On the occasion of the completion of three years of the NDA government, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment,Thaawarchand Gehlot announced the new National Commission for Backward Classes. The commission which will be constituted under Article 338B and commence functioning as a constitutional authority like the National Commission for Scheduled Castes under Article 338 and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes under Article 338A. The new Commission will be hearing the complaints and grievances of socially and educationally backward classes and for this purpose it will have the power of a Civil Court. Its duty also includes advising the socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes and evaluating the progress of their development, unlike the present Commission which does not have this duty.
Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Secretary, G latha Krishna Rao, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and A.P. Frank Noronha, the Principal Director General (M and C), Press Information Bureau, and senior officers of M/o SJ and E witnessed the occasion.
The objective behind Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes has been to promote entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Caste and to provide concessional finance. The projects are promoted in manufacturing and services sector to ensure creation of assets. The Scheme provides higher level of loans ranging from Rs50 lakhs to Rs15 crores. Till date, loans amounting to Rs242.36 crores have been sanctioned to 65 Scheduled Cast entrepreneurs and Rs118.99 crores have been disbursed.
The Minister said that the Skill Training is undertaken by the three corporations of the Ministry viz. National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporations (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). During the last three years (2014-15 to 2016-17), 2.5 lakh beneficiaries have been trained under the skill development programme of the Corporations and the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan. Out of these beneficiaries, 48.42per cent have either got wages or self-employment.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has released scholarships to 3.45 crore students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), providing direct benefit to the students. In the last 3 years an amount of Rs18000 crores has been released.