Parliamentary committee reviews SC, ST Welfare schemes and programmes

Bhopal: The Parliamentary Committee on SC, ST Welfare held a meeting chaired by Member of Parliament Shri Govinddhandra Naskar here today to review schemes and programmers being implemented for the welfare of scheduled castes and tribes in Madhya Pradesh. Committee members Shri Balchandra Mungekar, Shri Mahindar Singh KP, Shri Bhudev Chowdhary, Dr. Kirit Premji Bhai Solanki, Shri Phaggan Singh Kulaste, Shri Arun Ram Meghwal, Shri Nand Kumar Sai and Smt. Jyoti Dhurve were also present on the occasion.

It was informed at the meeting that 15.17 percent population in the state consists of schedule castes and 20.27 percent scheduled tribes. As many as 13 residential hostels are being run in the state for improving literacy among tribal women. Centres of Excellence of Education are being run at the district and block level for imparting quality education to talented SC, ST students. Apart from other facilities, computer training is also being imparted to students of these institutions. It was informed at the meeting that subsidy is being provided to 70 voluntary organisations for ensuring educational and other activities for welfare of SC, ST categories. The State Government has launched higher education loan guarantee scheme for students of these categories to pursue education abroad. Under the scheme, 10 students of each of these categories are being benefited every year. At the meeting, the committee also elicited information regarding reimbursement of fees of SC, ST students pursuing education in technical and medical colleges, specially in private ones and also about distribution of scholarships. It was informed that students of both these sections are being provided bicycles free of cost for pursuing education. Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country where scholarship amounts of students of hostels and ashrams has been linked with consumer index. The parliamentary committee suggested to pay special attention to development of infrastructure at the primary and middle level for upliftment of these sections.
At the meeting, information about conviction rate in the cases registered under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was also sought. It was informed that AJAKS police stations have been established in all the 50 districts of the state. Special courts have been set up in 33 districts where exercise is being undertaken to decide cases expeditiously. Information was given to the committee that under an innovative initiative, process of Jan-Sunwai (public hearing) has been started in the state. Under it, affected persons can put forth their complaints and problems before senior officers once a week. At the meeting, information about rural development programmes was also given. It was informed that cent percent funds under the Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Aawas Yojna are given as subsidy to SC, ST beneficiaries. Information about benefits given to SC, ST persons in recruitment and promotions was also given at the meeting.
Additional Chief Secretary Technical Education Smt. Ajita Bajpai Pandey, Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat & Rural Development Smt. Aruna Sharma and Principal Secretaries of various departments attended the meeting.