OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT

Organisation.

At the ministerial level the Department of Social Welfare was constituted on the reorganisation of States from 1st November 1956, with a separate Minister for Social Welfare. At the Directorate level a new Department of Social Welfare was constituted on 15th September 1957. [Government Resolution Labour and Social Welfare Department No. BCE-28.57-1), dated 23rd September 1957.]

The backward class welfare work done previously by the Backward Class Department is now done by the reconstituted Social Welfare Department. The duties performed by the Chief Inspector of Certified Schools have also been transferred to the reconstituted Directorate. The designation of the Director of Backward Class Welfare has been changed to Director of Social Welfare who is the Head of the Social Welfare Department. 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. There are three Deputy Directors to 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 Personal Assistant, one Statistical Officer and one Special Officer for scholarships to post 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 1st June 1961. Since 1st April 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 Class I Officers. At the district level, the department has district officers termed as Social Welfare Officers who are Class II Officers. They execute the schemes implemented by the Social Welfare Department and co-ordinate the work of backward class welfare in the district in respect of backward class welfare schemes implemented by the various departments of the State. In accordance with the provisions of Maharashtra State Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961, all the schemes carried out by the Social Welfare Department in the district have been transferred 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 Joint Secretary. The Social Welfare Department of the Zilla Parishad is headed by the Social Welfare Officer who is responsible to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad. A post of Area Organiser, with headquarter at Yeotmal, has been created to look after the welfare of Scheduled Tribes.

In respect of tribal welfare work in Vidarbha region, there are also Class II Officers of the status of Social Welfare Officers. They look after the tribal welfare schemes in their respective zones. Besides, there are Nomadic Tribes Welfare Officers one each at Pune and Aurangabad to look after the welfare of Nomadic Tribes of Pune and Aurangabad Divisions. Since the year 1964-65 Vimukta Jatis Welfare Officers, one 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.

With the object of carrying on research into the traits and characteristics of scheduled tribes, a research unit was established at Pune in 1961-62. The Chief Research Officer is the head of this unit, and is assisted by two Research Officers and four Investigators and the 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 economically and educationalty backward. The communities coming under the first two categories are notified by the Government of India under the orders of the President. The new classification of other backward classes is based on the income i.e., those having an annual income of less than Rs. 1,800. This class is also granted the concessions of free education at all the stages of education.

Out of a total population of 1,098,470 in Yeotmal district, there, are 42,523 Scheduled Castes, 1,55,609 Scheduled Tribes, 96,908 [As per the 1971 Census the total population of the Yeotmal district was 1423,677, put pf which 55,894 were scheduled castes and 197,977 scheduled tribes.] Nava Bauddhas and 71,382 Tribals residing outside the specified area. At the same time the number of vimukta jatis and Nomadic Tribes is estimated to be 131,150 and 12,000, respectively. The tribals residing in Yeotmal, Wani and Kelapur talukas only are recognised as Scheduled Tribes. The communities coming under the category " Other Backward Classes " include: —

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

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

(c) Nomadic Tribes, and

(d) Vimukla 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, under Article 275 (i) for amelioration of backward classes. Besides, normal concessions are made available to Backward Classes from time to time. Similarly special schemes have been framed for backward classes by the State Government under the Five-Year Plans and these are being implemented vigorously.

Measures of uplift of Backward Classes.

The disabilities of backward classes are three-fold viz., 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.—It is encouraged by providing large number of scholarships, general concessions of free student-ships to the backward class students, exemption of examination fees to the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students and provision of hostel facilities for backward class students, studying at all stages of education. So also special Ashram schools for scheduled tribes, vimochit jatis, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, and sanskar kendras for nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes are opened with a view to spreading education amongst the backward classes. The expenditure incurred during the years 1963-64, 1964-65 and 1965-66 on major educational schemes of all backward classes is given below: —

TABLE No. 1

EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL SCHEMES FROM 1963-64 TO 1965-66.

Economic Rehabilitation.—This is mainly effected by: (i) grant of cultivable waste lands and assistance for development, seeds, etc., for the rehabilitation of backward classes in agriculture, (ii) establishing training centres for imparting training in hereditary crafts and providing financial help for there rehabilitation in various cottage industries, (iii) imbibing co-operative spirit among them by providing concessions and safeguards, and (iv) reserving certain percentage of vacancies for backward classes in services under State Government and local bodies and under the semi-government organisations.

Social Welfare.—The activity under this head is designed to remove the stigma of untouchability in respect of Scheduled Castes, assimilation of Scheduled Tribes into the general population without destroying their hereditary traits, and rehabilitation of ex-criminal tribes and nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes in gainful and stable avocations. Legislation as well as propaganda through the medium of voluntary agencies are means used to achieve this objective. The Untouchability Offences Act, 1955. passed by the Government of India to prohibit observance of untouchability in any form, deserves a mention here.

Financial assistance is made available by the Central Government under Article 275 (i) of the Constitution of India to the extent of 100 per cent of the expenditure incurred under centrally sponsored programmes 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 Plans. The Third-Five Year Plan of the State had provided 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 in post-S.S.C. courses, 40 Tribal Development Blocks have been opened. Forest Labourers Co-operative Societies are being assisted, a Tribal Research Unit is being maintained and assistance is being sanctioned for construction of houses for sweepers and scavengers as also for purchase of wheel harrows and handcarts for the removal of nightsoil. The entire programme for the welfare of vimukta jatis is also being financed under the scheme of Centrally Sponsored Programmes.

Economic Uplift.—In order to improve the economic conditions of backward classes a number of schemes have been introduced. The major economic uplift schemes pertain to: (1) propagation of improved agricultural implements, (2) cottage industries and professions, and (3) milch cattle. The expenditure incurred on these Scheme- during the last three years is given below: —

TABLE No. 2

AMOUNT DISTRIBUTED AS LOANS AND SUBSIDY TO THE BACKWARD CLASSES FROM 1963-64 TO 1965-66.

There are 34 Forest Labourers' Co-operative Societies of scheduled tribes in Yeotmal district. However, by far the most important scheme for the allround development of the areas predominantly inhabited by the scheduled tribes is the opening of a Tribal Development Block at Maregaon on 2nd October 1963. This Block has an area of 258.4 square miles and covers 129 villages of Wani taluka. It has a total population of 25,750 out of which 17,383 are Scheduled Tribes. An expenditure of Rs. 60,000 was incurred on the maintenance of the block during 1963-64, Rs. 84,000 during 1964-65 and Rs. 2,80,000 during 1965-66. Thus by the end of the Third Five Year Plan an expenditure of Rs. 4,24,000 was incurred on this block.

Health Housing and Other Schemes.—Scarcity of drinking water in rural areas is acute. Construct on of drinking water wells has, therefore, been accorded priority with particular regard, to the needs of backward classes.

Similarly, housing condition of backward classes is not very satisfactory. Under the scheme of housing aid Rs. 100 are paid in cash or kind to carry out repairs to houses of backward classes. So also for the construction of houses a subsidy limited to Rs. 750 per house is given whereas the balance is found by the beneficiary from his own resources. The expenditure incurred on wells, housing and other schemes during the last three years is given below: —

TABLE No. 3

EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON WELLS, HOUSING, ETC. FROM 1963-64 TO 1965-66.

Social Uplift.

The schemes for removal of untouchability includes various measures of publicity against untouchability. The Bombay Harijan (Removal of Social Disability) Act (XXXVI of 1947) as amended in 1948, has been passed with a view to bringing about complete removal of untouchability as far as public and civil rights are concerned.

On the social side, various sanskar kendras and balwadis are organised, melas and kirtans are arranged, and gatherings are addressed at fairs and other places. Similarly propaganda against untouchability is also undertaken by the Harijan Sewak Sangh. Many schemes have been formulated by government aimed at encouraging inter-caste marriages, recognising the hostels for grant-in-aid, admission to backward class students with caste Hindu boys, paying subsidy to caste Hindu landlords for letting their premises on hire to backward class people etc. Prizes are also awarded to villages which show outstanding work for removal of untouchability. An amount of Rs. 5,341 was spent under these schemes in 1962-63. [District Census Hand Book, Yeotmal, 1961]

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