Focus of the Scheduled Caste Development Bureau in the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is on (i) Educational Empowerment (ii) Economic Empowerment and (iii) Social Empowerment of the Scheduled Castes through various schemes of the Ministry.
Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Students (PMS-SC): The Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme and the single largest intervention by Government of India for educational empowerment of scheduled caste students. The Scheme is in operation since 1944. The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to scheduled caste students studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.
Pre-Matric Scholarship for Children of those engaged in ‘unclean’ occupations: This is also a centrally sponsored scheme, which was launched in 1977-78. Under the scheme financial assistance is provided for pre-matric education to children of the following target groups, viz. (i) scavengers of dry latrines, (ii) tanners, (iii) flayers and (iv) waste pickers. The scheme is implemented through State Governments.
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana: The objective of the Scheme is to provide hostel facilities to SC Boys and Girls studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools, colleges and Universities.
Creation of ‘Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Caste Entrepreneurs’ Scheme: The Government has decided to set up a new Venture Capital Fund for SCs.An allocation of Rs 200 crore has been provided for the Fund.A scheme has been finalized in consultation with the IFCI.
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Young and Start-Up Entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Castes: The Finance Minister in his Union Budget Speech for FY 2014-15 made on 10th July 2014, inter-alia, announced that a sum of Rs 200 crore will be allocated towards Credit Enhancement Guarantee for Young and start-up entrepreneurs, belonging to Scheduled Castes, who aspire to be part of neo middle class category, with an objective to encourage entrepreneurship in the lower strata of the Society resulting in job creation besides creating confidence in Scheduled Castes.
The said allocation is under Social Sector Initiatives in order to promote entrepreneurship among the scheduled castes and to facilitate concessional finance to them.
Swachhta Udyami Yojana: As an integral part of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ launched by the Prime Minister on October 2, 2014, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment launched a new Scheme ‘Swachhta Udyami Yojana’ of NSKFDC on the same day for financing viable community toilet projects and sanitation related vehicles to collect garbage.
