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Welfare of Vulnerable Section

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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section

Vulnerable Sections
Groups that experience a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion than the general population.
They include:
 Elderly
 Differently Abled Persons
 at-risk children esp. Orphans and Street Children and youth
 Schedule Caste/ Schedule Tribe/
 ex-combatants, internally displaced people
 returning refugees
 HIV/AIDS affected individuals and households
 religious and ethnic minorities
 Women
 Sexual Minorities

 Vulnerability manifests as both an individual and group phenomenon, often entailing a social dimension.
This holds particularly true in the context of India, where disparities and exclusion are pervasive aspects of
life. Consequently, certain individuals not only possess a disproportionate share of esteemed resources like
wealth, property, education, health, and influence but also navigate the acquisition of these resources
through the lens of social identities.
 To comprehend this dynamic more comprehensively, we can categorize these social resources into three
types of capital: economic capital represented by material assets and income, cultural capital encompassing
educational qualifications and social status, and social capital manifested in networks of contacts and
affiliations.

 The Indian state has implemented special programs for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, dating
back to the pre-Independence era. The 'Schedules,' delineating castes and tribes meriting special treatment
due to the extensive discrimination they faced, were established in 1935 by the British Indian government.

Schedule Caste:
Constitution includes the following provisions for the Scheduled castes:

 Article 15(4), Article 16(4), Article 16 (4A), Article 16 (4B)

 Article 46 (the states to promote with care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections,
especially SC and STs) Article 330/332 (Allows reservation of seats for SC/ST in the parliament as well as in
state legislatures)
 Article 338/338A/339 (Establishes a National Commission of SCs and STs Article 339 (allows the central govt.
to direct states to implement and execute plans for the betterment of SC/STs)

 Article 340 (Allows the President to appoint a commission to investigate the condition of socially and
economically backward classes and table the report in the parliament).

Other measures:
 Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
 National Commission for Scheduled Castes
 National Commission for Safai Karmacharis

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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
 Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 & Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)
Act, 1989
 Committee to review implementation of PCR and POA Acts
 Educational Development – Scholarships at various levels.
 Economic Empowerment – special assistance

Schedule Tribe:
 The categorization of Tribes or Adivasis in India has typically revolved around negations. These communities
were delineated as those abstaining from practicing a religion with a written text, lacking a conventional
state or typical political structure, avoiding distinct class divisions, and crucially, being devoid of caste
affiliations, distancing themselves from both Hinduism and peasant identities. Similar to Dalits, the Indian
Constitution formally acknowledged Tribes as social groups marked by specific indicators, including poverty,
powerlessness, and social stigma.
 Despite the independence of India in 1947, the situation did not improve for Adivasis. Firstly, the
government's monopoly over forests persisted, and if anything, the exploitation of these natural resources
intensified. Secondly, the Indian government's policy of capital-intensive industrialization demanded mineral
resources and power-generation capacities, which were predominantly concentrated in Adivasi regions. It is
essential to consult the Constitutional provisions mentioned earlier for Scheduled Castes. Additionally,
specific articles exclusively address the challenges faced by Scheduled Tribes, and these are outlined as
follows:

 Article 19(5): It allows the state to impose restriction on freedom of movement or of residence in the
benefit of Scheduled Tribes.
 Article 164: Appoint special minister for tribal welfare in the states of MP, Bihar, and Odisha.
 Article 275: Allows special grant in aids to states for tribal welfare.
 Article 366 (25) defined them as “such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be
Scheduled Tribes for the purpose of this Constitution.”
 Fifth Schedule under Article 244(1) of Constitution defines ‘‘Scheduled Areas" as such areas as the
President may by Order declare to be Scheduled Areas after consultation with the Governor of the State.
 Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) shall be established in States having Scheduled Areas. The role of TAC is to advise the
State Government on matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes in the State as may
be referred to it by the Governor.
 Sixth Schedule, as outlined in Article 244 (2) of the Constitution, pertains to designated "Tribal
Areas" in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It establishes District Councils and/or
Regional Councils for these areas, conferring upon them extensive legislative, judicial, and executive powers.
The administration of Autonomous Districts and Autonomous Regions is entrusted to these Councils, which
function as elected bodies and hold authority in legislation, administration of justice, as well as executive,
developmental, and financial responsibilities.
District or Regional Councils are empowered to formulate rules, with the approval of the Governor, covering
matters such as the establishment, construction, or management of primary schools, dispensaries, markets,
cattle ponds, ferries, fisheries, roads, road transport, and waterways within the district.
 Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) – launched at the beginning of 5th Five Year Plan. This special strategy was
expected to ensure that all the general development sectors earmark funds for STs in proportion to their
population so that adequate benefits from all the concerned sectors flow to this disadvantaged group.
 National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation.
 Forest Rights Act- Rights under FRA – Title Rights; Forest management rights; Use rights;

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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
Rehabilitation; Development Rights;
 In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are
less developed among the tribal groups. They were later renamed as PVTG.

Schemes:
 Vanjeevan is a program designed to address livelihood challenges in specific districts of six states
characterized by low Human Development Index (HDI) among tribal communities during its initial phase.
The program aims to identify problems related to livelihood issues and focuses on leveraging local
resources, taking into consideration the prevailing skill levels within these areas. Launched by the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the
National Scheduled Tribe Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), Vanjeevan seeks to enhance the
socio-economic well-being of tribal populations by addressing their unique challenges and promoting
sustainable development.
 Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana - It aims at creating enabling environment for need based and outcome
oriented holistic development of the tribal people
 Radio Bultoo - Utilizing the Internet and Bluetooth technology to preserve endangered local dialects in
tribal regions, facilitating information sharing, and enhancing governance in those areas.
 Tribes’ India products to be sold on Amazon - to popularise the ‘Tribes India’ brand in national and
international markets, Trifed has signed MoU with Amazon.

Maharashtra’s Law on Social Boycott

Maharashtra Prohibition of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2016
prohibits social boycott based on factors such as caste, community, religion, rituals, or customs. This
legislative action was prompted by the escalating incidents of atrocities on individuals carried out by caste
councils or local groups with unauthorized powers.

 The Act lists over a dozen types of actions that may amount to ‘social boycott’, which has been made a
criminal offence
 It encompasses a broad range of forbidden actions, including hindering the observance of social or religious
customs, depriving individuals of the right to conduct funerals or marriages, severing social or commercial
connections, obstructing access to educational or medical institutions, community halls, and public facilities,
as well as imposing any form of social ostracism based on any grounds.

Minorities
 Generally, the term "minority" conveys the idea of a relatively small and disadvantaged group. In a
sociological context, being a minority suggests not only numerical size but also a strong sense of collective
identity. Members of a minority often share a deep sense of group solidarity, fostering feelings of
togetherness and belonging. This collective identity is closely tied to the experience of disadvantage, as
facing prejudice and discrimination typically strengthens intra-group loyalty and common interests.
Constitution Provision:

Article 29, 30, 350A Measures:

 National Commission for Minorities

 National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities
 Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities
 Exclusive scholarship schemes for students belonging to the minority communities

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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
 Free Coaching and Allied Scheme
 National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation

Schemes:
 Jiyo Parsi
 "Progress Panchayat" is an initiative aimed at engaging with minority communities, specifically focusing on
Muslims, with the goal of raising awareness about government policies and programs. The objective is to
dispel any "fears and misconceptions" that may exist within these communities regarding the government

Sexual minorities, including individuals identified as gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, kothi, and hijra,
encounter stigma and discrimination in both society and the healthcare system.

Constitutional Provisions for sexual minorities:

 Article 15(1)
 The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill

Persons with Disabilities

The differently abled are not ‘disabled’ only because they are physically or mentally impaired but also because
society is built in a manner that does not cater to their needs.
Issues:
 Inefficient steps till now with limited success.
 Poor workforce participation.
 Entrepreneurial ventures facing financial hurdles.
 Disability is not being measured properly in India.
 Lack of Institutional and Infrastructural Support for the disabled in India.
 India looks at disability from medical or pathological angle only.
 Most developed countries look from social angle, highlighting institutional and social arrangements
preventing those with impairments from leading normal lives.

Measures:
 India, a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
 The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

 Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.

 The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21.
 It seeks reservation in vacancies in government establishments has been increased from 3% to 4%.
 The bill claimed that every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall
have the right to free education.
 Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs.
 The new law will not only enhance the Rights and Entitlements of Divyang-Jan but also provide effective
mechanism for ensuring their empowerment and true inclusion into the Society in a satisfactory manner.
 Term "divyang" is being considered in place of "viklang" to change mindset. The term would help in raising
self-confidence and subsequent empowerment.
 Kerala became first state to conduct a census of its own called Kerala Disability Census for 2014-15. Other
states must follow example.
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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
 Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) - is aimed at making transport, government
buildings, tourist spots, airports, railway stations and internet technology friendly for differently-abled
people.
 Signatory to Marrakesh Treaty.
 Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
 Rehabilitation Council of India
 National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation.
 Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing / fitting of aids / appliances (ADIP) scheme
 Divya Nayan - It is portable device is based on the principle of contact scanning of a printed document and
converting it into speech.
 Government has recently come out with Mental Health care Act 2017 with the aim of avoiding
discrimination and improving their autonomy in their decisions.
 Karnataka government has launched a dedicated helpline called Arogyavani that acts as a counselling
and redressing any type of grievances.
 The government has launched ‘Divyang Sarathi’—the accessible and comprehensive mobile application for
easy dissemination of information to ‘Divyangjans’.

Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

 Definition - It defines “mental illness” as a substantial disorder of thinking, mood, perception, orientation
or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behaviour, and capacity to recognise reality or ability to meet
the ordinary demands of life.
 It ensures every person shall have a right to access mental health care and treatment from mental health
services run or funded by the appropriate government.
 Advance Directives: given by mentally ill person regarding her treatment and who shall be her
nominated representative
 It ensure right to live with dignity and there shall be no discrimination.
 A person with mental illness shall have the right to confidentiality in respect of his mental health.
 Provision of Advance Directive, Mental Health Authority at Centre & State, Mental Health Review Board.

Decriminalises Suicide.
 Every life, regardless of its location, age, gender, or disability, holds a plan, purpose, and value. It is crucial
to acknowledge that individuals with disabilities are exceptionally inspiring. Providing them with equal
opportunities reveals their strength and capabilities, often surpassing those considered "normal."
Embracing this mindset could lead to positive societal change.

Elderly
 Indeed, in India, the strong emphasis on family bonds results in a majority of elderly individuals living with
or being supported by their sons in various ways.
 Nevertheless, recent developments have introduced changes that have rendered the situation of many
elderly people vulnerable.

Geriatric Care and Gerontology

Constitutional and Other Provisions:

 Article 41 of the DPSP directs that the State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and
development, make effective provision for securing the right of public assistance in cases of old age.
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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
 Social Security is concurrent responsibility.
 National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) - a significant step towards the fulfilment of the Directive
Principles in Article 41 of the Constitution.
 National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSrC)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. It is headed
by the Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment.
 Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 - It makes it a legal obligation of
children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents, by monthly allowance.

Issue:
 Health insurance
 Infrastructure regarding elderly population is poor
 Lack of social security
 Migration and displacement for work by the youth population from the rural to the urban areas leads to
changing demography in rural areas with increasing solitary elderly Population
 With the increasing trend of nuclear families in the society and with fewer children in the family, the care of
older persons in the families gets increasingly difficult.

Need for a policy

 65 per cent of the elderly in India are dependent on others for their financial requirements and undergo
financial crisis.
 The demographic profile depicts that number of elderly is going to increase drastically in future.
 1/8th of the Worlds Elderly Population lives in India. Most of them will never retire in the usual sense of
the term and will continue to work as long as physically possible.
 There is a challenge of old age income security because ability to produce and earn declines with age
which leads to decline in living standard.
 Also, due to dissolving institution of joint family and migration and displacement for work by the youth
population, the elderly are more vulnerable.

Schemes:
 Atal Pension Yojana (APY) - It is a universal social security programme for all Indians.
 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana - for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens
belonging to BPL category.
 Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) - PMVVY is a Pension Scheme exclusively for the senior
citizens aged 60 years and above.

India worst place to retire:

 Global Retirement Index assesses and ranks countries based on four key factors: the financial resources
available for a comfortable retirement, access to quality financial services to preserve savings and maximize
income, availability of quality health services, and the overall cleanliness and safety of the environment.

Women
Constitutional provisions
 Article 15(3)
 Article 23:
 Article 39: Ensures equal pay to women for equal work.
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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
 Article 40: Provides one-third reservation in panchayats.
 Article 42: Provides free pregnancy care and delivery.
 Article 44
 Article 51 (A)(e)- To renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women

 Demographic Profile of Women in India – Sex Ratio (940), Literacy (65.46%), Employment (21.9%).
 Gender pays gap as high as 27%.
 Almost 40% of women are out of the labour force in India, according to ILO.
 Indicator of Women’s status in India: Female foeticide & infanticide, Rape, sexual harassment & abuse,
Domestic violence and dowry deaths, Prostitution & Objectification of women.

Statutory and Autonomous Organizations

National commission for Women; Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK).

Independent India embraced equality as a fundamental value in contrast to a backdrop of significant and
apparent inequalities. The constitutional policies aimed at addressing these disparities were shaped by an
understanding of the deep-seated and accumulative nature of group inequalities. The outcome has been a
range of programs referred to as welfare schemes. It is reasonable to assert that these welfare initiatives
have been consistently pursued with notable persistence and generosity, even if not always with equal levels
of vigor and effectiveness.

Schemes:
 Mahila Police Volunteer Initiative - The primary job of these women volunteers is to keep an eye on
situations where women in the village are harassed or their rights and entitlements are denied or their
development is prevented.
 Pink Bus initiative - Kerala
 SHe-Box - This portal is an initiative to provide a platform to women working or visiting any office of
Central Government (Central Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Autonomous Bodies and
Institutions etc.) to file complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace under the SH Act.
 Domestic Violence Act
 Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal) Act, 2013
 Navika Sagar Parikrama: In consonance with the National policy to empower women to attain their full
potential, the expedition aims to showcase ‘Nari Shakti’ on the world platform.
 Women in combat role.
 Odisha government has launched ‘She Means Business’ programme of Facebook for women
entrepreneurs. It is aimed to reduce the digital divide and empower women entrepreneurs and SHGs.
 The development goal of the Tejaswini project, focused on the Socioeconomic Empowerment of Adolescent
Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in India, is to enhance the successful completion of market-driven skills
training and secondary education for adolescent girls and young women aged 14-24 in specific districts of
Jharkhand.
 TREAD (Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development) Scheme by to promote women
entrepreneurs via trade related training, information, counseling activities related to trades, products,
services and financial aid.
 Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017
 Initiatives to check decline in child sex ratio
 Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana,
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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
 Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana,
 PCPNDT Act (1994)
 Aapki Beti, Humari beti by Haryana government.

Draft National Policy on Women 2016

 The introduction of the Last National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (NPEW) took place in 2001.
Consequently, there is a pressing need to formulate a new policy that can serve as a guide for the
transformative shift necessary to actualize gender rights.
 This new policy should comprehensively address women's issues, encompassing all facets, and effectively
tackle emerging challenges.
 Ultimately, the goal is to position women as equal partners in the sustained development progress that the
country is currently experiencing.

Priority Areas identified by the Draft

 Health including food security and nutrition
 Education
 Economy: increasing the participation of women in the workforce, creating ecosystem for women to
participate in entrepreneurial activities.
 Governance & Decision Making
 Violence against Women
 Enabling Environment: in the field of sports etc
 Environment & Climate Changes: policies and programmes for environment, conservation and restoration
will compulsorily incorporate gender concerns.
 Review of the personal and customary laws in accordance with the Constitutional provisions.
 Recognizing special needs of single women including widows separated, divorced, nevermarried and
deserted women.
 Setting up Gender Budgeting Cells set up at all levels of governance.

Preventing sexual harassment of women at Workplace

Laws:
 Supreme Court-issued Vishaka Guidelines in 1997 which was superseded by Sexual
Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
 Guidelines issued by the SEBI. These guidelines mandate that listed companies must file a Business
Responsibility Report annually that lists details of the sexual harassment complaints the company has
received.
Issues with SHWW (PPR) Act:
 It does not satisfactorily address accountability and does not specify who is in charge of ensuring that
workplaces comply with the Act and who must be held accountable in case of violation.
 The act mandated Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) is not existence in many companies.
 The mandated member NGO working for women’s cause to be included in ICC remains unfeasible.
 The Act also lays the onus for sensitizing employees to sexual harassment issues, and creating awareness of
redressal mechanisms, on employers. This remains unimplemented.
 Way ahead: State governments should take on the responsibility of enforcing implementation of the anti-
sexual harassment act.
 The single-best solution to harassment is greater gender diversity at the workplace— an area were India
lags conspicuously.

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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
Marital Rape
 Justice JS Verma committee while dealing the criminal law amendment act has also suggested that marital
rape be made a non bailable offence.
 Against Art. 21 & 14.
 Law Commission and SC has also suggested.
 The United Nations has also recommended India make it criminal for a man to rape his wife.
 Arguments against:
 essential to preserve the integrity of marriage
 right to privacy would be defeated if sexual intercourse within marriage could be made the subject of
legal proceedings
 not defined in the IPC chances of gross misuse

Child
National Action Plan for Children, 2016 It was launched to implement National Policy of Children, 2013.
 On Child Survival, Health and Nutrition
 Universalizing the maternal and child healthcare.
 Emphasis on immunization
 prevent mental and physical disabilities through timely measure
 Education and development: provide universal and equitable access to quality Early Childhood Care and
Education (ECCE)
 Child Protection
 Child Participation: will ensure that children actively participate in planning and implementation of
programmes concerning them.
Other Legislation:
 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
 Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act,
1986 & National Child Labour Project (NCLP)
 Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
 100 million for 100 million
 'Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat' Programme, an initiative by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, was recently
inaugurated in Kochi. The program aims to create a Physical Health and Fitness Profile Card for over 12
lakhs Kendriya Vidyalaya students.

Aarambh Initiative It is the country's first-ever hotline to curb sexual abuse of children through the Internet
and to remove child pornographic content online unveiled.

PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) an electronic platform for effective
implementation of the National Child Labour Project, (NCLP).

Orphans and street children

Constitutional Provisions/ Bodies/ Policies

 Article 15(3) empowers the state to make special provisions for welfare of children and women.
 Article 21A
 Article 24: Children have a fundamental right against exploitation

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iamBee Notes
Welfare of Vulnerable Section
 Article 39(e) of DPSP puts responsibility of State to ensure that children of tender age should not be
misused.
 Several PILs have been filed in the benefit of children.
 Article 45: Urges the state to provide early childhood care and education for children up to 6 years of age.
 National Commission for protection of Child Rights
 National Policy for Children Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.

Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger

 Poverty – Absolute and Relative.
 One challenge associated with addressing absolute poverty lies in establishing a universally applicable
yardstick to measure it. The lack of consensus on what should be considered as basic necessities complicates
the issue, as cultural needs vary across different regions and periods. Due to these variations, setting
absolute standards becomes challenging, making it difficult to establish a one-size-fits-all approach to
measuring and addressing poverty.
 Issue with Relative Poverty: The index may be inadequate; Items in the index may not represent
people’s view, rather that of an expert; It introduces subjectivity; Decisions to include certain items are
arbitrary.
 Method used: Head count ratio & Poverty line.

Government’s approach to poverty

 The government’s approach to poverty reduction was of three dimensions.
 The first approach is a growth-oriented one, rooted in the belief that economic growth would naturally
benefit all segments of society, including the impoverished, as the positive effects trickle down. This
perspective dominated policies in the 1950s and early 1960s. The second approach involves targeted
poverty alleviation programs, such as Food for Work initiatives, the expansion of self-employment
programs, and the implementation of wage employment programs, which are viewed as key strategies to
address poverty directly.
 The third approach to addressing poverty involves providing essential amenities, such as subsidized food
grains, education, health services, and water supply and sanitation, to improve people's living standards.
This approach aims to enhance the consumption of the poor, generate employment opportunities, and
bring about improvements in health and education. Major programs following this approach include Mid-
Day Meal (MDM), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and Public Distribution System (PDS).
However, the resources allocated for these programs are often inadequate compared to the scale of
poverty. Additionally, issues such as the motivation and training of officials, susceptibility to corruption, and
pressure from local elites can lead to inefficient use and wastage of resources. Moreover, the non-
participation of local-level institutions in program implementation poses a further challenge.
 Eradicating poverty can be achieved more effectively when the impoverished actively contribute to the
overall growth process. This involvement can be fostered through social mobilization, encouraging the
active participation and empowerment of the poor. Such an approach not only facilitates their engagement
but also creates opportunities for employment, leading to higher income levels, skill development, and
improvements in health and literacy. Ultimately, empowering the poor to be active contributors to the
growth process is a key strategy in the sustainable elimination of poverty.

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