SHIMLA 22 January 2012 : State government is committed for socio-economic upliftment of every section of the society with special emphasis on development of Schedule Caste (SC), Schedule Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). For this State Government is ensuring the effective implementation of various schemes initiated by it. The allocation under the Scheduled Caste Sub plan had been increased from 11 percent to 25 percent from the year 2008-2009. A budget provision of Rs. 816 crore has been made during current year which is almost four times higher than the amount spent in the year 2007-08 for the purpose.
‘Mukhya Mantri Adrash Gram Yojna’ is being implemented for integrated development of SCs and STs Concenterated villages. Under this ambitious scheme, in villages which has schedule caste and schedule tribes population of more than 40 percent, infrastructure development is being ensured. 136 such villages are being provided with improved road network, drinking water supply, sanitation and other infrastructural facilities this year. To begin with 2 villages have been selected in each assembly constituency.
To save the poor women belonging to BPL schedule caste families from the pain stacking work of collecting fuel wood, the State Government has started ‘Mata Shabri Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana’. Under this scheme subsidy of 50 percent is being given to women beneficiaries for purchase of a new LPG gas connection and stove. Beneficiaries under this scheme are being identified in meetings of Gram Sabhas.
The poor persons of schedule castes, schedule tribes and other backward classes are being given houses under ‘Atal Awas Yojna’ and Indira Awas Yojna’ to save them from shelter problems. Under these schemes financial assistance has been enhanced from Rs 27, 500 to Rs. 48, 500 for construction of house. 34,367 houses have been constructed by spending Rs. 120 crore during last 4 years.
In ‘Swarnima Yojna’ women belonging to BPL families of other backward classes are being provided loans at subsidized rate of 4 percent so as to encourage them take up self employment schemes.
Education loan up to Rs. 5 lakh is being provided to students belonging to OBC. 2000 meritorious students of other backward classes are being given scholarship of Rs.10, 000 each annually for pursuing their studies in plus one and plus two classes.
2000 meritorious students are also being provided with scholarship of Rs. 10, 000 each annually in pus one and plus two classes under ‘Ambedkar Meritorious Scholarship Scheme’.
Rs. 6.24 crore is being spent on construction of three hostels for schedule caste girl students in Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Agricultural University, Palampur and Government Degree College Baijnath.
To accelerate the pace of development in Scheduled Tribe areas, state government is spending Rs. 297 crore under ST sub plan during this financial year.
