In order to tackle economic deprivation and social isolation that Dalits face, the Central government plans to recognise Dalit villages in different parts of the country and make them self-dependent. A handful of villages have already been identified in Uttarakhand and seven other states for this purpose.
Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), a Dehradun-based NGO, will be coordinating the project in Uttarakhand, which will be headed by Dr Vinita Sharma, an adviser to the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
“Through technological interventions and various other measures like setting up mini cottage industries, we are trying to turn these villages into models,” said Dr Anil P Joshi, the head of HESCO. The government will initially spend Rs 11-12 lakh on each village, he added.
The ministry has chalked out plans to develop model villages in three northern states (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand), three western states (Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra) and two southern states (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), using available resources.
NGOs from all these states are being roped in to give a fillip to the programme. The main focus of the plan is to develop infrastructural, health-care and educational facilities and upgrade the skills of artisans.
“Dalits inhabit border areas or are settled in isolated villages because of the caste system. We will carefully identify these villages which are neglected and deprived of common facilities,” said Dr Joshi.
The other skills of villagers — like carpentry, blacksmithery, masonry, etc — will be upgraded in such a way that they can be utilised for their own benefit as well as for others through “shridan”. “Our concept of shridan is that those getting benefits under such schemes must furthur contribute towards the upliftment of other deprived ones,” said Dr Joshi.
Local resources will also be utilised in a big way to create employment opportunities and mini cottage industries. A village resource centre will also be set up to educate children and provide elementary knowledge to illiterate women.
