare Officers whose services have been transferred to the Zilla Parishads since 1962. They are responsible to the Chief Executive Officers of the Zilla Parishads. The District Social Welfare Officers execute the schemes proposed by the department and co-ordinate the work of backward class welfare in the district in respect of backward class welfare schemes implemented by various departments.

With the formation of the Zilla Parishad in the district, the subject of social welfare of backward classes is now within the purview of the Parishad. In the standing committee of the Zilla Parishad, which is the most powerful committee of the Parishad. at least two members from the scheduled castes and other socially and economically backward classes are required to be elected by the Parishad. This standing committee acts as subjects committee for that subject and the District Social Welfare Officer works under it. The Zilla Parishad is also legally required to spend adequate amounts for the amelioration of the conditions of the backward classes and in particular removal of untouchability.

The backward classes are classified into three broad categories viz., (a) scheduled castes, (b) scheduled tribes and (c) other backward classes, who socially, economically and educationally are as backward as the other two sections. The communities coming under the first head are notified by the Government of India for each State, while communities forming the second group are recognised by the respective States. Castewise classification of other backward classes' has now been replaced by a new classification based on income. All the persons, whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1,800 per year are, irrespective of their religion, caste or community, treated as belonging to the group of other backward classes, from May 1960, the scheduled castes converted to Buddhism are also eligible for all concessions and facilities available to the scheduled castes except the statutory concessions under the Constitution and certain special schemes for removal of untouchability, etc., which cannot by their very nature apply to non-Hindus.

The population of the scheduled castes as per the Census of 1961 [As per 1971 Census the population of Scheduled Castes was 71,571, including- 36 529 males.] was 55,866 of which 28,364 were males and 27,502 females. Actually 17 castes were notified as scheduled castes but only 14 were reported in the district in 1961. The comparative position of the scheduled castes population in 1951 and 1961 in the district was as follows:

The proportion of the scheduled castes has decreased substantially from 21.04 in 1951 to 4.70 in 1961. It was the result of a large number of persons from the Mahar community returning their religion in 1961 Census as Buddhist or Nao-Buddhas. The combined population of the scheduled castes and Buddhists in 1961 makes for 21.36 per cent of the total district population as against 21.04 per cent of the scheduled castes in 1951.

Measures of Uplift: The disabilities of the backward classes are three fold: economical, educational, and social. A three-pronged drive therefore to eliminate these disabilities has been launched by the Government and the implementation of the schemes at the district level has been transferred to the Zilla Parishad. Following is the account of progress achieved under various schemes implemented in the district.

Educational.-In the field of education large number of scholarships and general concessions are granted to the students belonging to the backward classes at Government and private institutions. The provision of hostel facilities is also made available to the students studying at all levels of education. During 1962-63, 3,101 students benefited from the various schemes upon which Rs. 1,20,356 were spent. The expenditure on education under Plan and non-Plan sectors during 1968-69 was as follows:

In order to provide boarding and lodging facilities to the backward class students taking education at different places where they themselves cannot afford them due to their poor economic conditions, the Government encourages voluntary agencies to make available hostel facility for the backward class students on grant-in-aid basis. The grants are paid at the rate of Rs. 25 per month per student for ten months in case of boys' hostels and Rs. 30 per month in case of hostels for girl students. An amount of Rs. 1,38,330 was spent on 13 backward class hostels and 13 cosmopolitan hostels in the year 1962-63. Besides this, a sum of Rs. 37,208 was given as building grants to 3 backward class hostels. The expenditure incurred during the period 1968-69 under Plan and non-Plan sectors on the hostel schemes is given below:

In 1968-69, the number of the backward class hostels run by voluntary agencies stood at 36.

The balwadis are also run with a view to educate the backward class children and to achieve their assimilation with other Hindu caste children. In Akola district there were five balwadis, three for scheduled castes and two for vimukta jatis, and an expenditure of Rs. 5,942 and Rs. 3,393, respectively was incurred during the period 1968-69 upon them. Besides, two sanskar kendras were run for the scheduled castes by voluntary agencies at Umara and Akot. During 1968-69, an expenditure of Rs.1,588 was incurred on these kendras.

Economical.-The economic rehabilitation is sought by grant of land and other facilities for rehabilitating the backward class persons in agriculture, establishing training centres for various crafts and encouraging co-operative activities among themselves, by introducing measures for housing, medical aid etc. Loans are also granted for cottage industries and professions and assistance for purchase of milch cattle, etc., is extended. Under this scheme Rs. 14,200 were distributed among 56 beneficiaries from under-developed rural areas during 1962-63, and Rs. 900 were spent on 3 beneficiaries under the scheme of assistance for purchase of milch cattle. During the same period monetary aid of Rs. 500 was given under the scheme of medical aid, the number of beneficiaries being 8, and an amount of Rs. 20,250 was spent on 11 beneficiaries for digging and construction of drinking water wells, etc.

A number of housing societies of backward classes are formed in the district. These societies construct houses for their members for which financial assistance in the form of loans and subsidies is given by the Government. Under this scheme Rs. 4.600 were given to 57 beneficiaries during 1962-63. In 1968-69 there were 10 co-operative housing societies and 8 forest labourers co-operative societies working in the district.

During the year 1968-69, out of 2,622 acres of land available for distribution, 1,156 acres were distributed among the persons belonging to backward classes. The expenditure incurred on propagation of improved agricultural implements under the Plan sector during 1968-69 is shown below:

Social.-The schemes for removal of untouchability include various measures of publicity against untouchability. Sanskar kendras, balwadis and film shows are organised and social gatherings are addressed at fairs and other places. Kirtan programmes and melas, intercaste dinners, celebration of weeks and days of national importance are also arranged. Building sites are given to the scheduled castes in caste Hindu localities and subsidy is paid to caste-Hindu landlords for letting their premises on hire to the scheduled castes. Prizes are also awarded to villages which show outstanding work for removal of untouchability. A sum of Rs. 9,282 was spent under the various schemes during 1962-63.

The schemes which were already in operation before Third Five Year Plan were treated as committed schemes and those added under the Third Five Year Plan were separately treated as Plan schemes. The expenditure described above against each scheme is out of the committed schemes and also includes expenditure on Plan schemes.

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