WELFARE SCHEMES FOR VULNERABLE SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION BY THE CENTRE AND STATES AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE SCHEMES; MECHANISMS, LAWS, INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES CONSTITUTED FOR THE PROTECTION AND BETTERMENT OF THESE VULNERABLE SECTIONS
Contents
1. Vulnerable Sections 231
2. Rationale of Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections 231
3. Vulnerable Sections of Society 232
3.1. Children 232
3.1.1. Schemes Related to Children 233
3.2. Women 240
3.2.1. Schemes 240
3.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes 243
3.3.1. Scheduled Castes 243
3.3.2. Scheduled Tribes 244
3.3.3. Other Backward Classes (OBCs) 244
3.3.4. Schemes for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward Classes 244
3.3.5. Specific Schemes for Scheduled Castes 245
3.3.6. Specific Schemes for Scheduled Tribes 246
3.3.7. Specific Schemes for Other Backward Classes 246
3.4. Senior Citizens/Aged 247
3.4.1. Schemes 247
3.5. Disabled Persons 248
3.5.1. Schemes 249
3.6. Minorities 250
3.6.1. Schemes for Welfare of Minorities 250
3.7. LGBT Community 252
3.7.1. Schemes 252
3.7.2. Initiatives by Government/Judiciary to Promote Interests of LGBT Community in India 253
3.8. Poor Persons 253
3.8.1. Schemes for Poor Persons 253
4. Performance of Various Other Schemes 255
4.1. National Rural Health Mission 255
4.2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 256
4.3. Recent Initiatives for Improving Monitoring of Various Schemes 256
4.4. Way Forward 256
5. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections 256
5.1. Mechanisms Existing in India for Vulnerable Sections 256
5.2. Laws Pertaining to Betterment of Vulnerable Sections 257
5.2.1. Children 257
5.2.2. Women 258
5.2.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes 258
5.2.4. Senior Citizens/ Aged 259
5.2.5. Disabled Persons 259
5.2.6. Minorities 260
5.2.7. Laws Related to LGBT 260
5.3. Institutions and Bodies for the betterment of these vulnerable sections 260
5.3.1. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 260
5.3.2. Children 261
5.3.3. Women 262
5.3.4. SCs/STs/OBCs 263
5.3.5. Minorities 266
5.3.6. Disabled Persons 267
5.3.7. Senior Citizens 268
6. Previous Years GS Mains Test Series Questions 268
7. Previous Year UPSC Questions 284
1. Vulnerable Sections2. Rationale of Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable SectionsConstitutional and Philosophical BasisHumanitarian GroundsEconomic ImperativeNation Building3. Vulnerable Sections of Society3.1. Children3.1.1. Schemes Related to ChildrenSarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA)Mid-Day Meal (MDM) SchemePlatform for Effective Enforcement for No Child LabourNational Child Labour Project (NCLP)Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA)3.2. Women3.2.1. SchemesWorking Women’s HostelUjjwala SchemeUdyam Sakhi Portal for Women EntrepreneurMother and Child Tracking Scheme (MCTS)Pradhan Mantri Matritiva Vandana YojanaOne Stop Centre Scheme3.3. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes3.3.1. Scheduled Castes3.3.2. Scheduled Tribes3.3.3. Other Backward Classes (OBCs)3.3.4. Schemes for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward ClassesPradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram YojanaBabu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas YojanaVenture Capital Fund for Scheduled CastesSpecial Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP)Top Class Education for ST StudentsVocational Training Centres in Tribal AreasCentrally Sponsored Scheme of Hostels for ST boys and ST GirlsEstablishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan AreasEklavya Model Residential SchoolCentrally Sponsored Scheme of Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and GirlsSakshamShilp Sampada3.4. Senior Citizens/Aged3.4.1. SchemesAn Integrated Programme for Older PersonsIndira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)Vayoshreshtha Sammans - A Scheme of National Award for Senior Citizens.3.5. Disabled Persons3.5.1. SchemesDeendayal Disabled Rehabilitation SchemeNational Awards for Empowerment of Persons with DisabilitiesADIP Scheme3.6. Minorities3.6.1. Schemes for Welfare of MinoritiesScholarship SchemesSeekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)Jiyo ParsiPadho Pardesh (for overseas studies at Masters, M.Phil. and Ph.D. Level)Nalanda SchemeMinority Cyber Gram (MCG)Maulana Azad Sehat schemeOther Schemes3.7. LGBT Community3.7.1. Schemes3.7.2. Initiatives by Government/Judiciary to Promote Interests of LGBT Community in India3.8. Poor Persons3.8.1. Schemes for Poor Persons4. Performance of Various Other Schemes4.1. National Rural Health Mission4.2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)4.3. Recent Initiatives for Improving Monitoring of Various Schemes4.4. Way Forward5. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections5.1. Mechanisms Existing in India for Vulnerable Sections5.2. Laws Pertaining to Betterment of Vulnerable Sections5.2.1. ChildrenLegislations Related to WomenLegislations Related to SCs, STs and OBCsLegislation Related to Aged/Senior CitizensLegislations Enacted for Disabled PersonsLaws Related to Minorities5.3. Institutions and Bodies for the betterment of these vulnerable sections5.3.1. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment5.3.2. ChildrenNational Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)Central Adoption Resource AuthorityChild Welfare CommitteesChild Care InstitutionCHILDLINERashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)National SC Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)National Safai Karamacharis Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC)National Commission for STsNational Commission for Backward ClassesNational Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)Commissioner for Linguistic MinoritiesNational Commission for Minority Educational InstitutionsCentral Waqf CouncilDishaNational Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC)Rehabilitation Council of IndiaSenior Citizen Welfare Fund6. Previous Years GS Mains Test Series Questions1. It has been argued that the recent order of the Supreme Court to prevent the misuse of Section 498A institutionalises the prejudices and rehabilitates the myths, which the women’s movement in India has battled over decades. Discuss.Answer:2. Human Trafficking in India has emerged as a serious issue, which calls for understanding the complexity of the problem and devising an effective strategy to combat it. Discuss.Answer:3. Examine the steps taken by the government over the years to ensure a secure and exploitation-free childhood for its citizens. Further analyse how the recent ratification of the two key ILO conventions will help India’s fight against child labour.Answer:4. Recent judgment of the Supreme Court, amending the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 has invoked varied reponses. Highlighting the amendment, critically examine its likely impact on application of the law.Answer:Positive Impacts of the Amendment:Negative Impacts of the Amendment:5. What do you mean by bonded labour? Explaining the reasons behind persistence of bonded labour in India, highlight the problems faced by them. Also give an account of the steps taken for abolition of bonded labour in the country.Answer:Causes of Bonded Labour:♤ Illiteracy, ignorance, lack of skills and poor implementation of legal protection. Problems faced by Bonded labourInitiatives for the elimination of bonded labour6. The Forest Rights Act 2006 tries to undo the historic injustice done to the forest dweller and tribals. Inspite of its well intended goals the act has failed to achieve the desired success. Critically analyse.Answer:Rights Available Under the Act:7. The transgender community has been among one of the most marginalized communities in India. Discuss. How does the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 seek to protect transgenders from discrimination and address the problems faced by them?Answer:8. What are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)? How are they different from de-notified tribes? Critically analyze the initiatives taken by the government to address the problems faced by them.Answer:Government Schemes:9. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, was seen as an important legislation in the context of the protection of children, however, many argue that it has remained largely ineffective. Identifying the key objectives of the act, discuss the reasons for its ineffectiveness.Answer:The objectives of the act can be summarised as following:10. What are the reasons for the declining rate of child adoption in India? Discuss whether the amended Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015 can address this issue.Answer:Reasons for declining rate of child adoption in IndiaProvision for child- adoption in JJ Act 2015But some concerns remain11. It is more difficult to escape the shadow of social discrimination than it is to break the shackles of economic backwardness. Discuss the statement in the context of Dalit capitalism and give an account of the problems that Dalit entrepreneurs have been facing. Also highlight the steps taken by the government in recent times to encourage Dalit empowerment via the market.Answer:Problems faced by Dalit entrepreneursSteps taken by government12. Over the years, there have been many initiatives across India to promote the girl child and improve its poor child sex ratio. The schemes have differed in name, but converged in their general inefficiency. Examine. How does the “Beti Padhao Beti Bachao Yojna” seek to address this gap?Answer:♤ Focus on low income households:♤ Conflating sex ratio with family planning:Lacunae in access and implementation:7. Previous Year UPSC Questions
