Umbrella Scheme for Development of Scheduled Castes: Most Important Topic for 2023 NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.

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  • Under this scheme, the Ministry implements Schedules Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) which is an umbrella strategy to ensure flow of targeted financial & physical benefits from all the general sectors of development for the benefit of Scheduled Castes. States/UTs are required to formulate & implement Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes as part of their Annual Plans by earmarking resources. At present 27 States/UTs having sizeable SC population are implementing Schedules Caste Sub-Plan.
Illustration: Umbrella Scheme for Development of Scheduled Castes: Most Important Topic for 2023 NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, Etc.) , GATE, CUET, Olympiads Etc

Objective of the Scheme

  • The main objective is to give a thrust to family oriented schemes of economic development of SCs below the poverty line, by providing resources for filling the critical gaps & for providing missing vital inputs so that the schemes can be more meaningful. Since the schemes/programmes for SCs may be depending upon the local occupational pattern & the economic activities available, the Sates/UTs have been given full flexibility in utilizing SCA with the only condition that it should be utilized in conjunction with SCP & other resources available from other sources like various Corporations, financial institution etc.
  • State Government have been given flexibility in choice of schemes to be implemented out of Special Central Assistance, within the overall frame work of the scheme.

Special Central Assistance

  • Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) is a central scheme under which 100% grant is given to the States/UTs as an additive to their Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) .

Special Component Plan

  • (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) were initiated by government as intervention strategies during seventies to cater exclusively to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) respectively.
  • Such plans are meant to ensure benefits to these special groups by guaranteeing funds from all related development sectors both at State and Centre in proportion to the size of their respective population.
  • Government of India also extends Special Central Assistance (SCA) to states & UTs as additive to SCP and TSP. (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment provides 100% grant under Central Sector Scheme of SCA to SCP as additive to SCP to States/UTs) .
  • The nomenclature of SCP has since been changed to Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) on the lines of TSP. The strategy of SCSP consists in important interventions through planning process for social, educational and economic development of Scheduled Castes and also for improvement in their working & living conditions.
  • TSP approach envisages integrated development of tribal areas wherein all programmes irrespective of source of funding operate in unison to achieve the goal of bringing (tribal) area at par with rest of the State and improve quality of life of tribal.
  • It is geared towards taking up family oriented income generating schemes, elimination of exploitation, human resource development through education & training and infrastructure development. TSP programmes are financed from
    • TSP funds from State/U. T Plans and Central Ministries/Departments,
    • Special Central Assistance (SCA) to TSP
    • Grants under Article 275 one of the Constitution to States/U. Ts
    • Funds through Central Sector Schemes/Centrally Sponsored Schemes
    • Institutional Finance.
  • Guidelines issued by Planning Commission for formulation, implementation & monitoring of SCP & TSP emphasize, inter-alia, on earmarking funds towards SCP and TSP in proportion to population of SC & ST respectively, creating dedicated unit for proper implementation & separate budget-head/sub-heads for making funds non divertible & approval for plans of Central Ministries/Departments/State Governments being conditional on adherence to implementation of SCP & TSP. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment & Ministry of Tribal Affairs periodically review & monitor SCP and TSP respectively.