Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that there is no caste of criminals. No caste will now be called criminal in the State.
Recommendation will be sent to the Union Government to enlist 51 De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes as Schedule Tribes. Annual awards worth `1 lakh will be given for excellent work in education and social work among these 51 castes.
Chouhan was addressing De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes panchayat at his residence here on Thursday. Chouhan made a number of announcements at the mega meet held in the series of panchayats for direct dialogue with various sections of society. Minister of State for Scheduled Castes Welfare Harishankar Khatik was especially present on the occasion.
Schemes will be chalked out for better jobs and education of these castes. Schemes will be formulated in such a way that skills of these castes will be optimally utilised, Chouhan said, adding that their dignity will be restored. Meaning of social justice is that all should get share in resources.
Chouhan said that a campaign will be launched for training and employment to these castes’ youths. Identity cards will be given after survey of these castes. Upto Rs 3 lakh subsidy will be given to youths belonging to De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes to set up their employment. If members of these committees are residing on government land, then its patta will be given to them.
A phased campaign will be launched to provide houses to these castes. Subsidy of Rs 70,000 each will be given under the scheme. The areas where these castes reside will be electrified. During 12th Five-Year Plan, 50 new ashram hostels will be opened for their children. The ashram hostels, which have less than 50 seats at present will be upgraded to 50-seater and those with less than 100 seats to 100-seater.
The State Government will bear the fees if children of these castes take admission in engineering, medical and dental colleges. Now, their development will be ensured through Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Castes Welfare Department. Scholarships given to these castes’ children will be linked with dearness index. They will be given benefits of social security, assistance of maternity, marriage and treatment, death or injury in accident, scholarships etc. There will be 45 days’ paid maternity assistance. A sum of Rs 15,000 each will be given as marriage assistance and scholarships from Class I. Assistance worth Rs 1 lakh will be provided in case of death and Rs 75,000 for permanent disability in accident.
Minister Khatik said that the State Government has constituted a new department for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes’ welfare, through which constant efforts are being made for their upliftment. Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Castes Agency Chairman Narayan Singh Banjara said that the State Government has set up 120 ashram hostels for these castes. He said that separate caste certificates should be made for Nomadic castes.