The historical discrimination and exclusion; undergone by certain groups and communities; have been sought to be ameliorated by the constitutional provisions of inclusion and positive discrimination. The Constitution of India has prescribed, protection and safeguards for the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other weaker sections; either specially or the way of insisting on their general rights as citizens; with the object of promoting their educational and economic interests and removing social disabilities. These social groups have also been provided institutionalized commitments though the statutory body, the National Commission of SCs and STs.
The constitutional provisions, particularly the political representation for the SCs and STs, has been the most significant step for empowerment of these excluded and marginalized groups; as they get opportunities to influence the decisions concerning their groups as well as through social restructuring of the entire socio-politico-economic system.
The reservation of SCs and STs in education and public employment, have the desired impact in lessening the caste inequalities and social disabilities.
While the constitutional protection to the SCs and STs has been a matter of substantial national consensus; the provision for protection of Other Backward Castes (OBCs), has been eluding a similar national agreement. The Government of India has been attempting to bring the the welfare of the OBCs on par with that of the SCs and STs, particularly with regard to their reservations in the educational institutions.
The Centre Government through its Ministry Social Justice and Empowerment and the State Government through their Departments of Social Welfare; have been implementing a variety of schemes for the welfare of the SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and persons with special abilities.
The impact of the various governmental progarmmes for improving the socio-economic lots of the disadvantaged groups, has remained uneven and continues to be not so satisfactory. The main reason for the dilution of these welfare schemes is lack of will, sincerity and commitment. Most crucially the majority of these excluded groups do not have capabilities to avail of the benefits of these schemes. Poverty has its severest and absolute manifestation among these groups. Social exclusion, particularly against the SCs still persists in the remote rural areas, wherein the social stratification has its negative impact. The political representation at the level of the local self-government (Panchayati Raj Institutions and civic bodies) has been of a superficial impact as the local self-governance still dominantly managed by the representatives of the higher castes. Another argument being put up as the reason for the continued marginalization of these groups is that most of the guaranteed benefits are being appropriated by the higher echelons among these social groups. Prof. M.N. Shrinivasan , popularly referred as the Father of Indian Sociology, has coined the term “Scheduled Caste Brahmins “ to pinpoint the overpowering presence of an intra-elitist small group among each one of the disadvantaged social groups. Suspense
SANKALP has been striving to improve and reorient the policies and programmes; meant for the empowerment of these disadvantaged and backward social groups. At the policy level, the Organisation has been advocating for focused and integrated strategies for improving the socio-economic lot of these marginalized and excluded groups. These groups should be provided with greater access to quality primary education, primary health care, appropriate livelihood skills and micro-credit facilities. In fact, the Organisation’s social sector progarmmes, have been incorporating the inclusion and participation of these groups. SANKALP has been profusely professeing that these social groups should be integrated into the mainstream social structure by ensuring behavioural and attitudinal change among the higher caste groups, and providing a substantial leveling off and support to these groups. The Organisation strongly feels that a national consensus should evolve so that the benefits of the statutory and non-statutory provisions and progarmmes should not be appropriated by a small group among these castes; but should reach the vast majority of these social groups.
SANKALP’S programmes besides policy improvement, policy shift and policy advocacy for the emancipation of these groups; also include vocational and technical training and education for in-school and out-school adolescent from these groups; youth leadership trainings; awareness generation programmes on the constitutional provisions and governmental schemes; skill impartment programmes for adolescent girls and women; innovative and appropriate primary education; community-based group-centered reproductive and child health; adolescent-friendly health services; as well as greater participation of the elected representatives of these groups in local-self governance and local self-determination. The gaps in welfare activities of these groups are still massive. Concrete, coordinated and collaborative efforts need to be made by the governmental agencies, non-governmental Organisations, inter-governmental Organisations, elected representatives and civil society to attend the goal of social equality and social equity.