OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT

Organisation.- The Department of Social Welfare was constituted at State level after the Reorganisation of States in November 1956. The welfare work done in the past by the Backward Class department was transferred to the newly constituted department, viz., the Social Welfare department. The designation of the Director of Backward Class Welfare was changed to Director, Social Welfare department. The post of Chief Inspector of Certified Schools and Institutions was redesignated as Deputy Director of Social Welfare (correctional wing) who assists the Director of Social Welfare in matters relating to correctional wing. There is also another post of a Deputy Director which is entrusted with the work relating to the backward class welfare and correctional administration. The important function of the backward class wing of the Social Welfare department is to improve the conditions of backward classes so as to put them on par with the other advanced classes of the society.

The divisional offices of the Social Welfare department are working at the headquarters of each revenue division of the State. The incharge of the divisional office is the Divisional Officer who is a class I officer: whereas the Social Welfare Officers, who are class II officers, are posted at district level. After the formation of Zilla Parishad the services of the Social Welfare Officers have been transferred to the Zilla Parishad. Now they are responsible to the Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad. The subject of welfare of scheduled castes and other backward classes in the district is now within the purview of the Zilla Parishad. In the standing committee of Zilla Parishad, at least two members from scheduled castes and other backward classes are required to be elected under the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis Act. The standing committee acts as subject committee for that subject and the District Social Welfare Officer works under it. The Social Welfare Officers are required to execute the various schemes formulated by the Social Welfare department. The Social Welfare Officer is assisted in his work by a Social Welfare Inspector.

The Social Welfare Officer acts as a liaison officer between the backward classes and the departments of the State Government. He is supposed to see that full benefits of the legislation and schemes undertaken by the Government accrue to the backward classes. In addition to these officers, there are Organisers who are class II officers, incharge of certain zones in Vidarbha region. Their duties are to look after the welfare of the tribal people in their respective zones.

The backward classses are divided into three broad categories - (a) scheduled castes or Harijans, (b) scheduled tribes or adivasis and (c) other backward classes who are backward in terms of social, economic and educational activities. The first two categories have been notified by the Government of India for each State, whereas the communities forming the third group which are recognised by the State differ in the component units of the State. However, the classification of other backward classes based on the communities does not exist now. The new category is based on the income of family such as a family whose income does not exceed of Rs. 1,800 per annum. Thus the students coming from this class enjoy concessions and other facilities such as free education, etc., at all stages of education.

The backward class population in the Buldhana district, as per 1961 Census, is as under:

The percentage of backward class people to the total population comes to 25.7%.

To improve the conditions of the backward classes, many concessions and privileges have been granted to them by the Constitution of India. In addition to the normal concession in respect of all matters, the State Government implements various schemes for the welfare of backward classes under Five-Year Plans.

Measures of uplift.- The disabilities of the backward classes can be grouped as - (a) educational, (b) economical and (c) social. Efforts are being made to eliminate these drawbacks within the shortest possible time.

Educational: The educational facilities include schemes of granting fees at all stages of education irrespective of age and income, examination fees of the recognised examinations and scholarships to the students from the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, vimukta jatis and the backward classes. The concession is awarded to the students learning in primary schools, high schools or technical institutions. During 1962-63, 1,378 students were given benefits to the tune of Rs. 86,579 under these schemes.

The provision of hostel facilities is regarded as a boon to the backward class students scattered in villages where the educational institutions are absent. These facilities lift them from their none-too-happy surroundings. The students are given opportunities to mix-up with different stratas in social life which helps in eradicating the stigma of untouchability. The Social Welfare department encourages voluntary agencies to establish and maintain the backward class hostels for boys and girls by giving substantial amount of grants under the rules for recognition and payment of grant-in-aid to backward class hostels run by voluntary agencies. At present there are 8 backward class hostels in the district run by different voluntary agencies. Students belonging to the non-backward class category are admitted in these hostels to the extent of 20 per cent of their total income capacity. These hostels are located as under: -

In addition to the above hostels, following are the cosmopolitan hostels in the district with a sanctioned strength of 64 students: -

In 1967-68 separate hostels each for boys and girls were opened at Buldhana and Khamgaon, respectively.

The total expenditure on the educational schemes for backward class students was Rs. 1,46,354 during the year 1967-68. The department is running a Balwadi at Sakharkherda, the annual expenditure on which comes to Rs. 210.

Economical: The backward classes suffer from poor economic conditions and with a view to assist them in improving their economic conditions, financial assistance is given to them. The schemes under which such financial assistance is given are as under:-

Grant of loan-cum-subsidy to backward classes: -

(a) for cottage industries and professions,

(b) for purchase of milch cattle, and

(c) for purchasing improved agricultural implements, etc.

A number of housing societies of backward classes have been formed in the district. Financial assistance in the form of loans and subsidies is given to these societies. Assistance in cash or kind for repairing the houses is also provided under this scheme. Rs. 21,100 were given to 68 beneficiaries during 1962-63. There were 28 co-operative housing societies in the year 1967-68. In addition, loans amounting to Rs. 65,967 and subsidy of Rs. 24,845 were sanctioned by the Directorate of Social Welfare, Poona, for construction of 30 houses tor sweepers.

In so far as provision of drinking water facilities is concerned, an amount of Rs. 2,200 was spent for digging tube wells, and a sum of Rs. 3,500 was spent for digging 2 drinking water wells for scheduled castes.

Monetary aid is also given to the backward classes on medical grounds. Rs. 600 were spent during the year 1962-63 on 15 beneficiaries. The total expenditure incurred as aid given on account of housing, health and other schemes amounted to Rs. 72,000 during the year 1965-66.

Financial assistance is given to poor agriculturists belonging to vimukta jatis and other backward classes to purchase ploughs, bullocks, carts, seeds, implements, etc. An amount of Rs. 9,200 was given to 84 beneficiaries in the year 1962-63. An amount of Rs. 1,200 was distributed among 120 backward class agriculturists under the scheme of loan-cum-subsidy for purchase of improved agricultural implements during the year 1967-68. Out of the total land amounting to 29,269 acres available for distribution, 13,480 acres were distributed to 1,702 backward class families for cultivation up to year 1968.

Social: The schemes for removal of untouchability include various measures of publicity against untouchability. The legislation on the subject, viz., the Bombay Harijan (Removal of Social Disabilities) Act (XXXVI of 1947), as amended in 1948, can be said to be a land-mark in this respect. Sanskar kendras and Balwadis are organised, filmshows and dramas are staged, gatherings are addressed at lairs and other places of assembly and inter-caste dinners, celebration weeks and days are arranged. Similarly, building sites are given to scheduled castes people in localities peopled by other castes and communities and subsidy is paid to caste Hindu landlords for letting their premises to backward classes Mixed hostels where backward class pupils and caste Hindu boys are admitted are recognised by State Government for grant-in-aid. Inter-caste marriages are encouraged by Government and public reception is given to such couples which is attended by many officials of the Government. Prizes are also awarded to villages which show outstanding work for the removal of untouchability. An amount of Rs. 2,123 was spent under the various schemes during the year 1962-63. During 1967-68 the expenditure amounted to Rs. 1,640.

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