OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

Organisation.

At the Secretariat level the Department of Social Welfare was constituted immediately on reorganisation of States i.e., on November 1, 1956 with a separate Minister for Social Welfare. At the Directorate level a new Department of Social Welfare was constituted on September 15, 1957 [Vide Government Resolution, Labour and Social Welfare Department No.BCE-2857-D, dated 23rd September 1957.]. The Backward Class Welfare work done previously by the Backward Class Department was entrusted to the reconstituted Social Welfare Department. The duties performed by the Chief Inspector of Certified Schools were transferred to the reconstituted Directorate. The designation of the Director of Backward Class Welfare was changed to that of Director of Social Welfare. He is the head of Social Welfare department. The post of the Chief Inspector of Certified Schools and Institutions was redesignated as the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Correctional Wing). He assists the Director of Social Welfare in matters relating to the Correctional Wing. There are three Deputy Directors who look after the work relating to (i) the education and rehabilitation of Physically Handicapped, (ii) propaganda, research and statistics and (iii) sanitation and scavenging schemes. In addition to this there is one P.A., one Statistical Officer and one Special Officer for Scholarships for S.S.C. students. The Backward Class Wing of the Social Welfare Department aims at ameliorating the conditions of backward classes so that they reach the standard of other sections of the Society as quickly as possible.

There are Divisional Social Welfare Officers for each revenue division of the State which started functioning with effect from June 1, 1961. Since April 1, 1965, a post of Special Officer in Class II and a post of Social Welfare Inspector in Class III have been attached to each Division for speedy implementation of the recommendations of the Scavengers Living Conditions Enquiry Committee.

The Divisional Social Welfare Officers are of the status of Class I Officers. At the district level, the Department has district officers termed as Social Welfare Officers who are of the status of Class II Officers. They execute schemes implemented by the Social Welfare department and co-ordinate the work of backward class welfare in the district in respect of the schemes implemented by the various departments of the State. In respect of tribal welfare work in Vidarbha region, there are seven Area Organisers who are incharge of certain zones. They are also Class II Officers of the status of Social Welfare Officers. They look after the Tribal Welfare Schemes in their respective zones. Besides this there is one Nomadic Tribes Welfare Officer each at Poona and Aurangabad who look after the Welfare of Nomadic Tribes of Poona and Aurangabad Divisions. Since the year 1964-65 one Vimukta Jati Welfare Officer each at Bombay and Nagpur have been appointed for the welfare of Vimukta Jatis. These Officers attached to divisions now look after the work relating to nomadic tribes as well as Vimukta Jatis for the respective Divisions. Due to democratic decentralization, implementation of Schemes for the Welfare of Backward Classes has been transferred to Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis with effect from May 1, 1962.

A Tribal Research Unit has been established at Poona, in 1961-62 with the object of carrying research into the traits and characteristics of the Tribals and their problems so that the Tribal Welfare Programme could be fashioned to serve their needs. This Unit is headed by one Chief Research Officer who is assisted by two Research Officers and four Investigators and other necessary ministerial staff.

Backward Classes.

The Backward Classes are classified into three main categories viz., (1) the scheduled castes or harijans, (2) the scheduled tribes or adivasis and (3) the other backward classes who are socially and educationally backward. The communities coming under the first two categories are notified by the Government of India under the orders of the President. The Communities coming under the category, Other Backward Classes include:―

(a) Nav-Buddhas i.e., Scheduled Castes converted to Buddhism.

(b) Tribals residing outside the Scheduled and specified areas of Vidarbha.

(c) Nomadic Tribes and

(d) Vimukta Jatis i.e., Denotified Communities.

A number of privileges have been granted to Backward Classes by the constitution of India and special grants are also being paid every year by Government of India, for amelioration of Backward Classes. Besides normal concessions made available to Backward Classes from time to time, special Schemes have been framed for Backward Classes by the State Government under the Five Year Plans and these are being implemented vigorously.

Various measures of uplift of Backward Classes.

The disabilities of Backward Classes are three-fold, educational. economic and social. The Government have, therefore,  launched a three pronged drive with the object of eliminating  these disabilities within the shortest possible time.

Educational uplift.―This is achieved by instituting a large number of scholarships, universal concessions of free studentships and payment of examination fees. Provision for hostel facilities, Special Ashram Schools for Scheduled Tribes, Vimochit Jatis and Nomadic Tribes and Sanskar Kcndras and Balwadis for Scheduled castes, Vimochit Jatis and Nomadic Tribes is made with a view to spread education amongst the Backward Classes.

Economic Rehabilitation.―This is mainly effected by (i) grant of cultivable waste lands and assistance for development of land, bunding, supply of plough bullocks, implements, seeds, etc. i.e., for rehabilitating Backward Classes in agriculture, (ii) establishing training centres for imparting training in hereditary crafts and providing financial help for their rehabilitation in various cottage industries, (iii) imbibing co-operative spirit among them and (iv) reserving certain percentage of vacancies for Backward Classes in services under State Government and Local Bodies and under Semi Government Organisations.

Social Welfare.―The activity under this head is designed to remove the stigma of untouchability in respect of scheduled castes and to bring them to the level of the general population without destroying their hereditary traits and rehabilitation of Ex-Criminal Tribes and Nomadic Tribes in gainful and stable avocations. Legislation as well as propaganda through the medium of voluntary agencies are the means used to achieve this objective. A mention may be made of the untouchability Offences Act, 1955, passed by the Government of India to prohibit observance of untouchability in any form in this connection.

Financial assistance is made available by the Central Government to the extent of 100 per cent of the expenditure incurred under Centrally Sponsored Programme and 75 per cent and 50 per cent of the expenditure incurred on educational and other than educational schemes respectively under the State Five Year Plan. The IIIrd Five Year Plan of the Maharashtra State provided a sum of Rs. 5.81 crores for the Welfare of Backward Classes. Under the Centrally Sponsored programme an outlay of Rs. 306.40 lakhs has been provided for Maharashtra State. Under this programme Scholarships are being awarded to Backward Class students studying for post S.S.C. courses, 41 Tribal Development Blocks are being opened, Forest Labourers Co-operative Societies are being assisted, Tribal Research Unit is being maintained, assistance is being sanctioned for construction of houses for sweepers and scavengers and purchase of wheel barrows and hand-carts for the removal of night soil. The entire programme for the Welfare of Vimukta Jatis is also being financed under the Centrally Sponsored Programme.

Structure of the Department.

The District Social Welfare office was started in Chandrapur District with one District Welfare Officer as the Head of the office. He was assisted by Social Welfare Inspectors. He was entrusted with organisation and establishment of grampanchayats in the villages, organisation of literacy drive and spreading social education through social education classes literature and audio-visual equipment, inspection and grant-in-aid to social  welfare institutions and voluntary agencies doing social work  and all the activities connected with the Social Welfare including the removal of untouchability.

As a Jesuit of the reorganisation of States in 1956, the District Social Welfare Officer was designated as Social Welfare Officer and continued to be assisted by Social Welfare Inspectors. The work connected with panchayats and social education was transferred to Local Self-Government and Education Department at District level and now the Social Welfare Officer is entrusted with work relating to the Social Welfare Department.

All the. schemes undertaken by the Social Welfare Department are implemented by the Social Welfare Officer in the district and it is a part of his duties to see that the fullest benefit of all these schemes is received by the members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. He is also expected to see that the backward classes derive the maximum of the concessions sanctioned by Government in the field of education, health, housing, agriculture and allied professions, etc. The Social Welfare Officer in the district works directly under the control of the Collector of district.

In accordance with the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis Act. 1961, the work pertaining to Welfare of Backward Classes, has been entrusted to the Standing Committee of the Zilla Parishad. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer, of the Zilla Parishad is the Secretary of this Committee and the Social Welfare Officer, acts as the Joint Secretary. The President of the Zilla Parishad acts as the Chairman of Standing Committee. Of the total population of 12,38,070 of Chandrapur district, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and Navbudhists account for 42,643, 1,83,431 and 1,47,871 persons respectively as per the 1961 census. The population of Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes is estimated to be 7,220 and 7,500 respectively. Under sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph 6 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India the President has declared parts of Gadhchiroli, Sironcha and Rajura talukas of Chandrapur District as Scheduled Areas. The total population of Scheduled Tribes in these talukas is 1,16,851 as against total population of 1,76,938 having an area of 1,812.6 square miles.

Education.

The Social Welfare Officer, has been delegated powers to distribute scholarships, tuition and examination fees to Backward Class students through respective institutions. Grants-in-aid to Balwadis, Sanskar Kendras and Hostels is sanctioned by the Chief Executive Officer. Questions relating to recognition of new hostels, Balwadis and Sanskar Kendras and increase in strength of Backward Class Hostels are decided by the Standing Committee and final approval of the Chief Executive Officer is obtained. The expenditure incurred during the years 1963-64 and 1964-65 on major educational Schemes of all Backward Classes is given below.

EXPENDITURE INCURRED DURING 1963-64 AND 1964-65

Economic Uplift.

To improve the economic condition of Backward Classes, Government have introduced a number of Schemes such as (1) assistance for propagation of improved agricultural implements; (2) Cottage Industries and Professions and (3) Purchase of Milch Cattle etc. Financial Assistance is sanctioned on Loan-cum-Subsidy basis. The expenditure incurred on these Schemes in Chandrapur District during the years 1963-64 and 1964-65 is given below:―

EXPENDITURE INCURRED DURING 1963-64 AND 1964-65

Drinking water problem in rural areas is very acute. Government, therefore, spends large amounts every year, looking to the needs of Backward Classes in particular, on construction of drinking water wells.

Housing and Other Schemes.

Similarly housing conditions of Backward Classes are extremely unsatisfactory. Under the Scheme of housing aid a sum of Rs. 100 is paid in cash or kind to carry out repairs to houses of Backward Classes. Under individual housing a subsidy of Rs. 750 per house is given, the balance being borne out by the beneficiary from his own resources. The expenditure incurred on wells, housing and other Schemes during the years 1963-64 and 1964-65 is given below.

EXPENDITURE INCURRED DURING 1963-64 AND 1964-65

The eastern border of the Etapally Tribal Block is inhabited by a sub-tribe of Gonds called Murda Gonds. Nearly 188 families follow shifting cultivation on the hill slopes of forests of Sironcha Tahsil. Under the Scheme ' Rehabilitation of Tribal families practising shifting cultivation' 25 tribal families practising shifting cultivation are being rehabilitated every year in Bhamragarh range of Sironcha Tahsil of Chandrapur District at an annual cost of Rs. 50,000. The progress achieved since the inception of the Scheme to March 3, 1965, is given below:―

By the end of March, 1965, as many as 150 Tribal families practising shifting cultivation have been rehabilitated.

There are 25 Backward Class hostels and two cosmopolitan hostels in Chandrapur district. They are run by voluntary agencies in order to facilitate the inmates belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Besides, there are three Balwadis, 4 ashram schools and a Sanskar Kendra in the district. Also there are 5 Backward class housing societies working in the district.

A list of all these institutions is given below:―

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