Book by BestCurrentAffairs.com for IAS Prelims 2020
WELFARE
Be stC
[For IAS Prelims 2020] © BestCurrentAffairs.com. All Rights Reserved.
ffa
Two departments have been created under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment namely: (i) Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (Samajik Nyaya and Adhikarita Vibhag) (ii) Department of Disability Affairs (Nishaktata Karya Vibhag) since renamed as Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). On 29 August 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to prepare a draft Constitution for India. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. With its adoption, the Union of India became the modern and contemporary Republic of India replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the country’s fundamental governing document. Dr B.R.Ambedkar is regarded as the principal architect in the framing of the Constitution of India which is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world. The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. The national committee that was formed under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister for celebrating the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar decided to increase awareness about the Constitution. The 128th Birth Anniversary of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was celebrated on 14th April, 2018 in the Parliament House Lawns, New Delhi. In pursuance of Article 17 of the Constitution of India, the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was enacted. Subsequently, it was amended and renamed in 1976 as the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. Rules under this Act, viz., The Protection of Civil Rights Rules, 1977 were notified in 1977. The Act extends to the whole of the country and provides punishment for the practice of untouchability. It is implemented by the respective state governments and union territory administrations. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (The PoA Act) came into force in 1990. This legislation aims at preventing commission of offences by persons other than scheduled castes and scheduled tribes against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Comprehensive Rules under this Act, titled Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 were notified in 1995, which, inter-alia, provide norms for relief and rehabilitation. These Rules had not been amended thereafter. The National Commission for SCs and STs (NCSC) which was set up under Article 383 of the Constitution in 1990 was bifurcated into two Commissions namely, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes after the 89th Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 2003. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is responsible for monitoring the safeguards provided for Scheduled Castes and also to review issues concerning their welfare. Pre-Matric Scholarship This is a centrally sponsored Scheme, which is implemented by the state governments and union territory administrations, which receive 100 per cent central assistance for the total expenditure under the scheme, over and above their respective committed liability. It was started in 1977-78. Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students: The Scheme was introduced in 2012. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana: The objective of the Scheme is to provide hostel facilities to SC boys and girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities. Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC Students: The Scheme provides financial assistance to scheduled caste students for pursuing research studies leading to M. Phil, Ph.D, and equivalent research degree in universities, research institutions and scientific institutions. University Grants Commission (UGC) is the nodal agency for implementing the Scheme. Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) is a central sector Scheme, started in 1980. The centrally sponsored scheme for participating in the equity share of the Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) in the ratio of 49:51 (central/state) was introduced in 1979. At present, SCDCs are functioning in 27 states/UTs. The National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) was set up in 1989 under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (formerly Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956). Government announced the setting up of a Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes in 2014. In 2014, the government announced that a sum of ₹ 200 crore will be allocated towards credit enhancement facility for young and start-up entrepreneurs, belonging to scheduled castes A separate Department of Disability Affairs was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2012.
ur re nt A
irs .co
m
In 1985-86, the erstwhile Ministry of Welfare was bifurcated into the Department of Women and Child Development and the Department of Welfare. Simultaneously, the Scheduled Castes Development Division, Tribal Development Division and the Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Division were shifted from the Ministry of Home Affairs and also the Wakf Division from the Ministry of Law to form the then Ministry of Welfare. Subsequently, the name of the Ministry was changed to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in May, 1998. Further, in October, 1999, the Tribal Development Division was moved out to form a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs. In January, 2007 the Minorities Division along with Wakf Unit were moved out of the Ministry and formed a separate Ministry and the Child Development Division was merged with the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
India Year Book 2020 Synopsis
[BestCurrentAffairs.com]
Page No.114
