Central Government Launches Comprehensive Approach to Dalit Welfare and Empowerment

The Prime Minister has constituted a Committee of Ministers on DalitAffairs to over-see in a consolidated manner the effective pooling together and implementation of different programmes and schemes under various Ministries/ Departments that relate to the welfare and development of Dalits. The Committee will identify the gaps in the existing schemes and help develop new programmes for eliminating these.

The Prime Minister is of the view that despite large allocations being made to a number of programmes aimed at improving the welfare of Dalits,the outcomes are not commensurate with the outlays. The Committee of Ministers will examine ways in which increased outlays can be translated into improved outcomes.

A massive awareness campaign will be taken up with the support of NGOs to ensure that Dalit families as a whole benefit from the programmes. The Central Government will encourage all State Governments to implement all existing schemes and fulfill all promises made with respect to the welfare and empowerment of Dalits, including early identification of surplus land under the Land Ceiling Act and expeditious distribution to Dalits. States will also be encouraged to pay special attention to the education of adults and children in Dalit families.

The Committee will also recommend required legislative steps required to be taken to implement assurances made with respect to economic and social empowerment of SCs. The Committee of Ministers will be chaired by the Prime Minister and will comprise of the Union Ministers of Defence, HRD, Agriculture, Home, Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel, Law & Justice, Rural Development, Small Scale Industries, Social Justice & Empowerment, Water Resources, Labour & Employment, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, and Minister of State for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs. Chief Secretaries of all State Governments and UTs will be called as Special Invitees as and when required. The Committee will be serviced by the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.