How to uplift the backward classes of India?

1. Introduction

The Other Backward Classes, as per the Government of India’s, Notification dated 8th September 1993, would comprise Castes and Communities which are found common in the list of Mandal Commission and in the lists of the individual state governments. The Mandal Commission made a rough estimate of OBCs constituting 52 per cent of the country’s total population.

The reservation for the SCs and STs was provided in the Indian Constitution framed after Independence but the reservation for Other Backward Castes/Classes was an­nounced by the Janata Dal Government on August 7, 1990.

About 27% reservation for 3,742 Other Backward Classes/ Castes was proposed, on the recommendation of the Mandal Commission Report. The Commission submitted its report on December 31, 1980, which was later discussed by both the Houses of Parliament in 1982 and thereafter, the matter, was remitted to a Committee of Secretaries for examina­tion.

The Commission used three indicators i.e, social, edu­cational and economic.

Most students are haunted by the nightmare of unem­ployment/of underemployment. In such a situation the government’s electoral decision to reserve jobs on the basis of caste for an additional 27% to the existing quota of reservation of 22.5% for SCs and STs was bound to create frustrations among the youth.

According to a Report, between 19 September 1990 (when the first case of self- immolation of a third year student was reported from a Delhi college) and 16 October 1990, 160 youth had attempted to commit suicide against the government’s decision to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.

2. Constitution of India and Welfare of Backward Classes

Article 15(4) of the Constitution enjoins upon the State the creation of special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the SCs and STs.

Another Article 16(4) further enables the state for making provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which in the opinion of the state is not adequately represented in services under the state.

The other provi­sions of the Constitution having a bearing on Article 16 or Article 38, 46 aid the set of Articles in part XVI Clause (i) of Article 38 makes it obligatory for the State to “strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may, a social order, in which justice, social, economic and political shall inform all the institution of the National life”.

Article 46 further contain a very significant directive regarding promotion of educa­tional and economic interests of other weaker sections and protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploi­tation. Part XVI of the Constitution contains “special provisions relating to certain classes” and under this part Article 340 envisages the appointment of a Commission to investigate the condition of Backward Classes.

3. Schemes for the welfare of the OBCs

The following schemes have been launched in the year 1998-99 for the welfare of OBCs by the Government of India:

(a) Pre Examination Coaching

The objective of the scheme is to coach candidates belonging to OBCs to enable then, to compete in various competitive/entrance examinations A i outlay of Rs. 2 crore was provided during 1998-99.

(b) Hostels for OBCs Boys and Girls

The hostel under the scheme will be constructed in States/UTs having a large OBCs population but inadequate hostel facilities. The hostels will be constructed for middle, secondary, college and university level students.

(c) Pre-matric Scholarship for OBCs

Scholarship award will be sanctioned to students whose parents’/guardians’ income does not exceed Rs. 44,500 per annum. The Central assistance will be 50 per cent.

(d) Pre-Matric Scholarship to the OBCs

The scheme provides financial assistance to the OBCs students at post-matriculation/post secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.

(e) Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Welfare of OBCs

The scheme involves the voluntary sector to improve educational and socio-economic condition of the OBCs to get them gainfully employed. The quantum of assistance is determined on merit by the Government of India which may be up to 90 per cent of the approved expenditure.

4. National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation

The NBCFDC was set up by the Government of India under the then Ministry of Welfare on 13 January 1992 as a company, not for profit, under Section 25 of the Companies Act, with the objective of providing concessional finance to the members of backward classes living below the poverty line for their socio-economic development by extending them loans for income-generating schemes.

The Corporation has launched a special scheme for eligible women beneficiaries of backward classes under the name of SWARNIMA who can get financial assistance at concessional rate of interest up to Rs. 1 lakh.

5. Five-Year Plan

Empowernment of the OBCs during the Ninth-Plan has been visualized as an effective instrument to ensure social justice in the country. In the meantime, efforts will be made to ensure that the National and the State Commissions, in pursuance of the directives of the Supreme Court, will bring out their final lists of OBCs.

In order to provide housing and other settlement facilities to the assetless migratory communities amongst the OBCs, a new scheme of Shelter for Nomadic Groups amongst the Backward Classes will be introduced in the Ninth Plan.