The Gazetteers Department

The social welfare activities in Bhir district date back to the year 1952-53 when a modest beginning was made in that direction with a small staff under the supervision of the collector. In 1954 a social welfare officer with a regular staff was appointed to look after the social welfare activities in the district.

With the formation of the Zilla Parishad, Bhir, the social welfare schemes in the district have been transferred to the Zilla Parishad. The district social welfare officer, now works under the Zilla Parishad. Government makes purposive grants to the Parishad for the implementation of welfare schemes for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, vimukta jatis, nomadic tribes and navabudhas in the district.

Backward classes are classified into three broad categories, viz., (1) the Scheduled Castes or harijans, (2) the scheduled tribes or Adivasis and (3) the other backward classes, who socially, economically and educationally are as backward as the other two categories. The communities coming under the first two categories are notified by the Government of India. The communities coming under other backward classes are recognised by the state government. The class of other backward classes recognised on community basis has now been replaced by a new category based on income (i.e., those having an annual income of less than Rs. 900).

To ameliorate the conditions of backward classes and to bring them in line with other sections of the population, a number of privileges have been granted to backward classes by the Constitution of India and special grants are also made towards the schemes for their uplift. Besides normal concessions made available to them from time to time, special schemes have also been framed for them by state government under the Five-Year Plans.

The disabilities of the backward classes are three fold-educational, economic and social. A three-pronged drive therefore to eliminate these difficulties has been launched by the Government and the actual implementation of the activities at the district level has been transferred to the Zilla Parishad.

In what follows is an account of the various social welfare schemes presently being implemented in the district.

Educational

To encourage the spread of education a large number of scholarships and general concessions such as free studentship etc., are granted to backward class students at Government and private educational institutions. Schemes such as grants for purchase of books and stationery, payment of examination fees, provision of hostel facilities for backward class students studying at all stages of education are implemented. Formerly, there were two government hostels for backward class people in the district, one each at Ambejogai and Bhir. Since 1959 these were handed over to the Bharatiya Depressed Class League at Aurangabad. Besides, 15 hostels in the district run for backward class students by private agencies, receive grant-in-aid from the government. Bhils form a majority (2,637 according to 1961 census) among the scheduled tribes in the district. Educational concessions are being extended to them. The Indian Conference of Social Work, Bhir Branch and the Baneshwar Shikshan Sanstha, Bansarola, receive grants for running balwadis for children belonging to the scheduled castes.

Economic

Economic rehabilitation is sought by. grant of lands and other facilities for rehabilitating backward classes in agriculture, establishing training; centres for training in various crafts and providing financial help, encouraging co-operative activity among the backward classes, introducing special measures for housing, reserving seats for them in state government, local bodies and semi-government organisations.

In addition the scheduled caste communities are provided with drinking water facilities, medical aid, sites and aid for housing, assistance to harijan artisans and assignments of lands under special Loan Rules. Steps are also taken to create among harijans a general consciousness for sanitation and hygienic living. Welfare of ex-criminal tribes is sought by providing them with drinking water facilities, housing and vocational aid. The agriculturists are given assistance for purchase of plough, bullocks seeds and implements. A special primary school has been established at Ragegaon in Manjlegaon tahsil for the Banjara people

To encourage co-operative activity among the members of the backward communities the following societies have been formed in the district with the active assistance of the Co-operation and Industries Department: —

(i) The Kambal Weavers' Co-operative Society, Brahmangaon, Ashti Tahsil.
(ii) The Charmakars' Co-operative Society, Kada, Ashti Tahsil.
(iii) The Tanners' Co-operative Society, Patoda.
(iv) The Charmakars' Co-operative Society, Bhir.
(v) The Tanners' Co-operative Society, Bhir.

From 1950, 12 per cent of the vacancies in Class I and II posts and 18 per cent vacancies in Class III and IV posts in the state service are reserved for the backward class candidates. The maximum age limit for appointment to Class III and IV services is also relaxable by five years in case of backward class candidates.

In 1957-58, 100 houses, at a cost of Rs. 850 each, were constructed at Rajuri in Bhir by the department from the fund provided by the central sector. Under the state sector, colonies to house backward class population have been constructed at Parali and Therla. Community halls have been constructed for the scheduled castes at Georai, Talkhed, Bansarola, Rajuri and Ashti.

Social

Activities under this head mainly consist of creating a general social consciousness towards the removal of untouchability, promoting a gradual assimilation of scheduled tribes in the general social set up and rehabilitation of ex-criminal and nomadic tribes.

Grant-in-aid is given to the Maharashtra Harijan Sevak Sangh, Dhulia and Akhil Bharatiya Shri Gurudeo Seva Mandal, Mozri to carry out the anti-untouchability drive in the rural areas of the district. These measures go a long way to help achieve the social objectives of a welfare state.