Vision Welfare Schemes

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VALUE ADDITION MATERIAL – 2018

PAPER II: SOCIAL JUSTICE
WELFARE SCHEMES FOR VULNERABLE SECTIONS

OF THE POPULATION BY THE CENTRE AND STATES
AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE SCHEMES;
MECHANISMS, LAWS, INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
CONSTITUTED FOR THE PROTECTION AND
BETTERMENT OF THESE VULNERABLE SECTIONS
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WELFARE SCHEMES FOR VULNERABLE SECTIONS OF THE

POPULATION BY THE CENTRE AND STATES AND THE
PERFORMANCE OF THESE SCHEMES; MECHANISMS, LAWS,
INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES CONSTITUTED FOR THE
PROTECTION AND BETTERMENT OF THESE VULNERABLE
SECTIONS
Contents
1. Vulnerable Sections ............................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Rationale of Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections .......................................................................................... 3
3. Vulnerable Sections of Society ............................................................................................................................... 4
3.1. Children.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
3.1.1. Schemes Related to Children.................................................................................................................... 4
3.2. Women ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
3.2.1. Schemes ................................................................................................................................................ 12
3.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes ................................................................. 14
3.3.1. Scheduled Castes ................................................................................................................................... 14
3.3.2. Scheduled Tribes .................................................................................................................................... 15
3.3.3. Other Backward Classes (OBCs).............................................................................................................. 15
3.3.4. Schemes for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward Classes ............................................ 15
3.3.5. Specific Schemes for Scheduled Castes .................................................................................................. 16
3.3.6. Specific Schemes for Scheduled Tribes ................................................................................................... 16
3.3.7. Specific Schemes for Other Backward Classes ........................................................................................ 17
3.4. Senior Citizens/Aged..................................................................................................................................... 18
3.4.1. Schemes ................................................................................................................................................ 18
3.5. Disabled Persons .......................................................................................................................................... 19
3.5.1. Schemes ................................................................................................................................................ 19
3.6. Minorities..................................................................................................................................................... 20
3.6.1. Schemes for Welfare of Minorities ......................................................................................................... 21
3.7. LGBT Community .......................................................................................................................................... 22
3.7.1. Schemes ................................................................................................................................................ 22
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3.7.2. Initiatives by Government/Judiciary to Promote Interests of LGBT Community in India .......................... 23

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3.8. Poor Persons ................................................................................................................................................ 23

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3.8.1. Schemes for Poor Persons ...................................................................................................................... 23

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4. Performance of Various Other Schemes .............................................................................................................. 25

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4.1. National Rural Health Mission ...................................................................................................................... 25

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4.2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) ........................................................................................................ 25

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4.3. Recent Initiatives For Improving Monitoring of Various Schemes .................................................................. 25

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4.4. Way Forward ................................................................................................................................................ 26

5. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable
sections .................................................................................................................................................................. 26
5.1. Mechanisms Existing in India for Vulnerable Sections ................................................................................... 26
5.2. Laws Pertaining to Betterment of Vulnerable Sections .................................................................................. 26
5.2.1. Children ................................................................................................................................................. 26
5.2.2. Women.................................................................................................................................................. 27
5.2.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes .......................................................... 28

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5.2.4. Senior Citizens/ Aged ............................................................................................................................. 28

5.2.5. Disabled Persons.................................................................................................................................... 28
5.2.6. Minorities .............................................................................................................................................. 29
5.2.7. Laws Related to LGBT ............................................................................................................................. 29
5.3. Institutions and Bodies for the betterment of these vulnerable sections ....................................................... 29
5.3.1. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment................................................................................... 29
5.3.2. Children ................................................................................................................................................. 30
5.3.3. Women.................................................................................................................................................. 31
5.3.4. SCs/STs/OBCs......................................................................................................................................... 32
5.3.5. Minorities .............................................................................................................................................. 34
5.3.6. Disabled Persons.................................................................................................................................... 35
5.3.7. Senior Citizens ....................................................................................................................................... 36
6. Previous Years Vision IAS GS Mains Test Series Questions .................................................................................... 36

7. Previous Year UPSC Questions ............................................................................................................................. 50
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1. Vulnerable Sections
The term vulnerability is defined as “proneness to harm or damage originating from external forces”. According to a
widely quoted description, vulnerable groups are: “Groups that experience a higher risk of poverty and social
exclusion than the general population. Ethnic minorities, migrants, disabled people, the homeless, those struggling
with substance abuse, isolated elderly people and children all often face difficulties that can lead to further social
exclusion, such as low levels of education and unemployment or underemployment".
In common understanding, vulnerable sections are those sections of population who are at higher risk of suffering
due to imperfect or unjust system - social, political, cultural, economic, physical, family structure, environmental or
any other factor that has a bearing on these groups.
Some common characteristics of vulnerability faced by these vulnerable sections are as follows:
• They, as a group, are vulnerable

• This vulnerability is due to many factors - socio-cultural, economic
• This vulnerability is systematic and structured
Various groups in India can be included under vulnerable sections viz.- children, women, scheduled castes,
scheduled tribes, other backward classes, minorities, senior citizens, disabled persons, LGBT communities, poor
persons etc.
2. Rationale of Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections

Constitutional and Philosophical Basis
• Preamble to the Constitution of India seeks to ensure “Justice, social, economic and political” and “Equality of
status and of opportunity”.
• Fundamental Rights in various articles provide for various rights such as – Right to Equality, Right to Live with
Dignity, Right to Education, Right against Untouchability, Right against Exploitation etc.
• Directive Principles of State Policy also enjoins upon the state the primary responsibility of welfare of all its
citizens, in effect, making it a Welfare State.
• Various Conventions under United Nations also provides for state support to vulnerable sections, like - United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Humanitarian Grounds
• These vulnerable sections need special assistance and care from the state for their well-being.
• Without state help, they will have to face many disadvantages and will not be able to avail fair and equal life
choices as those enjoyed by other citizens.
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Economic Imperative
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Inclusive Growth - Inclusive growth is necessary for high economic growth and they in fact hold a symbiotic
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relationship with each other.

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The objective of inclusive growth will remain unfulfilled if these sections are not provided help.
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• Welfare schemes protect the poor and disadvantaged and equip the labour force in the lower rungs of the
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skill/economic welfare thus enabling them to better participate in the process of accelerating economic
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growth.
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Nation Building
• Vulnerable sections will always be at a disadvantage which will lead to lower quality of life and choices enjoyed
by them, which will lead to resentment and friction in the society.
• These sections will see the socio-cultural and political system as unjust and it will hinder the work of nation
building and instilling a feeling of oneness in all citizens.

3. Vulnerable Sections of Society

3.1. Children
All children due to their age are considered to be at risk for exploitation, abuse, violence and neglect. However,
children in especially difficult circumstances including orphans and street children, refugee or displaced children,
child workers, children trapped in prostitution or sexual abuse, disabled children and delinquent children are
particularly vulnerable.
But vulnerability cannot be defined simply by age. While the term vulnerable children refer to an age group that is
considered at risk, but vulnerability of children is further compounded by the following factors:
• Physical disabilities
• Mental disabilities
• Provocative behaviours: due to ignorance or misunderstanding of children's mental health or behavioural

problems, some people can become irritated or frustrated and hence lash out against children or neglect them
completely.
• Powerlessness: comes of the situations and people that surround the children. If a child is given the power by
the state, family or community to participate and fulfil their own rights and responsibilities they are less
vulnerable.
• Defencelessness: comes from the lack of protection provided by the state or parents or community. If there is
no child abuse law than how is a child suppose to defend himself/herself against abuse.
• Passivity: due to situation or treatment of the child. For example, a child who is enslaved or oppressed does not
have the ability to seek help or protection.
• Illness
• Invisible: Children who the system doesn't even recognise are highly vulnerable.
• Younger children, especially those below the age of six, are much more dependent on the protection system.
Vulnerable children in India face further problems, such as the following:
• Some of them are exploited as child Facts about Children
labourers • 1 in 4 children of school-going age is out of school in our
• Children facing poverty and discrimination country (Census 2011)
are more vulnerable to malnutrition, bad • There are 33 million child labourers between the ages of 5-18
health, poor educational facilities, poor years in India and 10.13 million between the ages of 5-14
resources, thus restricting their freedoms years. (Census 2011)
• Every day, around 150 children go missing in India –
and opportunities
kidnapping and abduction is the largest crime against children
• Girl babies are at an even greater in our country (National Crime Record Bureau 2016)
disadvantage due to prevailing social norms
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• 19.8 million children below age 6 in India are undernourished

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that tend to value males much more than

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(ICDS 2015)
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females, which leads to son ‘preference’ • 38% (1 in 3 )of children between 0-5 years are stunted in the
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• A girl child faces different forms of violence country (NFHS 4, 2015-16)

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like infanticide, neglect of nutrition needs, • 42% of married women in India were married as children
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(District Information System for Education (DISE) 3)

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lack of education and healthcare facilities etc.

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3.1.1. Schemes Related to Children

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Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

This centrally sponsored scheme was launched on October 2, 1975 for early childhood care by providing for
supplementary nutrition, immunization and pre-school education to the children.
Objectives
• To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;

• To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
• To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
• To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote
child development; and
• To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child
through proper nutrition and health education.
Beneficiaries
• Children in the age group of 0-6 years
• Pregnant women and Lactating mothers
The ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services, viz. supplementary nutrition; pre-school non-formal education;
nutrition & health education; immunization; health check-up; and referral services.
Performance Evaluation of ICDS
The services under the ICDS scheme are provided at the platform of Anganwadi Centre (AWC). As per a report by
Programme Evaluation Organization(PEO) of NITI Aayog submitted in June 2015, ICDS covers 8.4 crore out of the
total 16.45 crore children of age below 6 years in the country and 1.91 crore pregnant and lactating mothers
through 7,066 projects and 13.42 lakh AWCs. Major highlights of report are following-
• It was found that 75.7% of AWCs are maintaining records properly, however, problems were noticed in records
maintained by the remaining 24.3% of AWCs.
• It was noticed that 99% of AWCs are providing mothers counselling on the child healthcare and 68.6% of AWCs
are intervening on children’s malnutrition.
• Further, 22.5% of AWCs do not have the required medicines for the children.
• Scrutiny of health records maintained by AWCs for the month of December, 2013 revealed 74.6 %, 19.7 % and
5.7 % of children had Normal (N), moderately malnourished (MM) and severely malnourished (SM) health
respectively.
• The on the spot weight measurement carried out by the evaluation teams during April, 2014 revealed that 77.4
%, 17.6% and 5 % of the sample children had N, MM and SM health status.
• Physical verification of the infrastructure and supports provided to AWCs revealed that 59% of them have
adequate space, and thus the remaining 41% have either shortage of space or unsuitable accommodation. It
was also found that 40% of AWCs have their own accommodation and the remaining 60% are located in rented
accommodations.
• Study found that 86.3% of AWCs have drinking water facilities and the remaining 13.7% do not have safe
drinking water facilities. Further, the hygiene conditions at AWCs require improvement as only 48.2% of them
are maintaining good hygiene condition.
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Suggestions
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• Adequate space should be provided to accommodate the enrolled children and the Centers should be located at
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a convenient and hygiene friendly area of the locality.

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• AWC accommodation should be equipped with proper facilities viz. sanitation facilities, safe drinking water,
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toilets, sufficient medicines, electricity/power supply, playing instruments/toys, etc. The centers should be
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protected with boundary walls or barbed wires.

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• Adequate number of workers should be engaged in each AWC. The monthly honorarium fixed for AWC
workers/helpers seems to need enhancement. Further, the AWC workers should not be deployed for other
works.
• Regular training should be provided to AWC workers and their supervisors. Further they should get refresher
training to handle registers and other records independently.
• Doctors should visit AWCs regularly.

• AWCs should keep complete health records of all the children enrolled with them. At present, AWCs are
required to maintain around 30 registers which appears to be too many. Review should be carried out to
reduce/minimize their number.
• The mothers of the malnourished children should be provided regular counselling.
• On the spot monitoring and supervision of centers should be done by the Block and District level Officers
regularly.
• Food provided at AWCs should be of good qualities and nutrition. Enhancement of financial norms may increase
the quality of AWC food. Provision of LPG gas for cooking purpose may also be supplied to every AWC.
Conclusion
The Union Government has been spending thousands of crore of rupees every year through the networks of AWCs
for reducing malnutrition among the children from the age group of zero to five+ years. One of the important
findings of the study is that the children in the Normal grade are found to be 77.4% of the total sample size which
means that in spite of a lot of bottlenecks, the malnutrition has been reduced among the children of 0 to 5 years of
age. As envisaged from the field study, people are well aware of the ICDS Programme and are sending their children
to AWCs. However, the children from remote areas are not able to avail these facilities. The opening of public
nursery school in urban and rural areas poses a great threat to the enrollment of children in AWCs nowadays unless
the infrastructural and other facilities of AWCs are upgraded. The working conditions and remuneration of AWC
workers needs to be looked at sympathetically.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme
Integrated Child Protection Scheme is being implemented by Union Ministry of Women and Child Development as a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme from 2009-10. It is based on the cardinal principles of "protection of child rights" and
the "best interest of the child". Its objective is of creating a safe and secure environment for children in conflict with
law as well as children in need of care and protection. It is a comprehensive scheme to bring several existing child
protection programmes under one umbrella, with improved norms. Key programmatic components of the ICPS
include:
• Emergency outreach services through the Childline 1098 helpline
• Open shelters for children in urban and semi-urban areas
• Family based non institutional care through sponsorship, foster-care, adoption and after-care,
• Institutional care through children’s homes, shelter homes, observation homes, special homes and specialised
homes for children with special needs, and
• Grant-in-aid for specific need-based or innovative projects.
Performance Evaluation of ICPS
A report published by “Save The Children” has highlighted following points about the implementation of ICPS:
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Benefits
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• The implementation of the ICPS has resulted in creditable improvement in the funding and monitoring of
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childcare institutions (CCIs), as well as in the functioning of statutory bodies like CWCs and JJBs.
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• As a programme, the ICPS has aided in the improvement of the existing infrastructure for child protection. Yet,
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the scheme is still very much in a scale up mode.

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Challenges
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• The Scheme has been marred by limited capacity and poor fund utilization.
• Survey for vulnerability mapping is a key mandate for the District Child Protection Units. However, budget for
the same under ICPS is a constraint.
• Presently, crucial aspects of the scheme of high relevance for street children, such as foster care, sponsorship
programmes and after care for older children remain highly underdeveloped.

• Emergency outreach services through the Childline 1098 helpline are also facing issues of inaccessibility,
especially after the advent of mobiles and vanishing of PCOs. Access to these numbers has become difficult for
street children and the homeless.
• There has also been little focus on the training and sensitisation of functionaries and awareness generation
activities.
As a result, despite its commendable aims, the ICPS lacks a structured mechanism to reach out to children in need
of care and protection through proactive and sustained efforts for their identification, rescue and rehabilitation.
Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA)
The programme seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and
strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water,
maintenance grant and school improvement grants. Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are provided
with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers is being strengthened by extensive training, grants
for developing teaching-learning materials and strengthening of the academic support structure at a cluster, block
and district level. SSA seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills. SSA has a special focus on
girl's education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital
divide.
Performance Evaluation of SSA
• Significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children on account of SSA interventions has been noted.
The number of out-of-school children has come down from 134.6 lakh in 2005 to 81.5 lakh in 2009 as per an
independent study conducted by the Social and Rural Research Institute (SRI)-International Marketing Research
Bureau (IMRB).
• The RTE Act stipulates to have a school within 1 km of radius of every habitat to ensure every child gets the
opportunity of having a school within his habitation which has made positive dent in availability of schools.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said the country has progressed
the most in the world in sending children to schools by committed implementation of its right to education law
and universal elementary education programme.
• India has made the largest progress (in absolute terms) by any country in the world reducing out-of- school
(children) numbers from 20 million in 2000 to 2.3 million in 2006, and (around) 1.7 million in 2017.
Despite the progress made in SSA, there are some shortcomings and problems as well. The status of education in
India in various reports highlights the following:
• Many schools set up under the stipulation of 1 km radius did not have the required number of students to have
separate rooms for each class. In some cases, four classes were operational with only two teachers in two
classrooms.
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A single school instead of many schools nearby could have served the purpose better with optimization of
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resources to augment better infrastructural facilities.

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Parents prefer to send their sons to private schools where as the girl child is sent to government schools.
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Though enrolment rate has increased but attendance rate was around 76.0 per cent in 2009-10 and the dropout
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rate was nearly 40.6 per cent in 2010-11 at the upper primary level. Thus SSA has failed to achieve its goals in
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bigger states like Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
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• The ASER report says there has not been much progress in compliance with various RTE-related norms. Despite
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the increase in SSA infrastructure budget, the proportion of schools with shortfall in the number teachers,
classrooms, drinking water facilities, kitchen/shed, playground, complete boundary wall, a separate room for
the headmaster has not increased much or remained more or less unchanged.
Way Forward
• The stipulation of having schools within 1 km radius of every habitat needs to be reconsidered to avoid
mushrooming of schools nearby without adequate infrastructure and teachers.

• What is needed is only the transport facility and not a school for every 1 km radius of habitat.
• There is also a need to have teachers who can teach special subjects like Maths and English
Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme
Mid-day meal (MDM) is a wholesome freshly-cooked lunch served to children in government and government-
aided schools in India. Mid-Day Meal Scheme aims to:
• avoid classroom hunger
• increase school enrolment
• increase school attendance
• improve socialisation among castes
• address malnutrition
•
empower women through employment

Performance Evaluation of MDM
Positive results of MDM have been following:
• The MDM scheme is working well with some schools even using donations to supplement this effort and serve
better food.
• While some schools had good storage facilities like tin boxes, some schools used gunny bags and did not have
proper doors for the store rooms.
• However, greater involvement of teaching staff for this activity was at the cost of their primary activity of
teaching. So teaching staff should be involved only in the supervision of serving of meals to students.
• Delivery of foodgrains to the schools should be the responsibility of the PDS dealers under the supervision of
panchayats to ensure good quality and adequate quantity.
• The midday meal scheme has succeeded in improving nutritional status of school going children and enhanced
school attendance enrolment and retention especially for girls and children of disadvantaged groups (SCs and
STs) .
Challenges of MDM
• Unhygienically cooked and under-nutritious foods are major issues affecting the scheme. The cooks in
government schools do not wear caps or gloves, and are not checked for disease. This could lead to food
poisoning.
• Some schools do not have adequate infrastructure and have no running water.
• The scheme suffers from structural problems, the biggest being the lack of a proper monitoring mechanism and
lack of proper accountability.
• There is no clear defined structure, and every state runs it functions according to its wish. Besides the huge
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corruption at all levels is destroying the scheme.

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• Most of the states, it was observed, did not follow the guidelines of Government of India to deliver foodgrains
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at the school point by PDS dealer, thereby resulting in the leakage of foodgrains.
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Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour

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PENCIL is an electronic platform that aims at involving Centre, State, District, Governments, civil society and the
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general public in achieving the target of child labour free society.

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Components of the PENCIL

• Child Tracking System
• Complaint Corner
• State Government
• National Child Labour Project and
• Convergence

National Child Labour Project (NCLP)

NCLP is a project of Ministry of Labour. Its basic objective is to suitably rehabilitate the children withdrawn from
employment thereby reducing the incidence of child labour in areas of known concentration of child labour.
The NCLP Scheme seeks
• To eliminate all forms of child labour through identification and withdrawal of all children in the Project Area
from child labour, preparing children withdrawn from work for mainstream education along with vocational
training, ensuring convergence of services provided by different government departments/agencies for the
benefit of child and their family
• To contribute to the withdrawal of all adolescent workers from Hazardous Occupations and their Skilling and
integration in appropriate occupations through facilitating vocational training opportunities through existing
scheme of skill developments
• Raising awareness amongst stakeholders and target communities, and orientation of NCLP and other
functionaries on the issues of ‘Child Labour’ and ‘employment of adolescent workers in hazardous
occupations/processes’
• Creation of a Child Labour Monitoring, Tracking and Reporting System
Target Group
• All child workers below the age of 14 years in the identified target area.
• Adolescent workers below the age of 18 years in the target area engaged in hazardous occupations.
• Families of Child workers in the identified target area.
Strategy
• To create an enabling environment in the target area, where children are motivated and empowered through
various measures to enroll in schools and refrain from working
• Households will be provided with alternatives to improve their income levels.
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA)
Empowerment of adolescent girls has multiple dimensions, and requires a multi-sectoral response. SABLA is a
comprehensively conceived scheme which involves inputs from key sectors of health, education and employment,
each of which addresses needs fundamental to the holistic growth of an adolescent girl. Its intended beneficiaries
are adolescent girls of 11–18 years old under all ICDS projects in selected 200 districts in all states/UTs in the
country. Salient features of the Scheme include:
• Nutrition provision
• Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation
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• Health check-up and referral services

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• Nutrition & health education (NHE)

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• Counselling/guidance on family welfare, ARSH, child care practices and home management.
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• Upgrade home-based skills, life skills and integrate with the national skill development program (NSDP) for
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vocational skills.
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• Mainstream out of school adolescent girls into formal/non formal education.

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• Provide information/guidance about existing public services such as PHC, CHC, post office, bank, police station,
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etc.
Performance Evaluation of SABLA
Performance of SABLA scheme can be gauged from following findings in a report submitted to Women and Child
Development Ministry in 2013-

• Sabla has strengthened the recognition of adolescent girls as a group with distinct needs. The scheme’s design
and delivery has endeavoured to address their health, social, economic, and psychological needs in a
comprehensive manner.
• The utilization of funds and delivery of the ration to beneficiaries is occurring on a regular basis. The various
activities under the Non- Nutrition component have been implemented with varying extent of success and ease
across States. Health Check-ups, delivery of IFA tablets, nutrition and health counselling and ARSH counselling,
life-skills education including exposure visits have been taking place more smoothly than activities like school
mainstreaming and vocational training
• Convergence with the Department of Health has been well implemented and coordination needs to be
improved with Education, Youth Affairs, and Labour and Employment sectors.
• Not all states have effectively involved NGOs; where they have, such as in Odisha, Karnataka, Rajasthan, the
scheme components are working well.
• The study found that 100% of the beneficiaries in sample were aware of the ‘nutrition’, ‘counselling’, ‘health
check-ups’ and ‘life- skills’ components of the scheme. Among non-beneficiaries interviewed, the level of
awareness was high at about 69%. Other stakeholders like Panchayat members, parents, and representatives of
community organisations were also aware of the scheme.
• Most of the respondents (75%) consume their IFA tablets at home, while only 24.5% consumed them at the
AWC.
• The study reveals that at least 48% (1612) out-of-school-girls (OOSGs) reported being counselled on joining
school.
• Around half (44.1%) of the eligible girls in the age-group 15-18 years had received any information about
vocational training
Positive Findings of the Report
• Positive Perceptions Regarding Sabla among Government officials, beneficiaries, non- beneficiaries, parents,
community members, civil society organisations and other stakeholders
• High Awareness among beneficiaries and AWWs, stakeholders, and government officials
• Nutrition Component: The nutrition component has been implemented effectively due to the streamlining of
its delivery on pre-existing mechanism of ICDS.
• Good Design: Key stakeholders at multiple levels have agreed and underscored that the Scheme is
comprehensively designed and covers the physical, nutritional, health, psychological and social dimensions of
adolescent development
• Good Convergence: Convergence in the current scenario has worked well with the Health Department and
components of the scheme such as health Check-ups, nutrition and health education (NHE) and distribution of
IFA tablets have been streamlined.
Negative Findings of the Report
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• Non-Nutrition Component: The implementation and service delivery of the non- nutrition component needs to
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be further improved.
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• Limited capacity of Anganwadi Workers: AWWs have received only limited sustained training and support
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across the states, due to which they have limited capacity.

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• Limitations of Aganwadi Centers also acts as limitations of this scheme.

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• Fund Adequacy: For non-nutrition components, the budgetary provisions have been studied to be insufficient.
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Overall Performance of the SABLA scheme can be understood from following table
Other Schemes Related to Girl Child

• The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme has been introduced in October, 2014 to address the issue of
declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR)
• 'Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna’ is a small deposit scheme for girl child, launched as a part of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti
Padhao' campaign, which would fetch an interest rate of 9.1 per cent and provide income tax rebate.
• The Centrally Sponsored Scheme - National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education was
launched in May 2008. It aims to promote enrolment of girl child in the age group of 14-18 at secondary stage,
especially those who passed Class VIII.
• The Adolescent Girls (AG) Scheme under ICDS, primarily aims at breaking the inter-generational life-cycle of
nutritional and gender disadvantage and providing a supportive environment for self-development.
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• Girls’ Hostel Scheme in Educationally Backward Blocks is being implemented from 2009-10 to set up a 100-
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bedded Girls’ Hostel in each of 3479 Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) in the country.
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• Udaan is an initiative of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to enable girl students to soar to
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higher education from schools, and to eventually take various leadership roles in future.
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3.2. Women
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India has traditionally been a patriarchal society and therefore women, irrespective of their class, caste or religion,
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they have always suffered from social handicaps and disabilities. It thus became necessary to take certain
ameliorative steps in order to improve the condition of women in the traditionally male dominated society.
• Women face different forms of violence like infanticide, neglect of nutrition needs, education and healthcare.
• They have little or no property in their name and with little or poor formal education, they become dependent
on their male counterpart.
• They have little control over the resources and important decisions related to their lives.

• Early marriage and childbearing affects the

Facts about Women
health of the women adversely. Maternal
• Majority of crimes against women are “cruelty by husband or his
mortality rate is still very high. relatives” (NCRB 2016).
• Adult women face violence due to • Child Sex Ratio declined from 927 in 2001 to 918 (Census 2011).
unwanted pregnancies, domestic violence, • Labour force participation rate for women in 2017 was 28.5%
sexual abuse at the workplace and sexual compared to 82% for men.
violence including marital rape and honor • Women earn 62% of what their male colleagues earn for
killings. performing the same work.
• Even working women are expected to do • In 2012, only 27 percent of adult Indian women had a job, or
household work (double burden). were actively looking for one, compared to 79 percent of men.
• Women, in general, are given low status as • In 2017, India ranked 3rd lowest in having women in leadership
role.
compared to men in the Indian society.
3.2.1. Schemes
Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP)
STEP is being administered by Central Government since 1986-87 as a ‘Central Sector Scheme’. It aims to provide
skills that give employability to women and to provide competencies and skill that enable women to become self-
employed/entrepreneurs. The Scheme is intended to benefit women who are in the age group of 16 years and
above across the country. The grant under the Scheme is given to an institution/organisation including NGOs
directly and not the States/UTs. The assistance under STEP Scheme will be available in any sector for imparting skills
related to employability and entrepreneurship, including but not limited to the Agriculture, Horticulture, Food
Processing, Handlooms, Tailoring, Stitching, Embroidery, Zari etc., Handicrafts, Computer & IT enable services along
with soft skills and skills for the work place such as spoken English, Gems & Jewellery, Travel & Tourism, Hospitality.
Swadhar Greh - A Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances
Swadhar Greh Scheme targets the women victims of difficult circumstances. Under the Scheme, Swadhar Greh will
be set up in every district with capacity to house 30 women. The Scheme through the provisions of shelter, food,
clothing, counselling, training, clinical and legal aid aims to rehabilitate women in difficult circumstance i.e. women
rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism or are being forced into
prostitution and are in moral danger.
The Scheme has following objectives:
• To cater to the primary need of shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment and care of the women in distress and
who are without any social and economic support.
• To enable them to regain their emotional strength that gets hampered due to their encounter with unfortunate
circumstances.
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To provide them with legal aid and guidance to enable them to take steps for their readjustment in
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To rehabilitate them economically and emotionally.

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To act as a support system that understands and meets various requirements of women in distress
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• To enable them to start their life afresh with dignity and conviction.
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Working Women’s Hostel

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The Government of India launched the working women’s hostel scheme in 1972-73 in order to promote greater
mobility of women in the employment market. The objective of the Scheme is to promote availability of safe and
conveniently located accommodation for working women, with day care facility for their children, wherever
possible, in urban, semi urban, or even rural areas where employment opportunity for women exist.

Performance Evaluation of Working Women’s Hostel

SWOT analysis of Working Women’s Hostel scheme by a study instituted by Ministry of Women and Child
Development in 2017 has been presented below-
Suggestions to further strengthen the Scheme

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• Provisioning of more hostels due to surge in population of working women migrating to cities
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• To create provision for a revolving fund and/or grants for maintenance in the scheme to ensure regular
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maintenance and upkeep of hostel buildings and equipment.

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• Eligibility rules should be changed to increase salary limit to Rs. 75,000/- from current 50,000/- in metropolitan
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cities and increasing duration of maximum stay to 5 years from current 3 years.
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• Stringent monitoring by the hostel management committee to ensure provision of reservation and facilities for
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the differently abled women is adhered to.

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• Upgradation of security facilities:

o Provision of CCTV’S in all hostels
o Ensure Footage is regularly checked
o Provide In and Out Register at every entrance which should be checked
o Ensure street lighting in areas outside hostels
o Institute a 24x7 emergency service through helpline or any other mediums
• Provision of new facilities

o Hostels must ensure laundry facility

o Hostels must ensure Internet connectivity, Wi-Fi and computer room with printing and scanning facilities.
o Hostels may include facilities such as libraries, common room, recreation room, gym to provide additional
facilities
• There is an urgent need to have a feedback mechanism through complaints box and so on for the inmates to
give their feedback on facilities.
Ujjwala Scheme
It is a comprehensive scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-integration and
Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Exploitation which is being implemented by the
Ministry of Women and Child Development. Under this scheme, Protective and Rehabilitative Homes are given
financial support for providing shelter and basic amenities such as food, clothing, medical care, legal aid; education
in the case the victims are children, as well as for undertaking vocational training and income generation activities
to provide the victims with alternate livelihood option.
Udyam Sakhi Portal for Women Entrepreneur
The Udyam Sakhi helps Indian women to start, build and grow businesses. It recognises that women entrepreneur
in the industry is critical to economic recovery and strength, in building nation's future, and to helping India
compete in today's global marketplace.
Mother and Child Tracking Scheme (MCTS)
MCTS is an initiative of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to leverage information technology for ensuring delivery
of full spectrum of healthcare and immunization services to pregnant women and children up to 5 years of age. It
facilitates and monitors service delivery and also establishes a two way communication between the service
providers and beneficiaries.
Pradhan Mantri Matritiva Vandana Yojana
Previously known as Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana, under this scheme, INR 6000/- is given to pregnant
women for hospital stay, vaccination and nutrition.
One Stop Centre Scheme
It is a centrally sponsored scheme formulated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) under the
Umbrella Scheme for National Mission for Empowerment of women. These Centres will be established across the
country to provide integrated support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence, both in private
and public spaces in phased manner.
3.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes

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The Government classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste
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(SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC). These citizens are recognised as deserving of special
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treatment because of the traditional discrimination practiced against them.

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3.3.1. Scheduled Castes

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Scheduled castes are those castes which are notified as

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Facts about SCs / STs / OBCs

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Scheduled Castes as per provisions contained in Article 341

• Atrocities/crime against SCs went up by 5.5 per
of the Constitution. cent in 2016 (40,801) over 2015 (38,670).
• They suffer from extreme social, educational and • Only 3.96 % of rural Scheduled Caste households
economic backwardness arising out of age-old practice have a member in a government job (SECC 2011)
of untouchability. • Only 4.37 % of rural Scheduled Tribe households
have a member in a government job (SECC 2011)
• They also suffer because of traditional lack of
infrastructure facilities and geographical isolation.

3.3.2. Scheduled Tribes

Like the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes are social groups recognised by the Indian Constitution as specially
marked by poverty, powerlessness and social stigma. Article 366 (25) of the Constitution of India defines Scheduled
Tribes as "such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are
deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this constitution”. The characteristics of these
communities are:
• Primitive Traits
• Geographical isolation
• Distinct culture
• Shy of contact with community at large
• Economically backward
Issues related with them:

• They are considered to be socially and economically disadvantaged.
• They constitute a large proportion of agricultural labourers, casual labourers, plantation labourers, industrial
labourers.
• They belong to the poorest strata of the society and have low levels of education, poor health and reduced
access to healthcare services.
• Loss of forests, alienation of land and repeated displacement have further made their position vulnerable.
3.3.3. Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
Backward Classes means such backward classes of citizens other than the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as
may be specified by the Central Government from time to time for purposes of making provision for the reservation
of appointments or posts in favour of backward classes of citizens which, in the opinion of that Government, are not
adequately represented in the services under the Government of India and any local or other authority within the
territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.
3.3.4. Schemes for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward Classes
As these sections often face similar kind of disadvantages, the Government has launched various schemes which
have similar objective but are run separately for each of these sections. Few of such schemes are given below. After
these schemes, we will see specific schemes with respect to these sections. Schemes with similar objectives are:
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (PCR) and the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (PoA)
As the PCR and PoA Acts are implemented by the respective State Governments and Union Territory
Administrations, with a view to ensure its effective implementation, Central assistance is provided to them under
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the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation of the PCR and PoA Acts, mainly for following purposes:-
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• Functioning and strengthening of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Protection Cell and Special Police
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• Setting up and functioning of exclusive Special Courts.

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• Relief and Rehabilitation of atrocity victims.

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• Incentive for Inter-Caste Marriages.

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• Awareness generation.
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Stand-Up India Scheme

Stand-Up India Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore to at least one Scheduled Caste
(SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield
enterprise. This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services or the trading sector. In case of non-individual
enterprises at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either an SC/ST or woman
entrepreneur.

Other Schemes/Benefits with Similar Objectives but Run Separately for SCs, STs and OBCs
3.3.5. Specific Schemes for Scheduled Castes
Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP)
SCSP is an umbrella strategy to ensure flow of targeted financial and physical benefits from all the general sectors of
development for the benefit of Scheduled Castes. Under the strategy, States/UTs are required to formulate and
implement Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes as part of their Annual Plans by earmarking
resources.
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
This Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented for integrated development of Scheduled Castes (SC)
majority villages having SC Population concentration more than 50%:
• Primarily through convergent implementation of the relevant Central and State Schemes
• By providing these villages Central Assistance in form of gap-filling funds to the extent of Rs.20.00 lakh per
village
• By providing gap-filling component to take up activities which do not get covered under the existing Central and
State Government Schemes
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana
This Scheme is operational since 3rd Five Year Plan. The objective of the Scheme is to provide residential
accommodation facilities to SC Boys and Girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and
universities.
Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes
Venture Capital Fund is a Social Sector Initiative launched by the Government of India with initial capital of Rs. 200
crore in order to promote entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes population in India. Under the scheme,
financial assistance upto of Rs.15.00 Crore for a period upto 6 years would be provided to the SC entrepreneurs.
Performance Evaluation of Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes
A Parliamentary Standing Committee in 2018 noted that not a single penny was spent in 2017-18 from this Fund.
The committee noted, “Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes Entrepreneurs is the only scheme to promote
entrepreneurship amongst the SCs, and to increase financial inclusion for SC entrepreneurs so as to motivate them
for further growth in the society. Since introduction of the scheme in 2014-15, the allocation for this scheme is on
wane… Since then very less amount has been allocated under this scheme ever year and there is “nil” utilisation in
2017-18.”
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3.3.6. Specific Schemes for Scheduled Tribes

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Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana

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The Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) for welfare of
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Tribals. VKY aims at creating enabling environment for need based and outcome oriented holistic development of
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the tribal people. This process envisages to ensure that all the intended benefits of goods and services under
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various programmes/schemes of Central as well as State Governments actually reach the target groups by
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convergence of resources through appropriate institutional mechanism.

Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP)
The Special Central Assistance (SCA) is provided by the Ministry of tribal Affairs to the State Government as an
additive to the State TSP. SCA is Primarily meant for family-oriented income-generation schemes in sectors of
agriculture, horticulture sericulture and animal husbandry cooperation. A part of SCA (not more than 30%) is also
permitted to be used for development of infrastructure incidental to such income generating schemes.

Top Class Education for ST Students

This is a Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for ST students introduced from the academic year 2007-08 with the
objective of encouraging meritorious ST students for pursing studies at Degree and Post Graduate level in any of the
Institutes identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the purpose.
Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas
The main aim of this scheme is to upgrade the skills of the tribal youth in various traditional/ modern vocations
depending upon their educational qualification, present economic trends and the market potential, which would
enable them to gain suitable employment or enable them to become self-employed.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Hostels for ST boys and ST Girls
The primary objective of the modification is to attract the implementing agencies for undertaking hostel
construction programme for ST Girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and universities
towards the broader vision of containment and reduction of their dropout rate.
Establishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas
The objective of the scheme is to provide residential schools for Scheduled Tribes including PTGs in an environment
conducive to learning to increase the literacy rate among the tribal students and to bring them at par with other
population of the country.
Eklavya Model Residential School
In the context of the trend of establishing quality residential schools for the promotion of education in all areas and
habitations in the country, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for ST students take their place among the
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and the Kendriya Vidyalayas.
3.3.7. Specific Schemes for Other Backward Classes
New Swarnima Special Scheme for Women
Under the scheme women are given loan to make their financial condition strong by finding some source of
employment in the form of any small scale business. The objective of this scheme is to inculcate the spirit of self-
dependence among the eligible Women of Backward Classes living below double the poverty line. The salient
features of the "New Swarnima” are:
• Maximum Loan limit is Rs. 1,00,000/- per beneficiary and interest will be charged@5% p.a.
• The beneficiary woman is not required to invest any amount of her own on the projects.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls
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The Scheme aims at providing hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes,
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especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education.
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This is a special scheme under Term Loan for young professional belonging to Backward Classes of the target group.
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Maximum loan limit is Rs.10 Lakh per beneficiary. The loan upto Rs.5 Lakh bears interest @ 6% p.a. and loan above
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Rs.5 Lakh to Rs.10 Lakh bears interest @ 8% p.a.

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Shilp Sampada
The objective of this scheme is to upgrade the technical and entrepreneurial skill of Backward Classes by way of
providing training and financial assistance under Term Loan for self-employment in traditional craft etc. the artisans
and handicraft persons of Backward Classes living below double the poverty line can obtain loan upto Rs.10 Lakh
under this scheme. Loans upto Rs.5 Lakh bears interest @ 6% p.a. and above Rs.5 Lakh to Rs.10 Lakh bears interest
@ 8% p.a.

3.4. Senior Citizens/Aged

A "senior citizen" means any person being a citizen of India, who has attained the age of sixty years or above. The
vulnerability among the elderly is due to an increased incidence of illness and disability, economic dependency
upon their spouses, children and other younger family members.
The common forms of abuse of elderly persons are:
• Physical abuse: Hitting, pushing, kicking Senior Citizens in Numbers
• Inappropriate use of drugs or restraints: over- and under- According to Census 2011 there are nearly 104
medicating and withholding medication from patients million elderly persons (aged 60 years or above)
• Psychological or emotional abuse: Insults, threats, in India; 53 million females and 51 million males.
humiliation, confinement, isolation and depriving them of A report released by the United Nations
Population Fund and HelpAge India suggests that
dignity (for instance, by leaving them in soiled clothes)

the number of elderly persons is expected to
• Financial abuse : Misusing or stealing a person’s money or
grow to 173 million by 2026.
assets
• Neglect or abandonment: Not providing food, housing, or medical care
• Sexual abuse: Sexual contact without consent
3.4.1. Schemes
Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana
Government has launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)’ to provide social security during old
age and to protect elderly persons aged 60 and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain
market conditions. The scheme enables old age income security for senior citizens through provision of assured
pension/return linked to the subscription amount based on government guarantee to Life Insurance Corporation of
India (LIC). Till March 2018, there are total 2.23 lakh beneficiaries (senior citizens) under PMVVY 2018. The previous
Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2014 scheme has total 3.11 lakh beneficiaries.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
It is a Central Sector Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to
BPL category. The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the "Senior Citizens' Welfare
Fund". The Scheme will be implemented through the sole implementing agency - Artificial Limbs Manufacturing
Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Under the Scheme, the
following Aids and Assisted-Living Devices will be provided to eligible elderly beneficiary senior citizens, depending
upon their physical impairment.
• Walking sticks
• Elbow crutches
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• Walkers / Crutches
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• Hearing Aids
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• Wheelchair
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Artificial Dentures
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• Spectacles
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An Integrated Programme for Older Persons

The main objective of the Scheme is to improve the quality of life of the Older Persons by providing basic
amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and
active ageing through providing support for capacity building of Government/Non-Governmental Organizations/
Panchayati Raj Institutions/local bodies and the Community at large.

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)

This is non-contributory pension scheme launched by the Central government to provide pensions to persons who
are 60 years or above and belong to below poverty line (BPL) category. The central contribution of pension under
the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is Rs. 200/- per month per beneficiary up to 79
years and Rs.500/- per month per beneficiary from 80 year onwards and the State Governments may contribute
over and above to this amount.
Vayoshreshtha Sammans - A Scheme of National Award for Senior Citizens.
Scheme of National Award for Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Sammans) was launched in 2005 and is dedicated to
senior citizens. The Scheme is funded by the Central government. This scheme is applicable for eminent senior
citizens and institutes involved in rendering distinguished services for the cause of elderly persons. Institutes and
senior citizens can avail this scheme by contacting Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
3.5. Disabled Persons

UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (1975): “Any person unable to ensure by himself or herself, wholly
or partly the necessities of a normal individual and or social life as a result of a deficiency either congenital or not in
his/her physical or mental abilities” could be described as disabled.
While there has been tremendous progress in the area of disability Facts about Disabled Persons
rights, people with disabilities still face a number of barriers put in place • As per census 2011 (2016
by society, not by their “disability”. Disabled people are more likely to updated), in India, the percentage
live in poverty, more likely to be unemployed, more likely to face of disabled population is about
discrimination in the workplace. These barriers are social, not personal, 2.21 per cent.
and cannot be “overcome” through sheer force of will. • About one-third of the disabled
population have disability since
Persons with disabilities face several forms of discrimination, such as: their birth.
• Mental illness is considered as a
• They have reduced access to education, employment and other
prominent form of disability.
socio-economic opportunities.
• Five out of ten leading causes of
• They are faced with stigma and discrimination from the society disability and premature death
where they live. worldwide are due to psychiatric
• They may find it hard to socialize with members of the society which conditions.
can lead to depression as well as self-pity.
• Disabled people are often considered weak, worthless and in some cases subhuman by their societies.
3.5.1. Schemes
Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan)
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The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has conceptualised the “Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat
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Abhiyan)” as a nation-wide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility that will enable persons with
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disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an
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inclusive society. The campaign targets at enhancing the accessibility of built environment, transport system and
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Information & communication eco-system.

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of

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Components of Accessible India Campaign: Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

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It puts an obligation on all the signatory

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• Built Environment Accessibility governments to take appropriate measures to

• Transportation System Accessibility ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an
• Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility equal basis with others, to the physical
environment, to transportation, to information
Sugamya Pustakalaya and communications, including information and
“Sugamaya Pustakalaya” is an online platform that makes communications technologies and systems, and
accessible content available to print-disabled people. The library to other facilities and services open or provided
to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.

houses publications across diverse subjects and languages and multiple accessible formats. It has been created by
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment in collaboration with member organizations of Daisy Forum of India and powered by TCS Access.
Books are available in Accessible formats for people with visual impairment and other print disabilities. Over 2 lakhs
books in diverse languages. Integrating libraries across India and the Globe, including the largest international
library, ‘Bookshare’.
Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme
This is revised scheme which was earlier titled- "Scheme to Promote Voluntary Action for Persons with Disabilities".
The objectives of the scheme are:
• To create an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of
persons with disabilities.
• To encourage voluntary action for ensuring effective implementation of the People with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities and Protection of Rights) Act of 1995.
Approach and Strategy
The approach of this Scheme is to provide financial assistance to voluntary organizations to make available the
whole range of services necessary for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities including early intervention,
development of daily living skills, education, skill-development oriented towards employability, training and
awareness generation. With a view to inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream of society and
actualizing their potential, the thrust would be on education and training programmes. In order to achieve the
objectives of the scheme the key strategies will be as follows:
• To enhance educational opportunities at all levels and in all forms and enlarge the scope of vocational and
professional opportunities, income generation and gainful occupations.
• To support all such measures as may be necessary for promoting formal as well as nonformal employment and
placement opportunities.
• To implement outreach and comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation programmes in urban and rural
environments.
• To support manpower development activities to train required personnel at different levels for all programmes/
projects/activities for persons with disabilities.
• To support the development, publication and dissemination of information, documentation and training
materials.
National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
In order to recognise dedicated efforts of persons and institutions involved in the process of empowerment of
disabled and encourage others to strive to achieve excellence in this field, the National Awards for Empowerment of
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ADIP Scheme
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The main objective of the Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) scheme is
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to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern,
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standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing
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the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. The aids and appliances supplied under the Scheme
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shall conform to BIS specifications to the extent possible. The scheme is implemented through implementing
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agencies such as the NGOs, National Institutes under this Ministry and ALIMCO (a PSU).
3.6. Minorities
The Constitution of India does not define the term “minorities” anywhere but only mentions it in some Articles 29
to 30 and 350A to 350B. Article 29 referring to minorities speaks of “any section of citizens having a distinct
language, script and culture”. Article 30 speaks about two categories of minorities – religious and linguistic – while
Article 350 relates to linguistic minorities.

3.6.1. Schemes for Welfare of Minorities

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) seeks to provide better socio-economic infrastructure facilities to the
minority communities particularly in the field of education, health & skill development which would further lead to
lessening of the gap between the national average and the minority communities with regard to backwardness
parameters. PMJVK is restructured and renamed version of the erstwhile Multi-sectoral Development Programme
(MsDP).
Nai Roshni
The scheme is envisaged to reach out to women through nongovernmental organizations who will be provided with
financial support for conducting leadership development trainings so that women are empowered and emboldened
to move out of the confines of home and community and assume leadership roles and assert their rights collectively
or individually.
Scholarship Schemes
Students belonging to notified minority communities viz. Muslim / Christian / Sikh / Buddhist / Jain / Parsi
(Zoroastrian) can avail following scholarships based on their eligibility-
• Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities (for Class I to X)
• Post-matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities (for Class XI to Ph.D.)
• Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme (For Professional and Technical courses)
• Begam Hajrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls belonging to Minorities-Implemented by
Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) (for minority girls studying in Class XIth and XIIth Standard).
Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)
Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India on 23 September 2013 launched a central sector scheme
for Skill Development of Minorities. Main Objectives of scheme are:
• To bring down unemployment rate of minorities during 12th Plan period (2012-17).
• To conserve and update traditional skills of minorities and establish their linkages with the market.
• To improve employability of existing workers, school dropouts etc and ensure their placement.
• To generate means of better livelihood for marginalised minorities and bring them in the mainstream.
• To enable minorities to avail opportunities in the growing market.
• To develop potential human resource for the country.
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Jiyo Parsi, the Central Sector Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2013. The main objective
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of the Jiyo parsi scheme is to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by adopting scientific protocol and
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structured interventions, stabilize the Parsi population and increase the population of Parsis in India.
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Padho Pardesh (for overseas studies at Masters, M.Phil. and Ph.D. Level)
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Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India has introduced a scheme for providing 'interest subsidy' for
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minority students for overseas studies. This scheme came into force from 2013-14. The annual income of the
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parents should be less than 6 lakhs.

Nalanda Scheme
Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched the Nalanda Project for Minorities Higher Educational Institutions
on 4 March 2014. Nalanda Project is an innovative Faculty Development Program of Union Ministry of Minority
Affairs. The Nalanda Project is being taken up at Aligarh Muslim University, a premier Minority University of world
fame. The Aligarh Muslim University is also a Nodal Staff College of University Grant Commission.

Minority Cyber Gram (MCG)

The MCG programme seeks to introduce digital literacy skills in identified minority clusters in India through
designated Digital Fellows towards knowledge empowerment and entitlement gains of minority focused groups and
beneficiaries.
Maulana Azad Sehat scheme
Under the scheme, Sehat Card will be issued to every student of the Institution financially aided by Maulana Azad
Education Foundation (MAEF).
Other Schemes
• USTAAD: The Scheme aims at upgrading Skills and Training in preservation of traditional Ancestral Arts/Crafts of
minorities.
• Hamari Darohar: The Scheme aims to preserve rich heritage of minority communities in context of Indian
culture.
• Khwaza Garib Nawaz Senior Secondary School is being established at Ajmer by Maulana Azad Education
Foundation (MAEF) to give a fillip to minority education.
• Nai Manzil: A bridge course to bridge the academic and skill development gaps of the deeni Madrasa passouts
with their mainstream counterparts.
• Strengthening of State Wakf Boards: The scheme envisages to provide assistance for meeting the training and
administrative cost of State Wakf Boards, removal of encroachment from Waqf Properties and also
strengthening of Zonal/Regional offices of Waqf Boards.
3.7. LGBT Community

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons have historically faced and continue to face discrimination
and violence around the world. According to 2011 census, almost six lakh transgender people live in India. Section
377 of Indian Panel Code criminalizes homosexual activities which further make them vulnerable. In a landmark
Judgment on Right to Privacy, the Supreme Court said the rights of LGBT population are "real rights founded on
sound constitutional doctrine". However, they continue to face various issues like-
• Social discrimination, deprivation of liberty, lack of employment and educational opportunities, limited access
to health care etc.
• Forced or bonded labour, denial of use of a public place, denial of residence in household, village
• Physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic abuse
• Threats, blackmails and even violence in the name of section 377 with no help or remedy
• They live under constant fear and psychological stress
• While prosecution under Section 377 has been rare, the law is used to harass members of the LGBT community.
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3.7.1. Schemes
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SWEEKRUTI
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“SWEEKRUTI” is an umbrella scheme launched by Odisha Government which is to be operated in a mission mode
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with manifold objectives. To ensure equitable justice for transgender persons the Sweekruti scheme focuses on the
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following broad objectives:

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• To create an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice & empowerment of
transgender persons of the state.
• To encourage voluntary action and participation of all stake holders for ensuring effective social integration of
transgender persons.
• To expand outreach activities for protection of rights and entitlements of transgender persons in the state.
• To promote individual and group endeavours by transgender persons for employment, self-employment and
other socio-educational services.

• To strengthen the existing implementation machinery and create facilities for coverage of all transgender
persons of the state.
The approach of this scheme is to make available the whole range of services necessary for rehabilitation of
transgender persons. With a view to include transgender persons in the mainstream of society and actualizing their
potential, the thrust would be on the following key strategies:
• Survey & Identification of all Transgender persons in the state and issue of certificates, multipurpose smart
cards,etc.
• Assistance to parents of transgender children and provision of pre and post- matric scholarship for all
transgender children pursuing education.
• Skill upgradation and entrepreneurship development training, supply of Self Employment Kit and strengthening
Self Help Groups.
• Support for Critical Health Care & group insurance support for transgender persons.
• Provision for Legal Aid and advice, counseling and guidance services for transgender persons in distress.
• Organization of Community Awareness, sensitization and campaign on rights of transgender persons and
training of staff and volunteers.
3.7.2. Initiatives by Government/Judiciary to Promote Interests of LGBT Community in India
• The Supreme Court in NALSA case recognised transgender as a legal third gender and called on the government
to ensure their equal treatment.
• It also provided for avenues of reservation within the OBC quota to this ‘marginalised’ section
• Odisha became the first state to give transgender people social welfare benefits - such as a pension, housing
and food grains - usually allocated for only the most impoverished.
• The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 has been introduced in the Parliament to protect the
rights of LGBT communities.
• Saathiya scheme launched by Government addresses same-sex attraction with gentleness and wisdom and
states that it is alright to feel attracted to someone of the same sex as yours.
3.8. Poor Persons
Poor persons face a number of problems due to their incapacity to afford resources be it – healthcare, education,
entertainment, better quality of life or anything else. This causes them to live in a vicious cycle of poverty where
due to less money at their disposal they are not able to get better education which leads to them lending into low
wages jobs or being unemployed which in turn perpetuates their poverty and they are not able to get out of
poverty trap.
3.8.1. Schemes for Poor Persons
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MGNREGA
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Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is the flagship employment generation programme of the Government. It has been
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instrumental in creating employment opportunities and placing additional income in the hands of the poor and the
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disadvantaged sections of society who volunteer to do unskilled work with an entitlement of 100 days of wage
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employment to each registered rural household every financial year.

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Intended Beneficiary
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• Rural population
• Unskilled manual labourers
• Seasonal unemployed
Salient Features
• A statutory minimum wage is set which is paid to labourers.

• Strong social safety net for the vulnerable groups

• Sustainable development of an agricultural economy employment on works that address drought, deforestation
and soil erosion, water and soil conservation, afforestation and land development works
• A 60:40 wage and material ratio has to be maintained. No contractors and machinery is allowed
• The central government bears the 100 percent wage cost of unskilled manual labour and 75 percent of the
material cost including the wages of skilled and semi-skilled workers.
• At least one-third beneficiaries shall be women.
• Social audit has to be done by the gram sabha.
Performance Evaluation of MGNREGA
Research studies on MGNREGA have pointed out many positive effects of the scheme. These are as follows:
• MGNREGA has helped in following:

o Increasing the bargaining power of the wage seekers
o Improving the economic outcomes especially in watershed activities
o Reducing the distress rural-urban migration
o Increasing significantly the monthly per capita consumption expenditure of the rural households
• It is succeeding as a self-targeting programme with high participation from marginalized groups including the
SCs and STs.
• In the case of both SCs and STs, the participation rate exceeded their share in total population.
• It has reduced the traditional gender wage discrimination, particularly, in the public works and has had a
positive impact on the socio-economic status of women.
• MGNREGA with its inter-sectoral approach opens an opportunity for convergence with different programmes
optimizing public investment.
• MGNREGA has had a more direct and positive impact on reducing distress migration as compared to migration
taken-up for economic growth and other reasons.
• It is also important as a supplementary source of income and is being used by rural households for starting their
own ventures.
Some weaknesses found in implementation of MGNREGA in Different places-
• Though the MGNREGA Act is Panchayat centric and demand based, on the ground, there is lack of principal role
in planning by the Gram Sabha/Gram Panchayat.
• At all the sample sites, the role of the Gram Sabha in planning was more of a formal nature and the programme
is being implemented in a supply driven mode and there is lack of panchayat driven selection of work.
• Under MGNREGA, the need for community projects is becoming less important as probably such works have
already been completed or on the brink of saturation or due to lack of common interest in these areas and
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instead individual activities in farms are preferred.

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• In some places for individual activities under MGNREGA, the difference of market and MGNREGA wages are
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paid by beneficiaries.
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• In some places only females are interested in MGNREGA works as market wages for males are much higher
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resulting in only small works being undertaken instead of big projects.

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• There are also cases of procedures being not fully followed, lack of proper planning and some ill-conceived
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projects.
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• There were also many instances of single beneficiaries and Gram Panchayats starting activities only to use the
MGNREGA funds.
• Seasonal aspect in provision of employment was also ignored and there were also delays in wage payment up
to two months in some districts.

Conclusion
While generally MGNREGA has been able to serve its purpose, better management and further modifications are
needed to make the programme more fruitful and even development oriented. In some places there is also scope to
use this programme for development of tourism as other community related farm activities have been completed
by now. This could help in having many beneficiaries and even nation building instead of single or few beneficiaries.
4. Performance of Various Other Schemes

4.1. National Rural Health Mission
With the advent of NRHM, India has made remarkable achievements in providing affordable healthcare facilities to
the rural poor and also
• Added over 1.56 lakh health human resources to the health system across the country (up to September 2013).
• Institutional deliveries in almost all the states show a quantum jump during NRHM period
• Majority of the new born children have been immunized in all the states of India
• NRHM funds utilization has improved over the period at all levels.
• Sub Centers and PHCs have started using untied grants with decentralization under NRHM.
However, there are also some problems as indicated in different studies5 and reports which are as follows:
• Physical infrastructure: Since inception of NRHM, a large number of CHCs, PHCs, and SCs have been added to
rural health services in India. However, the functioning of CHCs, HCs, and SCs on 24x7 basis is still below the
requirement. The infrastructure is also substantially short of Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms.
• Human resource: There is a shortage of human resource in public health institutions with shortfalls of even
specialists/post-graduate doctors, gynaecologists, staff nurses and anesthetists in almost all the states.
• Referral and emergency transport: This system seems to be working quite efficiently in some of the states like
Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam and Tamil Nadu. However, in most of the districts in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa
and J&K, the Mobile Medical Units are not working. Besides inefficient emergency transport system is
hampering the outreach of health care services.
• Hospital Maintenance: Even peripheral services like cleaning, washing, catering, etc. have not been outsourced
in many districts.
• Quality of services is seriously affected by shortage of staff nurses at all levels of facilities. Women delivering
new born babies also don’t stay for minimum 48 hours after delivery because of lack of basic facilities like
cleanliness, electricity potable water, etc.
• Capacity building: Although trained ASHA’s are recruited in all the states, in some states they are not trained
properly and in some states even the guidelines for the selection of ASHA workers are not followed properly.
The existing training infrastructure like medical colleges, nursing training institutes, etc. does not match with the
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required level of infrastructure. Besides there is no rationalization of posting and transfer policies for medical
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and health management personnel which affect the credibility and sustainability of health care.
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4.2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

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• Under the PM Ujjwala Yojana, the government aims to provide LPG connections to below poverty line (BPL)
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households in the country to replace unclean cooking fuels used in rural India with the clean and more efficient
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LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).

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• In 2018, the Centre had revised its target to provide LPG connections to eight crore from five crore.
• Nearly four crore (3,98,77,723) connections have been given under the scheme so far, about 80 lakh of them in
the past five months.
4.3. Recent Initiatives for Improving Monitoring of Various Schemes
• There has been a shift to a sector-wide approach as opposed to creating schemes in silos, uniting similar
schemes and a greater role for states in implementation which has enhanced the efficacy of schemes.

• Bottlenecks in delivery have also been addressed with the increased use of technology in monitoring
(Garv and Swacchh Bharat dashboards), fixing accountability (PRAGATI) and broadening public interaction
(MyGoV).
• Proactive communication, including the prime minister’s involvement through social media and his radio
programme, has increased awareness about and participation in many welfare schemes.
4.4. Way Forward

The core administrative and governance inefficiencies in social protection programs should be addressed to
improve the impact of economic growth on social and welfare indicators. This can be achieved without large
enhancement of social welfare budgets and also lead to improved efficiency.
5. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection

and betterment of these vulnerable sections

5.1. Mechanisms Existing in India for Vulnerable Sections
Various mechanisms to ensure social justice to vulnerable section are following-
• Various Schemes launched by government and their implementing agencies
• Various laws passed by legislative bodies
• Various Policies brought by the Government
• Various Bodies established for the welfare of these groups
• Judiciary to seek enforcement of rights of these groups and to seek justice against crime
5.2. Laws Pertaining to Betterment of Vulnerable Sections

5.2.1. Children
Constitutional Provisions
• Article 15(3): State can make special provisions for betterment of children.
• Article 21 A: State to provide free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen
years
• Article 23: Right to being protected from being trafficked and forced into bonded labour
• Article 24: Prohibition of employment of children below the age of 14 years of age in factories
• Article 45: The state to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age
of six years
Legislations Related to Children
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Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986

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It has following twin objectives-

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o It intends to prohibit the engagement of children in certain employments

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o To regulate the conditions of work of children in certain other employments where children are allowed to
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work.
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The Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994
(PCPNDT Act, 1994)
o It was enacted for prohibition of sex selection before or after conception and for prevention of misuse of
pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex determination.
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015- It provides for strengthened provisions for both
children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. Some of the key provisions include:
o change in nomenclature from ‘juvenile’ to ‘child’ or ‘child in conflict with law’

o inclusion of several new definitions such as orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children and petty,
serious and heinous offences committed by children;
o clarity in powers, function and responsibilities of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and Child Welfare Committee
(CWC);
o clear timelines for inquiry by Juvenile Justice Board (JJB);
o special provisions for heinous offences committed by children above the age of sixteen year;
o separate new chapter on Adoption to streamline adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children;
o Inclusion of new offences committed against children; and mandatory registration of Child Care Institutions.
• Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act, 2012
o It deals with sexual offences against persons below 18 years of age, who are deemed as children.
o It provides penal provisions for sexual offences like sexual abuse, sexual harassment and pornography
• Commissions for Protection of the Rights of the Child Act, 2005
o India has ratified the United Nations Child Rights Convention in the year 1992 and this Act was passed as
one of the necessary steps to protect the rights of the children in the country. It establishes National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
o The Act outlaws and provides for penal provision for child marriage.
o According to the act a child is a male who has not completed twenty one years of age and a female who has
not completed eighteen years of age. C
Other Instruments
• The National Policy on Children 2013
o The Policy has identified four key priority areas: survival, health and nutrition; education and development;
protection and participation, for focused attention.
o As children’s needs are multi-sectoral, interconnected and require collective action, the Policy calls for
purposeful convergence and coordination across different sectors and levels of governance.
• The United Nations Convention on the 'Rights of the Child'
• The Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993
5.2.2. Women
• Article 15(3): State can make special provisions for women
• Article 23: Right to being protected from being trafficked and forced into bonded labour
• Article 39 (a): State to ensure that, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means to livelihood
• Article 39 (d): State to ensure equal pay to women for equal work
• Article 42: Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.
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• Article 243 D: Provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats at all levels to women.
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Legislations Related to Women

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• The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 - Provides for paid maternity leaves of 26 months
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The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961— To end dowry by providing penal provisions.
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• Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1986 – Penal provisions for trafficking of women
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• Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986 – To protect dignity of women

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• Commission of Sati (prevention) Act 1987 – Abolished Sati system

• National Commission of Women Act 1990 – Establishes National Commission of Women
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 – To protect women from domestic violence
• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 – It addresses workplace sexual harassment.
Other Instruments
• UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

5.2.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes

• Article 15(4): State can make special provisions for SCs/STs
• Article 16(4): State can make provision for reservation of appointments/posts for SC/STs
• Article 17: Abolishes Untouchability and its practice in any form
• Article 46: Promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs, STs and the weaker sections
• Article 243 D: Reservation of seats in Panchayats for SC/ST candidates
• Article 275: Special grant in aids to states for tribal welfare.
• Article 335: Relaxation in qualifying marks for admission in educational institutes or promotions
• Article 330 and Article 332 of the Constitution respectively provide for reservation of seats in favour of the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and in the legislative assemblies of the
states.
Legislations Related to SCs, STs and OBCs
• The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 – It provides for penal provisions for untouchability.
• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act –It is aimed at atrocities against the members of the SCs and STs
• The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 – Outlaws bonded labour
• The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989- ( Dealt Above)
• Forest Rights Act 2006 - recognizes the rights to hold and live in the forest land
• The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 -- It is an Act to provide for the
extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas.
5.2.4. Senior Citizens/ Aged
• Item No. 9 of the State List and Item No. 20, 23 and 24 of the Concurrent List relates to social security and social
insurance, old age pension and economic and social planning.
• Article 41: The State to protect the rights of old age persons particularly social security.
Legislation Related to Aged/Senior Citizens
• Maintenance and Welfare Of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
o Obligation of children to maintain his/her parents so that such parent may lead a normal life
o Obligation of any person or relative to maintain senior citizen provided that person/relative is in possession
of property of such senior citizen or will inherit his/her property
Other Instruments
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National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011-

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It focuses on implementation of existing policies which include:

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o Awareness generation for the Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
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o Setting up a helpline for senior citizens

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o Establishing a National Commission for Senior Citizens, and

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Establishing a National Trust for the Aged.

5.2.5. Disabled Persons
• The Preamble, Article 14, Article 21 and DPSP provide right to equality, justice and dignity of all individuals
leading to an inclusive development which also includes the Disabled Persons.

Legislations Enacted for Disabled Persons

• The Indian Lunacy Act 1912
• The Lepers Act, 1899
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016
• National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities
Act 1999
• Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992
• The Mental Healthcare Act 2017
Other Instruments
• United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol
5.2.6. Minorities
• Preamble: Justice – social, economic, political to all its citizens
• Articles 14,15 and 16 : Guarantee right to equality and prohibits discrimination
• Article 25-28 : Right to Freedom of Religion
• Article 29: Right to preserve language script and culture and that they will not be denied admission to an
educational institutions based on their race, language, religion or caste
• Article 30: The right to establish and administer educational institutions and prohibition on any discrimination
in matters of granting aids to such institutions by the State
Laws Related to Minorities
• Different Personal Laws govern marriage, divorce and succession rights of persons belonging to different faiths,
such as – Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872; Paris Marriage and Divorce Act 1936
• National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2004 -- This act allows direct affiliation of
minority educational institutes to central universities. This act was enacted in order to provide quality education
in minority institutes.
5.2.7. Laws Related to LGBT
The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly mandates an
inclusive society for all including Transgender persons (Articles 14, 15(1), 15(2), 16(2), 19(1), 21 and 41).
• Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016
o The Bill defines a transgender person as one who is partly female or male; or a combination of female and
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male; or neither female nor male. In addition, the person’s gender must not match the gender assigned at
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birth, and includes trans-men, trans-women, persons with intersex variations and gender-queers.
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o The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person in areas such as education, employment, and
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healthcare. It directs the central and state governments to provide welfare schemes in these areas.
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o Offences like compelling a transgender person to beg, denial of access to a public place, physical and sexual
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abuse, etc. would attract up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine.

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5.3. Institutions and Bodies for the betterment of these vulnerable sections
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5.3.1. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, as the name suggests, is to ensure equitable treatment to such
sections of society which has suffered social inequalities, exploitation, discrimination and injustice.

5.3.2. Children
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
It is a statutory body created under Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 to exercise and
performs the powers and functions assigned to it under CPCR Act, 2005. Its mission is to ensure that all laws,
policies, programmes and administrative mechanisms are in consonance with the child rights perspective as
enshrined in the Constitution of India as well as in, the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child, which
India ratified in 1992.
It has various functions under following laws and rules-
• Commissions for Protection of Child Rights(CPCR) Act, 2005,
• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education(RTE) Act, 2009
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act

o The Commission website ncpcr.gov.in also has an e-Box to report cases of sexual violence where a user has
to simply push a button named POSCO e-Box.
The functions and powers of the National Commission are following:
• Examine and review the legal safeguards provided by or under any law for the protection of child rights and
recommend measures for their effective implementation
• Inquire into violation of child rights and recommend initiation of proceedings in such cases
• Spread awareness about child rights among various sections of society
• Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights
• Inspect institutions meant for juvenile/children
• Inquire into complaints of deprivation and violation of child rights, non-implementation of laws and non-
compliance policy decisions, guidelines or instructions
• Undertake other necessary functions for the promotion of child rights.
• The Commission has the power of a civil court and all criminal cases brought to the same has to be forwarded
to a concerned Magistrate who has jurisdiction to try the same.
POCSO e-Box for children
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) e-Box is an online complaint box for reporting child sexual
abuse. It is an NCPCR initiative to help children report such crimes directly to the Commission.
National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)
NIPCCD is a premier organisation devoted to promotion of voluntary action research, training and documentation in
the overall domain of women and child development. Established in New Delhi in the year 1966 under Societies
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Registration Act of 1860, it functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The
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Institute functions as an apex institution for training functionaries of the Integrated Child Development Services
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(ICDS) programme.
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Central Adoption Resource Authority

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Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development,
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Government of India. It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor
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and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and
surrendered children through its associated adoption agencies. It also issues Adoption Guidelines laying down
procedures and processes to be followed by different stakeholders of the adoption programme.
Child Welfare Committees
Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) have been designated by Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 as the final district-level
authorities for the care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of Children in Need of Care and

Protection (CNCP). CWCs thus have the sole authority to deal with matters concerning CNCP and are bestowed with
the powers of a first class judicial magistrate.
Child Care Institution
A child care institution as defined under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, means Children Home, Open Shelter,
Observation Home, Special Home, Place of Safety, Specialised Adoption Agency and a Fit Facility recognized under
the Act for providing care and protection to children, who are in need of such services. Children in conflict with law
are provided residential care and protection in Observation Homes, Special Homes and Places of Safety.
CHILDLINE
CHILDLINE is India's first 24-hour, free, emergency phone service for children in need of aid and assistance based on
1098 Tele Helpline Model. It is a platform bringing together the Union Ministry for Women & Child Development,
working in Partnership with State Governments, NGOs, International Organizations, the Corporate Sector,
Concerned Individuals and Children.
5.3.3. Women
National Commission for Women
The National Commission for Women was set up in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act,
1990 to:
• Review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women;
• Recommend remedial legislative measures;
• Facilitate redressal of grievances and
• Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
Various functions of the commission are following:
• Look into complaints and take suo moto notice of matters relating to:
o Deprivation of women's rights;
o Non-implementation of laws enacted to provide protection to women and also to achieve the objective of
equality and development
o Non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships and ensuring
welfare and providing relief to women
• Undertake promotional and educational research so as to suggest ways of ensuring due representation of
women in all spheres and identify factors responsible for impeding their advancement
• Participate and advice on the planning process of socio-economic development of women;
• Inspect or cause to inspect a jail, remand home or other place of custody where women are kept as prisoners
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or otherwise and take up with the concerned authorities for remedial action
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Fund litigation involving issues affecting a large body of women

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• Make periodical reports to the Government on any matter pertaining to women

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The Commission shall have all the powers of a civil court which includes:
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• Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath
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Requiring the discovery and production of any document

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Receiving evidence on affidavits

• Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office
• Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents
The Commission has taken up various initiatives such as-
• It took up the issue of child marriage, sponsored legal awareness programmes, Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats
and reviewed laws such as Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, PNDT Act 1994, Indian Penal Code 1860 and the
National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to make them more stringent and effective.

• It organized workshops/consultations, constituted expert committees on economic empowerment of women,

conducted workshops/seminars for gender awareness and took up publicity campaign against female foeticide,
violence against women etc. in order to generate awareness in the society against these social evils.
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)
RMK, established in 1993, is a national level organization under the aegis of the Ministry of Women
and Child Development, for socio-economic empowerment of women. RMK extends micro-credit to the women in
the informal sector through a client friendly, without collateral and in a hassle-free manner for income generation
activities. It acts as a facilitating agency wherein RMK provides loans to NGO-MFIs termed as Intermediary
Organizations (IMO) which then lend to Self Help Groups (SHGs) of women. RMK has taken a number of
promotional measures to popularize the concept of micro financing, enterprise development, thrift and credit,
formation and strengthening of Women-SHGs through intermediary organizations.
5.3.4. SCs/STs/OBCs
National Commission for SCs
The Constitution under Article 338 has provided for appointment of a special officer to ensure that the safeguards
are properly implemented and to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for Scheduled Castes &
Scheduled Tribes and report to the President about the working of these safeguards. In pursuance of this provision
a Special Officer known as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes was appointed for the first
time on 18th November, 1950.
The Commission under Article 338 of Indian Constitution has the following duties and functions:
• To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under the
Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to
evaluate the working of such safeguards;
• To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled
Castes;
National SC Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)

NSFDC is Central Public Sector Enterprise incorporated as a 'not for profit' company. It is under Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment, Government of India for financing, facilitating and mobilizing funds for the economic
empowerment of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes families living below Double the Poverty Line. NSFDC
finances income generation schemes for the target group through the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs).
NSFDC Operations:
• Financing income generating schemes for the SCs through the State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) and other
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recognized institutions nominated by the respective State /UT Governments.

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• Providing Micro-Credit Finance to the target group through the SCAs.

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• Providing Educational Loan to the eligible scheduled caste students for pursuing full-time professional/technical
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educational courses in India or abroad.

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• Providing grants for skill development programmes through the SCAs.

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• Providing advisory services to target group and SCAs.

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• Upgrading the skill levels of the SCAs.

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National Safai Karamacharis Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC)

• NSKFDC is a “not for profit” company set up by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• It functions as an Apex institution for channelising the funds to Safai Karamcharis/ Scavengers and their
dependents through the State Channelising Agencies.
• Apart from operating various loan and non-loan based schemes for the upliftment of the target group, NSKFDC
is playing a vital role in elimination of manual scavenging - the worst surviving symbol of untouchability.

• It has been designated as the Nodal Agency for implementation of the Central Sector Self Employment Scheme
for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment.
National Commission for STs
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new
Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003. By this amendment, the
erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate
Commissions namely- (i) the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and (ii) the National Commission
for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
Functions of the Commission
• To investigate & Monitor matters relating to Safeguards provided for STs.

• To inquire into specific complaints relating to Rights & Safeguards of STs
• To participate and Advise in the Planning Process relating to Socio-economic development of STs, and to
Evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State
• To submit report to the President annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, upon/
working of Safeguards, Measures required for effective implementation of Programmers/ Schemes relating to
Welfare and Socio-economic development of STs
• The Commission would also discharge the following other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and
development & advancement of the Scheduled Tribes, namely:-
o Measures that need to be taken over conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce to the
Scheduled Tribes living in forest areas.
o Measures to be taken to safeguard rights to the Tribal Communities over mineral resources, water
resources etc. as per law.
o Measures to be taken for the development of tribals and to work for move viable livelihood strategies.
o Measures to be taken to improve the efficacy of relief and rehabilitation measures for tribal groups
displaced by development projects.
o Measures to be taken to prevent alienation of tribal people from land and to effectively rehabilitate such
people in whose case alienation has already taken place.
o Measures to be taken to elicit maximum cooperation and involvement of Tribal Communities for protecting
forests and undertaking social afforestation.
o Measures to be taken to ensure full implementation of the Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the
Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
o Measures to be taken to reduce and ultimately eliminate the practice of shifting cultivation by Tribals that
lead to their continuous disempowerment and degradation of land and the environment
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Powers of the Commission

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For Investigation and Inquiry, the Commission has powers of a civil court having authority to:
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• Summon and enforce attendance of any person and examine on oath

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• Discovery & production of any documents

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• Receive evidence on affidavits

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• Requisition any public record or copy thereof from any court or office
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• Issue Commissions for examination of witnesses and documents

• Any matter which President, by rule, may determine.
National Commission for Backward Classes
• The Supreme Court of India in Indira Sawhney Judgment, 1992 directed the government to constitute a
permanent body in the nature of a Commission or Tribunal for entertaining, examining and recommending
upon requests for inclusion and complaints of over-inclusion and under-inclusion in the list of OBCs.

• Pursuant to the direction of the Supreme Court, the Government of India enacted the National Commission for
Backward Classes Act, 1993 for setting up a Commission at National Level viz. “National Commission for
Backward Classes” as a permanent body.
• Power of NCSC to examine matters: Currently, under the Constitution the NCSC has the power to look into
complaints and welfare measures with regard to SCs, backward classes and Anglo-Indians.
• The Government has brought a Constitutional Amendment Bill to provide for constitution of a Commission
under Article 338B for socially and educationally backward classes.
• This will rename the NCBC as National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and will
give it constitutional status.It will hear the grievances of socially and educationally backward classes, a
function which has been discharged so far by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes under the article
338
• The Bill has recognised the developmental needs in addition to reservations.
• Definition of socially and educationally backward classes: Insertion of Clause (26C) under Article 366 to define
“socially and educationally backward classes” as such backward classes deemed so under Article 342A.
National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
NBCFDC is a “not for profit” company under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its objective
is to promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes and to assist the poorer
section of these classes in skill development and self-employment ventures. NBCFDC provides financial assistance
through State Channelising Agencies (SCAs).The Corporation can assist a wide range of income generating activities
in skill development and self-employment ventures under following broad sectors:
• Agriculture and Allied Activities
• Small Business
• Artisan and Traditional Occupation
• Technical and Professional Trades/Courses
• Transport and Service Sector etc.
5.3.5. Minorities
National Commission for Minorities
Established by the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 to protect minority rights in the country, the
commission consists of one chairperson and six members representing the six minor communities – Muslims, Sikhs,
Buddhists, Christians, Parsis and Jains.
The Commission performs various functions including evaluating the development of minority communities under
Union and States, ensuring the safeguard of minority rights as per the Constitutional laws and other legislations,
conducting studies and researches on the matters related to minorities and suggesting measures to Government on
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these aspects.
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The commission also acts as grievance redressal forum for persons belonging to minority communities. This
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Commission functions as a civil court in the matters concerning summoning of witnesses, discovery and production
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of documents; it receives evidence of affidavits, requisitions public records and copies, issues commission for
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examination of witnesses and documents, and any other prescribed matter in manner same as the civil courts.
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Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities

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The Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities was set up in 1957 to comply with Article 350B of the Constitution. It
takes up grievances of linguistic minorities and submits annual reports to the government.
National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions
• The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions was set up in 2004.
• It can look into any complaints relating to violation and deprivation of rights of minorities to establish and
administer educational institutions of their choice.

• This Commission is a quasi-judicial body and has been endowed with the powers of a Civil Court.
• It is to be headed by a Chairman who has been a Judge of the High Court and three members are to be
nominated by Central Government.
• The Commission has 3 roles namely adjudicatory function, advisory function and recommendatory powers.
• So far as affiliation of a minority educational institution to a university is concerned, the decision of the
Commission would be final.
Central Waqf Council
A Wakf is a permanent dedication of movable or immovable properties for purposes recognised by the Muslim Law as
religious, pious or charitable. Apart from these religious aspects, the Wakfs are also instruments of social and economic
upliftment.
Administration of Central Legislation for Wakfs is the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
For the purpose of advising it on matters relating to working of the Wakf Boards and the proper administration of Wakfs
in the country, the Central Wakf Council was established as a statutory body. The Council implements schemes for
development of urban Wakf properties and educational programmes schemes.
5.3.6. Disabled Persons
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
In order to give focused attention to Policy issues and meaningful thrust to the activities aimed at welfare and
empowerment of the Persons with Disabilities, a separate Department of Disability Affairs was carved out of the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Department was renamed as Department of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). The Department acts as a Nodal Agency for matters pertaining to disability
and Persons with Disabilities.
The Department has the vision to build an inclusive society in which equal opportunities are provided for the
growth and development of Persons with Disabilities so that they can lead productive, safe and dignified lives.
The Department deals with the following Legislations governing different aspects of disability and welfare &
empowerment of the Persons with Disabilities:
• The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992,
• The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995; and
• The National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple
Disabilities Act , 1999
Disha
The Disha scheme aims at setting up Disha Centres for early intervention for Person with Disability (PwD) in 0-10
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years of age covered under the National Trust Act, through therapies, trainings and providing support to family
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members.
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National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC)

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The NHFDC has been set up as a “not for profit” company by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It is
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wholly owned by Government of India and has an authorised share capital of Rs. 400 crores. It functions as an Apex
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institution for channelising the funds to persons with disabilities through the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs)
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nominated by the State Government(s).

Schemes of NHFDC
• Micro Financing Scheme
• Schemes for Parent's Association of mentally retarded persons
• Scheme of Financing NGOs Working in the Area of Disabilities
• Scheme for Vocational Education and Training for PwDs

• Scheme for Providing Handholding Support to Differently abled Entrepreneurs Through ‘Vishesh Udyami Mitras'
• Scheme for Providing handholding support to Differently abled for availing skill training/skill upgradation
through ‘Vishesh Prashikshan Mitras’
• Scheme of Financing Assistive Devices to Enhance the Employabilty or Increased Opportunity of Self
Employment of Differently abled Persons
• Scholarship Scheme (Trust Fund and National Fund)
Rehabilitation Council of India
The Rehabilitation Council of India is a statutory body set up under the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992. The
Council is responsible for regulating the training policies and programmes for various categories of professionals in the
area of rehabilitation and special education. Its functions include: (i) standardization and regulation of training courses a t
different levels in all the training institutions throughout the country, (ii) recognition of institutions/ universities running
training courses in the area of rehabilitation of the disabled within and outside the country on a reciprocal basis, (iii)
promotion of research in rehabilitation and special education, (iv) maintenance of a Central Rehabilitation Register for
professionals possessing the recognized qualifications in the area of rehabilitation and (v) encouragement of Continuing
Rehabilitation Education programmes in collaboration with organisations working in the area of disability.
5.3.7. Senior Citizens
National Council for Senior Citizens
A National Council for Senior Citizens, headed by the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment has been
constituted by the Ministry. The mandate of the National Council of Senior Citizens is to advise the Central and
State Governments on the entire gamut of issues related to the welfare of senior citizens and enhancement of their
quality of life, with special reference to the following:
• Policies, programmes and legislative measures
• Promotion of physical and financial security, health and independent and productive living
• Awareness generation and community mobilization.
Senior Citizen Welfare Fund
• Senior Citizen Welfare Fund has been established by the Government to promote financial security of senior
citizens, old age pension, healthcare, health insurance and welfare of elderly widows.
• The Fund will also fund schemes related to old-age homes, day care of senior citizens and research activities
related with ageing.
• This Fund will utilise unclaimed money, estimated to be in excess of Rs 9,000 crore, lying in PPF, employees
provident fund and various small savings schemes.
6. Previous Years Vision IAS GS Mains Test Series Questions

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1. It has been argued that the recent order of the Supreme Court to prevent the misuse of Section 498A
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institutionalises the prejudices and rehabilitates the myths, which the women’s movement in India has
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battled over decades. Discuss.

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Approach:
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• Give a brief explanation of Section 498A of IPC and elaborate the recent Supreme Court order regarding
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this particular section.

• Assess the directives passed by the SC.
• Analyze its impact on women and their rights in India.
Answer:
IPC Section 498A states that "whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman,
subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three
years and shall also be liable to fine." Such an offence is cognizable, non-compoundable and non-bailable. It

is deemed as ‘the anti-dowry law’.

In Rajesh Sharma and Ors vs State of UP case (2017), the SC laid down directions to prevent misuse of
Section 498A against a husband or his relatives. The guidelines are based on following observations by the
SC:
• The law has been misused by wives and relatives and thus has violated the basic human rights of men.
• The court relied on NCRB data of 2005, 2012 and 2013 of the number of people arrested, convicted and
acquitted and concluded that since conviction rate is low, most cases registered under 498A are false.
• Seizure of passports and issuing of interpole notices were seen as problematic.
In lieu of these observations, the court provided following guidelines:
• Cognizable offences have been turned into non-cognizable offences.
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Special rules for bail of husbands have been created.

• The provisions of the Passport Act have been altered.
However, there are serious issues with the judgment as it institutionalizes the myth of most cases being
frivolous under section 498A. This can be understood from the following points:
• The NCRB data does not depict reality as there can be various reasons for acquittal, for e.g. poor
investigation, settlement through mediation etc.
• The court did not co-relate data from other sources like NFHS-3, women’s studies centers, etc. which
paint a different picture regarding the issue.
• The judgment states that a ‘Family Welfare Committee’ drawn from members of society has to be
constituted in each district. However, this is virtual privatization of policing function and delays
investigation. Moreover, committee members can be unqualified and biased.
• There is already a bias against women in law enforcement agencies, i.e. a preconception that
disgruntled wives are misusing the law.
• Low conviction rate exists across the board, isolating crimes against women seems illogical.
Impact of the judgement on women and their rights
• The law was passed in 1980s due to high number of dowry deaths. Earlier, the accused were
immediately arrested and had the onus of burden to prove their innocence. However, the revised order
is a step back as many safeguards have been introduced for the accused. This will deter women from
taking legal recourse during instances of harassment.
• The SC unconsciously restores and legitimizes the construct that a woman rushes into litigation and
criminal prosecution; however, generally women are weighed down by gender relations and often
tolerate violence.
• The changed provision w.r.t. the passport will make it easier for accused husbands and NRIs to abscond.
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The importance of the law is undeniable in India's patriarchal social structure. Dowry remains
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unchecked and is often practiced despite implementation of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Hence, some
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of the recent orders may weaken the grounds for genuine victims. Thus, the law must retain its
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progressive bias in favour of wronged women, without inadvertently wronging men.

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2. Human Trafficking in India has emerged as a serious issue, which calls for understanding the complexity
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of the problem and devising an effective strategy to combat it. Discuss.

Approach:
• Introduce by defining human trafficking.
• Discuss the issue of human trafficking in India along with the complexities involved with this problem.
• Mention the steps taken to tackle the above problem.

Answer:
Human trafficking is the third largest organized crime after drugs and the arms trade across the globe.
According to the United Nations – “trafficking is any activity leading to recruitment, transportation,
harboring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or a position of vulnerability”. Close to
80% of human trafficking across the world is done for sexual exploitation and the rest is for bonded labor.
India is considered as the hub of human trafficking in Asia with almost 20,000 women and children victims
of it in 2016, a rise of nearly 25% from the previous year. According to the Ministry of Women and Child
Development 19,223 women and children were trafficked last year against 15,448 in 2015.
To understand the problem of human trafficking we need to understand the basic intertwined factors
behind it. For example:
• Poverty: Kids, especially girls, mostly from poorer regions are sold in faraway states of India for sexual
exploitation and to work as bonded labour by agents who lure their parents with education, better life,
and money for these kids.
• Porous borders & poor bilateral coordination: Porous borders coupled with lack of bilateral mechanism
to handle trafficking makes neighbours like Bangladesh and Nepal and border states of India the
prominent areas of human trafficking.
• Double victimisation: Cross-country trafficking leads to double victimisation of trafficked persons as
they don’t have their documents, which makes them illegal migrants in the host country.
• Illegal trading: Another cause of trafficking is the illegal organ trade or drug trade racket in which
gullible and innocent people get trapped.
• Indebtedness: To support their family or to fulfil their debt obligations to moneylenders, members are
forced to work for them
• Impact of disasters: Disasters leads to loss of stability and earning opportunities for many families.
Various agents take advantage of such situation to traffic affected persons as they are most vulnerable
to false promises in hope of better life.
• Lack of skills and job opportunities forces them to take up such offers.
To combat the problem of human trafficking, a lot of measures have been taken by the state machinery as
well as by the NGOs to rehabilitate the victims of human trafficking. Some of the initiatives are:
• Article 23 of the Indian Constitution explicitly prohibits and criminalises human trafficking and forced
labour.
• Trafficking in Human Beings or Persons is prohibited under the Constitution of India under Article 23(1).
The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) is the premier legislation for prevention of trafficking
for commercial sexual exploitation.
• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 has come into force wherein Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code
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has been substituted with Section 370 and 370A IPC, which provide for comprehensive measures to
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counter the menace of human trafficking.

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• Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 is a special law to protect children from
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sexual abuse and exploitation.

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There are other specific legislations enacted relating to trafficking in women and children: Prohibition of
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Child Marriage Act, 2006; Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976; Child Labour (Prohibition and
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Regulation) Act, 1986; Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994; apart from specific Sections in the
IPC, e.g. Sections 372 and 373 dealing with selling and buying of girls for the purpose of prostitution.
• State Governments have also enacted specific legislations to deal with the issue. (e.g. The Punjab
Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012).
• Along with the government trafficking is prevented by the efforts of local NGOs such as Maiti Nepal on
the Nepalgunj side and Dehat Prahari Project in India.

To combat the problem of human trafficking we need to respond to the social weaknesses that make
victims of human trafficking vulnerable to exploitation, such as gender inequalities, underemployment,
family conflicts etc.
3. Examine the steps taken by the government over the years to ensure a secure and exploitation-free
childhood for its citizens. Further analyse how the recent ratification of the two key ILO conventions will
help India’s fight against child labour.
Approach:
• Mention the steps that have been taken by government for child welfare in general in India.
• Provide a brief analysis of these steps.
• Then discuss about two conventions ratified by the government recently and how it supports fight
against child labour.
Answer:
Investment in children is an investment in future. Thus, Government of India has taken several steps over
the years to ensure a safe and secure childhood to children of India, some of which are as follows:
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 – provides for strengthened provisions for
both children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law.
• Child Labour Amendment Act 2016 - It seeks to protect the Right to Education of children of below 14
years of age. In addition, it provides for the first time protection to adolescents of 14 – 18 years of age.
• Draft anti-trafficking bill - To tackle different aspects of trafficking by putting in place dedicated
institutional mechanisms at District, State & Central Level.
• POCSO Act – To deal with sexual assault, sexual harassment against children while safeguarding the
interests of the child at every stage of judicial process.
Apart from these, Government of India has taken various other measures such as Khoya-Paya portal for
missing children, increasing awareness among students about sexual misconduct etc.
Due to concerted steps taken by the government, there has been notable decline in child mortality, increase
in primary level enrolment, etc. At the same time, much more is required in terms of addressing issues
related to health, nutrition and child participation. Besides, there are new and emerging challenges like on-
line threats for children and increasing vulnerability due to climate change. It is therefore, important that
major gaps and issues related to children are first identified followed by comprehensive. Recently launched
National Action Plan for Children 2016 aims to fill this gap and also provides a monitoring and evaluation
framework to maximize the ongoing efforts.
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Further, even though there has been a decline in the percentage of child labour, 33 million children in the
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age group of 0-18 years are still working in India. Country is still battling with poor rates of prosecution and
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conviction of child labour cases.

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But government’s resolve has not faded. It recently has ratified the ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms
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of child labour and Convention 138 on Minimum Age of Employment. It will have various impacts towards
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ending the child labour-

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• Zero tolerance towards exploitation of children - the government will take immediate, urgent and
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effective measures to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour likely to harm the health,
safety or morals of children.
• Fix minimum age - It requires India to ensure that no one under the fixed age is admitted for work in
any occupation except in cases of light work and artistic performance
• Prohibiting worst forms of child labour – It will require India to prohibit the worst forms of child labour
including slavery, debt bondage, serfdom, forced or compulsory labour etc.

Ending child labour has various other positive outcomes such as reduced dropping out rates, reduced stress
on children of economic roles and safe childhood etc. But ultimately the success on eliminating exploitation
against children depends on the level of social empathy, political will and the implementation of resources
invested in the development and protection of children. It can be solved only if the reasons driving
exploitation of child, such as poverty unemployment, lack of social security net, inadequate enforcement of
law, are resolved.
4. Recent judgment of the Supreme Court, amending the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act,
2005 has invoked varied reponses. Highlighting the amendment, critically examine its likely impact on
application of the law.
Approach:
• Mention the amended provision of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 by the
Supreme Court.
• Critically assess the positive and negative impacts of the amendment on the application of the law.
• Briefly suggest a way forward in the conclusion.
Answer:
The intent of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005 was to safeguard women
from domestic violence or harassment by an adult male. Under Section 2(q) of the Act, a complaint could
be made only against an “adult male person.”
Recently, in the Hiral Harsora v. Kusum Harsora case, the Supreme Court struck down the words “adult
male” and made the section 2(q) gender neutral. Now, a woman can file a domestic violence complaint and
seek legal action against other women and minors.
Positive Impacts of the Amendment:
• It recognizes that domestic violence is not only in the hands of adult males but also female members
and minors of the family.
• It safeguards victims of domestic violence from physical abuse by all members of family.
• In the original form, the law could have been exploited by an adult male person not standing in the
forefront, but putting forward female persons who could forcibly evict a woman without fear of inviting
prosecution.
• The SC bench resorted to the “doctrine of severability” as the section created gender based distinction
and went against principle of equality according to Article 14 of the Constitution.
However, activists and workers working against domestic violence are worried about the repercussions of
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the amendment.
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Negative Impacts of the Amendment:

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• It could encourage husbands to file counter cases against their wives through their mothers or sisters.
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• Majority of domestic violence cases are filed by women against men. Moreover, cases of domestic
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violence have increased over the years as per National Crime Records Bureau, 2013 report. Hence, shift
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in law from gender-specificity to gender-neutrality is considered regressive as it disregards that women

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are disproportionately impacted by violence.

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• A gender-neutral law is not conducive when there is power imbalance in the family and women are in a
position of disadvantage socially. The amendment is not aligned with Article 15(3) of the Constitution,
which provides for special provisions regarding women.
• There is danger that the PWDVA could be used against women and minors and not against the real
perpetrators of domestic violence.
• It may lead to increased burden on judiciary and delay justice delivery, as there could be increase in
fake cases.

Principle of equality should be applied contextually when there is gender equality in social and personal
aspects. The amendment fails to observe criminal offences of sexual harassment, stalking, voyeurism and
rape under the IPC, which are all gender-specific and against men. Focus should lie on proper enforcement
of prevalent laws to protect women from violence and dissemination of available legal remedies.
5. What do you mean by bonded labour? Explaining the reasons behind persistence of bonded labour in
India, highlight the problems faced by them. Also give an account of the steps taken for abolition of
bonded labour in the country.
Approach:
• First explain the meaning of bonded labour in the introductory part.
• Then explain the reason for the prevalence of bonded labour in India and also explain the problems
faced by bonded labours.
• Describe the steps taken by the government for the abolition of bonded labour in India.
Answer:
Bonded Labour refers to a worker who renders service under condition of bondage arising from economic
consideration, notably indebtedness through a loan or an advance. Where debt is the root cause of
bondage, the implication is that worker (or dependents or heirs) is tied to a particular creditor for a
specified or unspecified period until the loan is repaid.
It is estimated that there are about 32 lakh bonded labourers in India. Of these, 98% are due to
indebtedness and 2 per cent due to customary social obligations.
Causes of Bonded Labour:
• Economic: extreme poverty, inability to find work, small landholdings, lack of alternative small-scale
loans for rural and urban poor, natural calamities like drought, floods etc., absence of rains, drying away
of wells, meagre income from forest produce, and inflation.
• Social factors: high expenses on occasions like marriage, death, feast, birth of a child, etc., leading to
heavy debts, caste-based discrimination, limited outreach of social welfare schemes to safeguard
against hunger and illness, non- compulsory and unequal educational system, and indifference and
corruption among government officials.
• Exploitation by powerful persons or castes in a village also compels people to migrate and seek
employment under adverse conditions.
• Religious and caste based arguments are used to convince people of bonded labour.
• Illiteracy, ignorance, lack of skills and poor implementation of legal protection.
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Problems faced by Bonded labour

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• Forced to work for the employer only and not for anyone else.
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• Force is used to make them stay. In many cases they are kept under surveillance, lock and key.
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Work for 12-14 hours a day and are forced to live under miserable conditions.
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Majority of bonded labourers works as agricultural labour in villages and belong to the Dalits or tribal
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communities.
• Bonded agricultural labourers occupy lowest rung of rural ladder.
Initiatives for the elimination of bonded labour
• Articles 21 and 23 of the Constitution and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
• SC in several judgements, has given directions to improve the situation and since 1997, NHRC has been
directly involved in monitoring situation and making reports to SC.

• Government had initiated a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which Rs 4,000 was initially provided for
the rehabilitation of each bonded labourer.
• Till March 2015, more than 3 lakh bonded labourers have been identified and released.
• Centre also provides assistance for surveys, awareness campaigns and evaluations. Released bonded
labourers are given priority in a number of government programmes.
• Since June 2000, ILO has been implementing a project to prevent and eliminate bonded labour in South
Asia..
India has a plethora of labour legislation regulating conditions of work of contract and migrant labour,
prohibiting child labour in hazardous industries, and for minimum wages. But these remain in large part
unimplemented. A concerted effort to ensure implementation of the law, by government in close
cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organisations and civil society, is called for in this respect.
6. The Forest Rights Act 2006 tries to undo the historic injustice done to the forest dweller and tribals.
Inspite of its well intended goals the act has failed to achieve the desired success. Critically analyse.
Approach:
• Briefly introduce discussing the need of FRA.
• Discuss the provisions of the Forest Rights Act and how it tries to undo the historic injustice.
• Enumerate the challenges like unhindered absolute rights over minor forest produce; restrictions like
transit permit etc. due to which the implementation of the Act has been hindered.
Answer:
The genesis of Forest Rights Act (FRA) lies in the historical deprivation of rights of tribal and other forest
dependent communities in India. It started with the colonial rule in the 19th century. This policy of
reserving forests and restricting people’s rights continued even after independence.
The Forest Rights Act seeks to recognize and vest the Forest Rights and Rights for occupation of forest land
on forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such
forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.
It goes beyond the “recognition’ of Forest Rights and empowers the forest rights holders, Gram Sabhas and
local level institutions with the right to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage any community forest
resource.
Rights Available Under the Act:
• Right to hold and live in the forest land under the individual or common occupation for habitation or for
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self-cultivation for livelihood by a member or members of a forest dwelling Scheduled Tribe or other
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traditional forest dwellers.

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• Community rights such as nistar, including those used in erstwhile Princely States, Zamindari or such
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intermediary regimes.
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Right of ownership, access to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce which has been
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traditionally collected within or outside village boundaries.

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• Rights of settlements and conversion of all forest villages, old habitation, unsurveyed villages and other
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villages in forest, whether recorded, notified or not into revenue villages.

• Right of access to biodiversity and community right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge
related to biodiversity and cultural diversity.
Even though till February 2016, out of 44.15 lakh claims that have been filed, 17.20 lakh titles have been
distributed over 89.90 lakh acres of forest land, the full implementation of FRA have been fraught with
challenges--many of them genuine and others a consequence of bureaucratic and political inertia,
incompetence and malice. The following depicts to its limited success:

• Limited recognition of community rights: This is sometimes attributed to a lack of evidence on the
ground for the stated joint ownership. (Though there are solutions like physical land surveys and mobile
apps that offer a solution)
• Poor utilization of forest resources: In absence of infrastructure such as roads and markets tribals
continue to struggle to make good use of the forest even in developed states like Kerala.
• Non-recognition of un-hindered absolute rights over the minor forest produce (MFP): this is done by
imposing several restrictions like transit permit for transportation of MFPs, levy of fees, charges,
royalties on sale of MFPs, exclusion of certain types of MFPs in contravention of the definition of MFP
given in the Act, continuance of monopoly of the State Agency in the trade of MFP, especially in the
case of high value MFP, such as, tendupatta etc.
• Lack of demographic details of tribal population dwelling in the reserved and protected forests in
different States and Union Territories; it is compounded by stark mismatches between state and central
data.
• States in the North-East being cold to the FRA as local communities there already enjoy far more
powers than what the FRA confers.
• Misinterpretation of FRA by forest bureaucracy as an instrument to regularize encroachment. This is
seen in its emphasis on recognising individual claims while ignoring collective claims.
There is a clear need to strengthen the nodal tribal departments, provide clear instructions to the State and
district administrations, and encourage civil society actors for a robust implementation of FRA. Without a
strong political will, this historical transformation is unlikely to take place.
7. The transgender community has been among one of the most marginalized communities in India. Discuss.
How does the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 seek to protect transgenders from
discrimination and address the problems faced by them?
Approach:
• Firstly, briefly define what constitutes the transgender community.
• Next, highlight the issues related to the marginalization of transgender community in India.
• Delineate the provisions for healthcare, education, certificate of identity etc in the Bill.
• Briefly highlight the shortcomings of the bill and suggest what further can be done. Supreme Court
judgments can also be used for suggestions.
Answer:
Transgender persons include all those whose own sense of gender does not match with the gender
assigned to them at birth. They include a number of socio cultural identities, such as kinnars, hijras,
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aravanis, jogtas, etc.

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The discrimination based on their class and gender makes the transgender community one of the most
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disempowered and deprived groups in Indian society. The various issues faced by transgender in India
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include:
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• Being treated as unnatural and as objects of ridicule and even fear on account of superstition.
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• Denial of basic rights i.e. Right to Personal Liberty, dignity, Freedom of expression, Right to Education
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and Empowerment, Right against violence, Discrimination and exploitation and Right to work. Lack of
skill development forces them to beg or indulge in sex trade.
• Lack of medical facilities like HIV care and hygiene, depression, hormone pill abuse, tobacco and alcohol
abuse.
• Isolation in matter of civil rights (regarding marriage, property ownership and adoption)
• Transgender status is not properly documented in census. This becomes a barrier in carrying out
adequate research and formulating welfare policies concerning transgender.

• Eunuchs are forced by their ‘gurus’ to lead a life of servitude and bonded labourers.
The Supreme Court in its landmark Judgment in National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) vs Union of
India affirmed the constitutional rights and freedoms of transgender persons. By recognizing diverse gender
identities, the Court has broken the binary gender construct of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ that has pervaded Indian
law. To uphold the rights of the transgenders, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 was
introduced in the Parliament and has various provisions which include:
• Prohibition against discrimination: The bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person,
including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to education, employment, healthcare etc.
• Right of residence: Every transgender person shall have a right to reside and be included in his
household. If the immediate family is unable to care for the transgender person, the person may be
placed in a rehabilitation center, on the orders of a competent court.
• Certificate of identity for a transgender person: A transgender person may make an application to the
District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as ‘transgender’.
• Relevant government to take measures to ensure the full inclusion and participation of transgender
persons in society. It must also take steps for their rescue and rehabilitation, vocational training and
self-employment, create schemes that are transgender sensitive, and promote their participation in
cultural activities.
• Offences and Penalties: The Bill recognizes the following offences: (i) begging, forced or bonded labour
(excluding compulsory government service for public purposes); (ii) denial of use of a public place; (iii)
denial of residence in household, village, etc.; (iv) physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic
abuse.
• Creation of National Council for Transgender persons (NCT) - The Council will advise the central
government on the formulation and monitoring of policies, legislation and projects with respect to
transgender persons.
However, the Bill dilutes certain aspects of the SC NALSA judgment. Itdoes not have any provisions of
reservation and self-identification. At the same time, the Transgender Persons Bill is definitely an important
milestone in mainstreaming a community facing isolation and neglect for long in India.
8. What are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)? How are they different from de-notified tribes?
Critically analyze the initiatives taken by the government to address the problems faced by them.
Approach:
• Clearly define the PVTGs to address the first part of the question, ideally provide a few examples.
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Demarcate the difference between the PVTGS and de-notified tribes for answering the second part.
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Critical analysis of the government initiatives entails identifying the initiatives and finding some
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lacunae.
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As conclusion provide a way ahead.

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Answer:
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In 2006 the government proposed to rename the Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as Particularly Vulnerable
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Tribal Groups (PVTGs). In 1960-61 the Dhebar Commission mentioned the sub-category Tribal groups as
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Primitive Tribal Groups who are characterised by:

i. Pre-agricultural technology
ii. Stagnant and declining population
iii. Extremely low literacy
iv. Subsistence level of economy
Tribal groups that satisfied any one of the criterion were considered as PTGs and later PVTGs. Vulnerabilty

of the PVTGs can be primarily attributed to loss of their traditional livelihood, habitats and customary
resource rights.
At present there are 75 tribal groups identified and categorized as PVTGS, located in the States/UT of AP,
Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan,
TN, Tripura, UP, Uttarakhand, West-Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Birjia, Greater Andamanese,
Onge and Jarawas etc. are some of the examples of PVTGS with population less than 1000.
Denotified tribes were, during the British era, notified as criminal tribes under the Criminal Tribes Act. The
notification was repealed in 1952, ever since they are termed as Denotified tribes. These groups are
officially marked as the “Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes” (DNTs). Even after independence
members of these communities were stigmatised due to the application Habitual Offenders Acts. The
criminal label closed the doors to regular employment, and DNT communities remained socially and
economically far behind most other Indian communities. Balkrishna Renke Commission was constituted in
2008 to look in to the issues related to these communities.
Thus it can be observed that PTVGS are different from DNTS as:
• Unlike the PTVGS, DNTs are not simply a subcategory of Scheduled Tribes, some are also listed as
“Scheduled Castes.” While others are listed in the, “Other Backward Classes” or OBCs. Some are outside
the ambit of these classifications as well.
• The DNTs are largely landless, nomadic people– although today some are settled.
• DNTs were subject to special persecution under both British Colonial rule and afterwards due to specific
legal provisions.
Government Schemes:
• “Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), it has been modified in 2015. Under the
Scheme, priority is accorded for their protection and improvement in terms of the social indicators like
livelihood, health, nutrition and education, so as to decrease their vulnerability.
• The National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) was appointed in
2006.
• For certain groups of DNTs who are not covered under the lists of SC/ST &OBCs and for them the
Government has launched two schemes in 2015:
(i) Dr. Ambedkar Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for
Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) and
(ii) Nanaji Deshmukh Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Construction of Hostels for Denotified, Nomadic
and Semi-Nomadic Tribes.
Despite various schemes over the years the PVTGs and DNTs have remained largely outside the ambit of
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development process. On the indicators such as health and education these groups remain at the bottom.
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The need is continuous assessment and monitoring of the schemes for the PVTGs. In the case of DNTs the
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need is to repeal discriminatory legislation, give effective rehabilitation and provide separate categorization
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within India’s affirmative action system of reservations.

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9. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, was seen as an important legislation
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in the context of the protection of children, however, many argue that it has remained largely ineffective.
Identifying the key objectives of the act, discuss the reasons for its ineffectiveness.
Approach:
• In introduction very briefly provide the status of protection of children from sexual offences in India
before POCSO act and contextualize why the act was passed.
• In the next section provide the key objectives of the Act.

• Discuss the reasons for ineffectiveness of this act to prevent the sexual offence against child.
• Very briefly provide a way forward in this context.
Answer:
In 2012, the parliament passed the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, (POCSO). Until then
provisions of IPC were used to deal with sexual offences against children and the law did not make a
distinction between an adult and a child.
The objectives of the act can be summarised as following:
• It aims to offer protections to children (individuals below the age of 18) from sexual violence, namely
sexual assault, sexual harassment and the inclusion of children in pornography.
• It provides a comprehensive legislation to safeguard the interest of a child at every stage - reporting,
recording of evidence, investigation and trial of offences.

• It aims at providing relief and rehabilitation as soon as the complaint is made to the Special Juvenile
Police Unit.
• It stipulates special courts for the arraignment of sexual crimes committed against children with speedy
disposal of cases.
• It fulfills the mandatory obligations of India as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of The Child.
The passing of the statutory law is more than significant for a variety of reasons however; numerous
bottlenecks exist in the successful implementation of the Act such as:
• Police forces are inept in handling the delicacies involved in such offenses, due to lack of proper
training. POCSO repeatedly mandates the necessity of extensive training programs for the police and
other legal authorities, handling child sex abuse cases, such programs are almost non – existent.
• Lack of awareness about the act as most child abuse cases are not booked under POCSO.
• Due to lack of fund, poor infrastructure of the psychosocial services in our country, the victim and
his/her family receives very little from the government sponsored services.
• Lack of efforts on the part of state governments to furnish explicit codes and principles that need to be
strictly adhered to by the medical and healthcare professionals in child sex abuse cases.
In a country where 40% of the population falls below the age bracket of 18 years and about 53% children
have been a subject to some form of sexual abuse, the proper implementation of POCSO in our country is a
necessity of yesterday.
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10. What are the reasons for the declining rate of child adoption in India? Discuss whether the amended
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Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015 can address this issue.
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Approach:
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• Discuss reasons for declining rate of child adoption in India.

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Discuss provisions of JJ Act related to easing the process of adoption.

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Answer:
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The adoption rate within the country as well as those by foreign nationals in India has gone down by nearly 50
per cent in the last five years.
While South Indian states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala have still maintained a
relatively high rate of adoption, states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Goa and Uttarakhand, along with the seven
North-Eastern states, have recorded an abysmally low number of child adoption.

As per Government records, 6,321 children were adopted in 2010. However, the number of adoptions came
down to 4,354 in 2013. Maharashtra has the highest rate of adoption despite the downward trend. Among
the foreign countries, the US leads in adopting Indian children.
Reasons for declining rate of child adoption in India
• Low rate of adoption in North-Eastern states was primarily due to absence of government-recognised
adoption agencies.
• States like Bihar, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh do not have any registered
agency due to which adoption of children has taken a hit in these states.
• Tedious adoption norms and slow judicial process further slowed down the adoption process. FIRs are
registered in nearly 80 per cent of the cases and hence, adoption cannot be done without getting
clearance from the local courts.
• Cases pertaining to girl child deter the adoption agencies from being pro-active.
• Preferences of most prospective Indian parents range from fair complexion to gender, but most centre
around age and physical health. Hence, delay adoptions
• Artificial reproductive technology is giving stiff competition to the cause of adoption.
Provision for child- adoption in JJ Act 2015
The Central Adoption Resource Agency will frame regulations on adoption. These regulations will be
implemented by state and district agencies. Prospective adoptive parents should be physically and
financially sound. A single or divorced person may adopt a child. A single male may not adopt a girl child.
• To facilitate quick and smooth adoption of children, the entire adoption process has been made online
and transparent.
• Simplified procedures have been laid down for adoption by relatives.
• Child care institutions are required to develop linkages with Specialized Adoption Agencies so that the
pool of adoptable children can be increased and these children can be brought into the adoption
process.
• Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), which was earliera society has been given the status of a
statutory body to enable it to function better. The Draft Rules prescribe for a comprehensive list of
function of CARA, to facilitate its smooth functioning.
• Separate chapter on Adoption provides for detailed provisions relating to adoption and punishments
for not complying with the laid down procedure.
• Processes have been streamlined with timelines for both in-country and inter-country adoption
including declaring a child legally free for adoption.
But some concerns remain
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Under the Amended JJ Act, it is illegal for foreigners to adopt a child without a valid court order. Under the
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Amended JJ Act, it is illegal for foreigners to adopt a child without a valid court order. This makes adoption
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by foreigners a tedious process.

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The Delhi High Court in July, 2016 reprimanded CARAfor low adoption rates in the country. It also ruled that
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in cases of adoption where biological parents are themselves willing to give the child up for adoption, the JJ
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Act of 2015 does not apply as it only concerns orphans and the abandoned.
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Various social workers in the national capital say the thriving illegal adoption industry, which law
enforcement agencies haven't cracked down upon, is the reason behind the low official numbers.
Overall, the amended rules are a step in the right direction and various lacunaes should be addressed to
increase adoption rates in India.

11. It is more difficult to escape the shadow of social discrimination than it is to break the shackles of
economic backwardness. Discuss the statement in the context of Dalit capitalism and give an account of
the problems that Dalit entrepreneurs have been facing. Also highlight the steps taken by the
government in recent times to encourage Dalit empowerment via the market.
Approach:
• In the introduction explain the rationale behind emergence of Dalit capitalism.
• Discuss the challenges faced by them because of social backwardness.
• Highlight the steps taken by the government.
Answer:
It has been argued by some in recent times that the best way for Dalits to get in charge of their own destiny
is for them to become capitalists themselves and welcome economic reforms and globalisation with open
arms. The supporters of this view argue that capitalism is changing caste much faster than any human
being. Therefore, Dalits should look at capitalism as a crusader against caste. Thus, rapid industrialisation is
seen as the best bet for the advancement of Dalits.
But, successive census reports on enterprises outside agriculture show that Dalits own far fewer businesses
than should be expected from their share of the total Indian population. The representatives of Dalit
capitalism want to correct this imbalance because they believe that capital is the best way to break caste in
the modern economy
However, it has also been seen that Dalit entrepreneurs face immense hurdles to progress.
Problems faced by Dalit entrepreneurs
• Lack of access to existing business networks: India is one of the many countries where entrepreneurs
depend on trust-based community networks to transact business. It is very difficult for a Dalit
entrepreneur to break into these networks.
• Caste in market: Markets, after all, exist within a societal context. Caste and community links play a role
in various aspects of the Indian market, from securing capital to integration into supply chains.
• Caste – sector linkage: The space enterprises by Dalits occupied in the market are also often
determined by caste. Activities dealing with leather were the most important for Dalit enterprises. By
and large, Dalit entrepreneurs have been trapped in low productivity, bottom of the ladder activities.
• Entry barrier: The legacy model of ‘collateral based lending’ preferred by traditional Financial
Institutions creates an entry barrier to aspiring Dalit entrepreneurs as they rarely possess assets that
can be collateralized.
Steps taken by government
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• Stand up India: The scheme is primarily aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among Dalits by
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providing finances to them from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 100 lakhs. The scheme involves the Dalit Indian
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Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) in its implementation.

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• Mudra Yojana: It aims at promoting small business enterprises by providing them with easy loans. It will
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help entrepreneurs in Dalit community in availing credit for their business.

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12. Over the years, there have been many initiatives across India to promote the girl child and improve its
poor child sex ratio. The schemes have differed in name, but converged in their general inefficiency.
Examine. How does the “Beti Padhao Beti Bachao Yojna” seek to address this gap?
Approach:
• As introduction acknowledge the challenging conditions of girl child in India despite multiplicity of
schemes.

• Provide the arguments for the inefficiency of these schemes preferably with examples.
• The last part of the answer needs to be answered by providing the distinguishing feature of the BPBBY
scheme.
Answer:
Despite multiple schemes addressing the concerns of girl child in general and Child Sex Ratio in particular
the situation remains challenging as is suggested by the fact that India’s child sex ratio has fallen from 945
in 1991 to 918 in 2011. Similarly, the Sex Ratio at Birth for 2010-2012 stood at 908. The modest
achievements compared to sizeable outlays and lofty targets of these schemes have attracted criticism for
inefficiency.
Following factors have been cited for these charges:
• Focus on low income households:

Many of these schemes, such as the Dhan Lakshmi Scheme, involved conditional cash transfer schemes
targeting low-income families. Whether financial incentives were really helping Indian households to
respect and value daughters as much as sons is not clear and can only be ascertained by an in depth
research.
• Conflating sex ratio with family planning:
A common eligibility condition in many of the schemes, such as Karnataka’s Bhagyalakshmi scheme or
Punjab’s Balri Rakshak Yojana, is that parents must accept sterilisation after having two children. Many of
these schemes offered smaller incentives for the second daughter.
Lacunae in access and implementation:
Requirement of multiple registrations and certificates of proof rendered these schemes difficult to access
for the poor and migrants. Corruption has been another key complaint. Recently a CAG audit found financial
irregularities in Madhya Pradesh government’s Ladli Lakshmi Yojana involving instances of incentives being
handed out to ineligible candidates. Additionally ground level monitoring and evaluation was lacking in
these schemes.
The recently launched BBBP scheme underlines the importance attached by government to the issues
affecting the girl child. This scheme seeks to address some of the concerns regarding the previous schemes
through:
• Implementation and sustaining of Social Mobilisation and Communication Campaign for creating equal
value for the girl child and promoting her education.
• Initiating intensive and integrated action in 100 Gender Critical Districts and Cities low on CSR.
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• Mobilisation and training of local bodies and grass-root workers for social change.
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• Inter-sectoral and inter-institutional convergence for action at block, district and grassroots levels.
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In view of the previous schemes the need is to simplify eligibility criteria, conditionalities and registration
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procedures. Field-level monitoring to study the impact of the schemes as well as grievance redressal
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mechanism would be required to make the scheme a success.

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Following Schemes can be cited for this answers

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• Dhan Lakshmi Scheme

• Indira Gandhi Balika Suraksha Yojana
• Ladli scheme in Haryana
• Bhagyalakshmi scheme in Karnataka
• Girl Child Protection Scheme in Andhra Pradesh
• Balri Rakshak Yojana in Punjab
• Ladli Lakshmi Yojana in Madhya Pradesh

7. Previous Year UPSC Questions

1. Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both
public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2017)
2. Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effective mechanism for empowerment and
inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss. (2017)
3. Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation.
(2016)
4. Do government’s schemes for up-lifting vulnerable and backward communities by protecting required social
resources for them, lead to their exclusion in establishing businesses in urban economics? (2014)
5. Electronic cash transfer system for the welfare schemes is an ambitious project to minimize corruption,
eliminate wastage and facilitate reforms. Comment. (2013)
6. The Central Government frequently complains on the poor performance of the State Governments in
eradicating suffering of the vulnerable sections of the society. Restructuring of Centrally sponsored schemes
across the sectors for ameliorating the cause of vulnerable sections of population aims at providing flexibility to
the States in better implementation. Critically evaluate. (2013)
7. The concept of Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme is almost a century old in India with early beginnings in Madras
Presidency in pre-independent India. The scheme has again been given impetus in most states in the last two
decades. Critically examine its twin objectives, latest mandates and success: (2013)
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VALUE ADDITION MATERIAL – 2018

WELFARE SCHEMES FOR VULNERABLE SECTIONS

Copyright © by Vision IAS

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

WELFARE SCHEMES FOR VULNERABLE SECTIONS OF THE

3.7.2. Initiatives by Government/Judiciary to Promote Interests of LGBT Community in India .......................... 23

3.8. Poor Persons ................................................................................................................................................ 23

3.8.1. Schemes for Poor Persons ...................................................................................................................... 23

4. Performance of Various Other Schemes .............................................................................................................. 25

4.1. National Rural Health Mission ...................................................................................................................... 25

4.2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) ........................................................................................................ 25

4.3. Recent Initiatives For Improving Monitoring of Various Schemes .................................................................. 25

4.4. Way Forward ................................................................................................................................................ 26

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

5.2.4. Senior Citizens/ Aged ............................................................................................................................. 28

6. Previous Years Vision IAS GS Mains Test Series Questions .................................................................................... 36

Copyright © by Vision IAS

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

• They, as a group, are vulnerable

2. Rationale of Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections

relationship with each other.

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

3. Vulnerable Sections of Society

• Provocative behaviours: due to ignorance or misunderstanding of children's mental health or behavioural

• 19.8 million children below age 6 in India are undernourished

that tend to value males much more than

• A girl child faces different forms of violence country (NFHS 4, 2015-16)

(District Information System for Education (DISE) 3)

lack of education and healthcare facilities etc.

3.1.1. Schemes Related to Children

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

a convenient and hygiene friendly area of the locality.

protected with boundary walls or barbed wires.

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

the scheme is still very much in a scale up mode.

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

resources to augment better infrastructural facilities.

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

empower women through employment

corruption at all levels is destroying the scheme.

Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour

general public in achieving the target of child labour free society.

Components of the PENCIL

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

National Child Labour Project (NCLP)

• Health check-up and referral services

• Nutrition & health education (NHE)

• Mainstream out of school adolescent girls into formal/non formal education.

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

across the states, due to which they have limited capacity.

• Limitations of Aganwadi Centers also acts as limitations of this scheme.

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

Other Schemes Related to Girl Child

DELHI JAIPUR PUNE HYDERABAD AHMEDABAD LUCKNOW

• Early marriage and childbearing affects the

To rehabilitate them economically and emotionally.

Working Women’s Hostel