What are the developments has been made by background classes since independence?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
General considerations programmes for bringing scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and other backward classes to the level of the rest of the community are among the most significant undertaken during the First and Second Plans. Success in fulfilling them is difficult to measure. It involves far-reaching changes in social organisation and in social practices and is a test equally of the progress achieved in improving the conditions of the sections of the community directly affected and in reconstructing the structure of the Indian society itself, specially in rural areas. Article 46 of the Constitution laid down the Directive Principle that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and, in particular, of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. The Constitution also provided for certain reservations for scheduled tribes and scheduled castes. These were limited, in the first instance, to a period of ten years but by a recent amendment of the Constitution, these reservations have been extended by a further period of ten years. Since such safeguards are a reflection of the economic and social conditions of the groups concerned. Parliament's action has a twofold significance. Firstly, the problem of raising the living standards of scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and other weaker sections of the population is much more complex than had been earlier realised and calls for sustained endeavour over a long period. Secondly, besides ensuring rapid and sustained growth for the economy as a whole, at least during the next two or three Plans, measures for advancing the economic' and social interests of scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and other weaker sections of the community should be so intensified, that they do, in fact, reach a level of well-being comparable with that of other sections of the population. Development programmes included in the plans of States and the Centre for the Third Five Year Plan will need to be continually re-assessed from fir's angle and steps taken to increase their total impact in various directions as the Plan proceeds. This is a crucial task in the attempt to evolve an integrated society and a well-knit economy for the country as a whole.
2. The lists of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes were revised in 1956. On this basis, according to the census of 1951, the total population of scheduled tribes was estimated at 22.5 million and that of scheduled castes at 55 million. The oooulation of 'denotified' tribes (formerly d cribed as 'criminal' tribes) was reckoned at about 4 million. In different States, according to the local conditions, certain other groups are also described as 'other backward classes' and special steps are taken to safeguard their interests.
Development programmes for the welfare of backward classes, for which provision is made in the Five Year Plans, are intended to supplement benefits accruing from programmes of development in different fields such as agriculture, cooperation, irrigation, small industries, communications, education, health, housing, rural water supply and others. One of the principal lessons of the past decade is that for a variety of reasons, in the ordinary course, the weaker sections of the population are not able to secure their fair share of the benefits of provisions made under different heads. To enable them to do so, it is desirable that the normal patterns of assistance should provide, wherever necessary, for an element of special consideration for the weaker sections and, in particular, for the backward classes. It is observed that in a number of schemes formulated in favour of backward classes, the financial resources provided for this section of the population are proposed to be utilised in part to meet the cost of additional subsidy or other assistance to enable the backward clashes to avail themselves of the general development programmes. This has the effect of reducing the scope of additional development to be undertaken from the special provisions made for the backward classes. The problem needs further consideration, since, on the one hand, it is essential that the general development programmes should be so designed as to cater adequately for the backward classes and, on the other, the special provisions in the Plan should be used as far as possible for securing additional and more intensified development.
3. For programmes relating to the welfare of backward classes, a total outlay of Rs. 79 crores was incurred in the Second Plan compared to Rs. 30 crores in the First Plan. The Third Plan at present provides for programmes estimated to cost about Rs. 114 crores.