People from socially and economically-backward sections had a glimmer of hope in 2009 as the government went ahead with its policy of social inclusiveness.
The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry kept its focus on SCs, STs and other backward sections, right from asking states to ensure speedy trials of cases related to caste violence to increasing incentives for inter-caste marriages.
The ministry saw a change of guard in May, when Mukul Wasnik took over from his predecessor Meira Kumar, who went on to become the country's first woman Lok Sabha Speaker.
The ministry asked states to enlist 25 most ghastly crimes committed against SCs and STs and follow it up closely for speedy trial and ensuring exemplary punishment to the perpetrators. The ministry felt that states should set up special courts so that cases registered under Prevention of Atrocities (POA) Act are effectively dealt with.
It also announced 50 per cent assistance towards setting up of such courts.
The ministry also instituted four national awards, one for each region, carrying amounts of Rs two lakh for individual activists and Rs five lakh for NGOs working to abolish untouchability.
Chief ministers were also asked to consider increasing incentive amount for inter-caste marriages to at least Rs 50,000 of which 50 per cent would be Central assistance.
Ambedkar Foundation, a body under the ministry, started a new scheme to provide instant monetary relief to SC victims of atrocities. The relief amount up to Rs five lakh is payable to each victim with the approval of the chairperson of the foundation.
Another new scheme called "Babu Jagjivan Ram National Relief to SC Victims of Atrocities Scheme" was also formulated having the provision of giving contingency arrangement to provide instant monetary relief to the victims of atrocities under POA Act. Under it, the relief amount up to Rs five lakh would be paid to each victim.
To boost the role of NGOs working in the social sector, an outlay of Rs 1,730 crore was allocated as grants-in-aid during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12).
The year also witnessed the launch of a new scheme called "Pradhan Mantri Adarsh gram Yojana" for integrated development of 1,000 villages, each having over 50 per cent SC population.
Another major focus area of the ministry during the year was empowerment of disabled persons, when it initiated the process of amending the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1955 to harmonise it with the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The government also approved revision of the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme of the ministry, with an outlay of Rs 500 crore in the 11th Plan. Under the scheme, grant-in- aid is being provided to NGOs by the Centre for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
There was also a proposal by the ministry to simplify the certification procedure for persons with disabilities which would also decentralise the process down to primary and community health centres.
The government approved revision of the existing Centrally-sponsored scheme of construction of hostels for SC and OBC boys and girls during the remaining period of 11th Five year Plan wherein the existing cost sharing pattern with states will be 50:50.
This will be changed to 90:10 in the case of northeastern states.
The ministry with its focus on the welfare of the elderly, has a National Policy for Older Persons and in 2007, also enacted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.
Apart from this, the government is implementing a Central sector scheme "Integrated Programme for Older Persons" under which financial assistance is provided to NGOs on the basis of the recommendation of the state government concerned. During 2008-09, 258 old age homes were assisted through NGOs and 6,450 beneficiaries were covered across the country.
