The Gazetteers Department

AT THE MINISTERIAL LEVEL, THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE was constituted immediately on reorganisation of States, i.e., since 1st November, 1956. It, however, took shape at the Directorate level since 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 is now done by the Backward Class Wing of the Social Welfare Department. The other wing of the Social Welfare Department is the Correctional Wing. The designation of the Directorate of Backward Class Welfare is now changed to Director of Social Welfare who is the head of the Social Welfare Department of the State. He is assisted by a Joint Director of Social Welfare who is an I. A. S. officer of senior grade who looks after the Backward Class work. The post of the Chief Inspector of Certified Schools and Institutions is redesignated as Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Correctional Wing) and this officer assists the Director of Social Welfare in matters relating to the Correctional Wing. A third post of Deputy Director has also been created under the Social Welfare Department to look after the work other than Backward Class Welfare and Correctional Wing. The Backward Class Wing of the Social Welfare Department aims at ameliorating the conditions of backward classes so that they reach the standards of other privileged sections of the society as quickly as possible.

Organisation.

There are no divisional offices for the present. There is a Regional Officer in charge of Social Welfare and a Regional Officer in charge of Tribal Welfare at Nagpur, for Vidarbha region. At the district level, the department has district officers now termed as Social Welfare Officers who are of the status of second grade mamlatdars. They execute the schemes implemented by the Social Welfare Department and co-ordinate the work of backward class welfare in the district implemented by the various departments of the State.

Backward Classes.

The classification of Backward Classes is made into three broad categories, viz., (1) The Scheduled Castes or Harijans, (2) The Scheduled Tribes or Adivasis, and (3) The Other Backward Classes, who are neither scheduled castes nor scheduled tribes but 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 under the orders of the President, for each of the States in the Indian Union. The communities coming under other Backward Classes were recognised by the State Government [Government Resolution, Labour and Social Welfare Department, No OBC. 1759-E dated 18th May, 1959.]. This class of Other Backward Classes, based previously on the basis of communities has now been abolished and a new category based on income, i.e., those having an annual income of less than Rs. 900 has been created.

It is the policy of Government to ameliorate the conditions of backward classes so as to bring them in line with other sections of the population. A number of privileges have also been granted to backward classes by the Constitution of India and special grants are also being paid every year by the Government of India, under Article 275 (i), of the Constitution of India for ameliorating the condition 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.

Measures for uplift.

The disabilities of backward classes are threefold-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.

Education.

Education: This is encouraged by instituting a large number of scholarships, general concessions of free studentships, giant oi lump sum scholarships for purchase of books and stationery, etc., payment of examination fees, provision of hostel facilities, etc., for backward class students studying at all stages of education- primary, secondary and collegiate. Special Ashram schools for Scheduled Tribes, Sanskar Kendras and Balwadis are also opened for the spread of education amongst backward classes.

Economic Rehabilitation.

Economic Rehabilitation.-This is mainly effected by (i) grant of cultivable waste lands and other facilities 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 the idea of co-operative movement in their day-to-day life, providing them all facilities provided by the State under special additional concessions and safe-guards for backward classes, (iv) introducing special measures for housing of backward classes, and (v) by reserving certain percentages of vacancies for backward classes in service under State Government and local bodies and under semi-Government organisations.

Social Welfare.

The activity under this is designed to remove the stigma of untouchability in respect of scheduled castes, assimilation of scheduled tribes in the general population without destroying then hereditary traits and rehabilitation of ex-criminal tribes and nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes from among the category of other backward classes. Legislation as well as propaganda through the agency of voluntary agencies are the means used to achieve this object.

The Untouchability Offences Act, 1955, passed by the Government of India is to stop the practice of the observance of untouchability.

With the liberal assistance of the Central Government under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution of India, amounting to 50 per cent of the expenditure by State Government, various measures are undertaken by the State Government for the uplift of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Vimukta Jatis and Other Backward Classes under the Second Five-Year Plan. These measures are framed in view of the felt needs of these sections of backward classes with a view to achieving their economic uplift and settlement and removal of their social disabilities. The Second Five-Year Plan provides for a programme of backward class welfare for which a total outlay of Rs. 4.50 crores was made. Besides this, the Government of India also sponsored on cent per cent basis a special programme amounting to Rs. 3.27 crores for the welfare of backward classes in the State which include the opening of seven multipurpose projects in Scheduled Areas of the State, along with other measures for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Vimukta Jatis

In the implementation of these Backward Class Welfare measures, advice and co-operation is also sought from the eminent social workers and voluntary organisations through the State Board for Harijans Welfare, the State Tribes Advisory Council and the District Backward Class Sub-Committees of the District Development Board in each district.

The following institutions have been established for the welfare of backward classes in Kolaba district.

Institutions.

Hostels.

Hostels.-There are seven hostels run by the District School Board for backward class pupils. These are situated at Nate, Murud, Nagothana, Neral, Khalapur, Khopoli, and Kalamb.

There is only one hostel run by voluntary agencies in Kolaba district, viz., Shri Sant Vinoba Bhave Chhatralaya at Pali, taluka Sudhagad, district Kolaba.

Housing Societies.

Housing Societies.-There are five housing societies of backward class persons established in the district to which Government aid is given under Post-War Reconstruction Scheme. These have been established at Uran, Chowk (taluka Khalapur), Kamathewadi (taluka Karjat), Karjat (taluka Karjat), and Janjira (taluka Murud).

Other Societies.

Other Societies.-The grain depots for Adivasis run through Multipurpose Societies are at Sagaon, taluka Karjat and another at Mangaon.

There are only three forest labourers societies in the district viz., Kamale Adivasi Society, taluka Alibag, Sudhagad Adivasi Society, taluka Sudhagad, and Dandguri Adivasi Society, taluka Shriwardhan.

Three sanskar kendras are conducted at Ramraj, Karma, and Pada in Alibag taluka with a view to provide healthy environments, to backward class children and thereby develop a sense of co-operation amongst them.

Two ashram schools are run in the district for the benefit of scheduled tribe pupils at Waveleli. and Chive.

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