The Constitution of India has made special provision for the all-round development of SCs, STs and OBCs because of their prolonged social, educational and economic backwardness over the years. The National Finance Development Corporations for SCs, STs, OBCs and Minorities has been set up with paid-up capital for economic activities of these enlisted communities and regular flow of funds from the Union Government (MSJE and the MTA). There are also venture capitals for promoting business among them.
The State SCs, STs Development and OBCs and Minority Welfare Department is the main channeling agency in the State. These communities constitute about 95 per cent of the population of the State and their economic development counts for the overall development of the State in many ways.
But unfortunately, the State level routing agencies have been almost ineffective in terms of allocation of matching funds. In the recent times there has been growing impact of economic liberalisation and globalisation which has set a trend of privatisation in all economic sectors leading to withdrawal of State from its welfare role. So it is highly required to promote non-farm activities among these section of people who are still over crowded in primary sector for which credit based schemes for business are the need of the hour.
The State has to manage the financial resources for the best use of its people without concentration of wealth and money power in the hands of a few family based companies in the name of business and industry.
It is a fact that development in Odisha post independence has been non-inclusive. A majority of the population has been the worst sufferer of displacement due to mines and industry by way of losing habitation and livelihood along with environmental degradation. The land once demarcated for distribution among landless such as ceiling surplus land, Bhoodan land, waste land ,forest land and other category of Government land, has not been distributed among them; rather this category of land was given to business and industrial houses or corporates. The forest and agriculture based livelihood of SCs and STs has been destroyed without developing alternative in non –farm sector.
The lopsided development has resulted in growing pauperisation of people dependent on primary sector, and led to distress migration, unemployment and chronic poverty. The business, mines and industries in the State have created jobless growth and whatever employment opportunity has been created, it is being monopolised by the upper class without having a fair share for the marginalised.
The 2011 census on household with salaried jobs says only 0.20 per cent of SC and 0.12 per cent of ST households in the State have salaried jobs in private sector. The private sector employment policy does not follow affirmative action to make the business and industry inclusive of all social groups who have very insignificant representation in business. The corporate boards of the country are largely owned, controlled and managed by upper castes without caste and gender diversity.
The mining, industry, and business sectors have very poorly employed them with most ordinary jobs such as contract labourers under private contractors.
The labourers are very less paid and work without any social security benefits under hire and fire principle. There have been no labour legislations being followed for such workers. The Companies Act in 2013 with introduction of CSR has legalized private companies’ obligation to poorer section.The Government of Odisha should provide hand holding support to upcoming entrepreneurs through the State Finance Cooperative Corporations and take a lead in this process to tap the available resources from the Central Government for inclusion of left out communities in business and industry sector. Therefore it is highly required that the State Government controlled finance corporations should ensure implementation of affirmative action policy for private sector business through credit based schemes and make all necessary efforts for their application.
The dedicated institutions such as National Scheduled Caste Financial Development Corporation and National Scheduled Tribe Financial Development Corporation, National Safai Karmachari Financial Development Corporation, and National Backward Classes Finance Development Corporation specially set up to promote self-employment among enlisted castes /communities are inactive. The Odisha SC and ST Finance Development Cooperative Corporation has limited functions under the ST and SC Development Department.
It has been almost non-functional without adequate budget, staff and dedicated leadership to carry forward the mission of the institute. The departmental officials, going there in deputation with additional responsibility, have no role and are functioning most ineffectively without accountability. The performances of the institutions are not reviewed regularly.
Many of the Central sponsored schemes are not effectively implemented thanks to lack of political will and bureaucratic hurdles and above all, lack of awareness among people and beneficiaries of schemes. The Biju Atma Nijukti Yojana has made provision of only four per cent of purchase of products from small and medium enterprises owned by SCs and STs. Along with the Government officials, the banks in the State have a major role in creating opportunities of self-employment to arrest distress migration and unemployment. But sadly, they are not living up to the expectations.
There has been little effort by the State to promote financial literacy while banks are violating the Reserve Bank guidelines while dealing with poor borrowers. Bank officials are discriminately dealing with the marginalised communities. The subsidy money provided by the Government through banks is not reaching to the beneficiaries hassle-free.
(manasbbsr15@gmail.com)