Introduction - Protection under Constitution.

Indian society has for centuries been horizontally and vertically split and stratified on the
basis of caste. People are born into castes or sub castes and those born into the lower
castes have traditionally suffered from various kinds of social discrimination and
disabilities. These backward and deprived sections are so weak that they have not been
able to take advantage of equal opportunities compared to the educationally and socially
stronger castes or classes. As a result the weaker sections of society have suffered from
getting social justice. Social justice is the overall development of weaker sections.
Overall development includes educational development, economic development, political
representation, social empowerment at all levels of institutions.

The constitution provides benefits to weaker section of society under Article 15(4) and
16(4) mainly related to educational development and employment opportunities in
Government services.

It was the enormity of inequality that gave rise to various low-caste movements,
particularly in the south, right from the beginning of the 20th Century. As a result of
sustained agitations specific quotas of seats had been earmarked in medical and
engineering colleges in the state of Travancore-Cochin, Madras and Mysore even before
independence.

In post Independence India, the first important step to remedy this situation was taken
with the incorporation of clause4 under Article 16 of the Constitution which empowered
the states to reserve posts in favor of backward classed of citizens. After Independence
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been constitutionally recognized as groups
under the category of weaker sections. They have started getting benefits in educational
institutions and employment. Other Backward Castes (OBCs) got recognition in 1993.

Social justice is a means to achieve the aim of establishing an egalitarian society and
eradicating distribution of power in its several social sections. To achieve the goals of
distribution of political, administrative and economic power to the backward castes, the
Constitution of India was amended eighty five times during the last fifty years. The
democratic, secular and liberal Constitution of India is doing well under the ethos of
social milieu and it is playing a major role in shaping its policies and competing to gain
and control political power.

The Indian constitutional law is a unique social document which accepts social pluralism
and makes provisions for safeguarding the interests of different social sections. Article
15(4) and 340 use the words ‘socially and educationally backward classes”. However
Article 16(4) refers to ‘any backward class citizen’. As Pt. Nehru explained before the
select committee, this departure was made to bring the language of Article 15(4) in line
with that of Article 340, which provides that Backward Classes Commission may be set
up for “socially and educationally backward class citizens.” Perusal of the Parliament
debate on this amendment clearly shows that irrespective of the criteria for the
classification of backward classes there had to be a list of castes and communities. Article
16940 speaks of just ‘backward classes’, and Article 15940 mentions the ‘weaker
sections of the people’. Even now the term backward classes is defined differently in the
reports of the different backward classes commissions and the judgments of various High
Courts and Supreme Court of India.

Legal Safeguards- As leader of the Congress Party in the Constituent Assembly of India,
Jawaharlal Nehru moved a historic resolution on the aims and objectives of the
Constitution. It was regarding provisions for adequate safeguards to the minorities,
backward and depressed sections of society. The resolution stated that ‘Wherein shall be
guaranteed and secured to all the people of India, justice, social, economic and politica,
equality of status and opportunity before the law, freedom of thought, expression, belief,
faith, worship, vocation, association and action, subject to law and public morality and
wherein adequate safeguards shall be made available to minorities, backward and tribal
areas, and depressed and other backward classes.

Definitions:
1 .Justice K. Subba Rao, former Chief Justice of India, defined ‘backward classes’ as —
“an ascertainable ;and identifiable group of persons based on caste, religion, race,
language, occupation and such others, with definite characteristics of backwardness in
various aspects of human existence — social, cultural, economic, political and such
others.”
2. We can generally define ‘backward classes’ as those social groups or classes or castes
which are characterized by illiteracy and lack of education, poverty, exploitation of labor,
non- representation in services and untouchability.

3. In simple words, the term ‘backward classes’ can be defined as a social category which
consists of all the socially, educationally, economically and politically backward groups,
castes, and tribes.

4.‘Backward Classes’ retained a multiplicity of meanings- ‘lowly’, those comparable to

SC/STs, ‘less well- off’, those who suffered discrimination historically. Origin- The term
Backward Classes had appeared for the first time in 1870 in Madras Presidency. Despite
ambiguity the provinces of Bombay, Madras and Mysore had instituted reservations of
jobs and seats for them in education before independence. After independence, Nehru
coined the term, “Other Backward Classes” – implying classes other than the
untouchables and the tribes. The Constitution refers to ‘Backward Classes’ in Articles 15
(4) and 16 (4), under which the state is empowered to make special provision for those
socially and educationally backward.

5. Backward class people is a collective term, used by the Government of India, for castes
which are economically and socially disadvantaged. They typically include the Other
Backward Classes (OBCs). What is Other Backward Class: The peoples economically &
socially backward other than SC, ST and FC are an Other Backward Class (OBC).Who
are the Other Backward Class: The peoples who belong to Backward Class (BC), Most
Backward Class (MBC) and Denotified Community (DCN) category in the respective
Indian states government’s criteria are grouped & called as Other Backward Class
(OBC).

6. OBC stands for Other Backward Classes. A community is classified as "OBC" if it

qualifies as "backward" based on a complex set of social, economic and educational
criteria, as specified by the National Commission on Backward Classes (NCBC).

7. "OBCs, by profession, being small cultivators, agricultural laborers, artisans and also
being engaged in weaving, fishing, construction work, etc. and these occupations being
common to SCs and OBCs, the status of OBCs cannot be treated as very much different
from that of SCs ....OBCs constitute a majority of poor and backward population which
produced a variety of goods and services, but on terms and conditions unfair to them."
 Backward Class
(criteria)

Social Educational Economic

Backwardness Backwardness Backwardness

Social Backwardness
 Castes/classes which are considered as socially backward.
 Castes/Classes which mainly depend on manual labour for their livelihood.
 Castes/Classes where participation of women and children in work involving
manual labour is at least 25% above the State average for the sustenance of their
family.
 Castes/Classes which are living in inaccessible areas lacking proper
communication which suffer non-availability of basic amenities such as drinking
water which lack healthy and sanitary facilities which process poor quality of
residence such as thatched huts, tiled house with low quality of building materials
exposed to speedy decay which suffer lack of accessibility to place of habitation
which suffer restriction if any or access to place of public utilities such as temples,
hotels, shops, etc.

Educational Backwardness
 Castes/Classes where the student drop-out in the age grout of 7to 15 years is at
least 25% above the State average.
 Castes/Classes where the proportion of the pupil who pass 10th Standard or its
equivalent is 20% below the State average.
 Castes/Classes where the proportion of professionally qualified persons viz.
Engineers, Doctors or chartered Accountants is below 20% the State average.

Economic Backwardness
 Castes/Classes where the average value of family assets is at least 20% below the
State average.
 Castes/Classes where the net value of family assets does not exceed Rs.3,00,000/-.
 Castes/Classes where percentage of persons in Government employment of
different levels is 25% below State average.
 Caste/Classes where percentage of persons in Public (undertaking) of different
levels is 25% below State average
Description of the Backward Classes:

The Backward Classes Commission in its Report of 1956 described the Backward
Classes as consisting of the following groups:-

1. Those who suffer from the stigma of untouchability or near untouchability. These
groups are classified as scheduled castes (SC).

2. Those tribes who are not yet sufficiently assimilated into the mainstream of the
national life. These groups are classified as Scheduled Tribes (ST).

3. Those tribes who, due to long neglect, have been forced to commit crime. These tribes
were previously known as criminal tribes (before 1953) and are presently called
Denotified Tribes or Ex- Criminal Tribes.

4. ‘Other Backward Classes’ which consist of

(a) those nomads who have no occupation of a fixed habitation and are given to mimicry,
begging, jugglery, dancing, etc.,

(b) Communities consisting largely of agricultural or landless laborers,

(c) Communities consisting largely of tenants without occupancy rights and those with
insecure land tenure,

(d) Communities consisting of a large percentage of small land owners with uneconomic
holdings,

(e) Communities engaged in cattle breeding, sheep breeding or fishing on small scale,

(f) Artisan and occupational classes without security of employment and whose
traditional occupations have ceased to be remunerative,

(g) Communities, the majority of whose people, do not have sufficient education and
therefore have not secured adequate representation in Government services,

(h) Social groups from among Muslims, Christians and Sikhs who are still backward
socially and educationally, and

(i) Communities not occupying positions in social hierarchy.

What happens when a caste / community classified as OBC
advances socially, economically and educationally?
OBC is a dynamic notion. The evaluation of whether given communities qualify to be
designated OBC is to be done periodically and if a community advances such that its
socio-economic and educational levels are on par with state or district average, it ceases
to be classified as OBC. The Supreme Court has mandated that a revision of this list
needs to take place at least once every 10 years. As envisaged by the Mandal
Commission, and as proposed to be implemented now, the policy of reservations is not
the blunt instrument that it is falsely portrayed to be. It is a fine-grained program that will
not result in an ever-increasing number of ‘reserved’ places at the table, but will more
than likely always stay below the target threshold of 27 percent because it is designed to
use overlapping measures of social and economic deprivation and fluid notions of
identity and group belonging — dynamic measures that are subject to continual
readjustments to minimize economic and social disparities as society changes.

OBLIGATION OF THE GOVERNMENT:

It is compulsory for the government to promote the welfare of the
OBCs. The President may by order appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of
socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the
difficulties under which they labour. He should make sure that the union or any state
should take steps to remove such difficulties and to improve their conditions. Each order
that is appointed should be followed by the commission. An appointed commission
should investigate the matters referred to them and present a report to the President,
setting out the facts as found by them and should make recommendations that they think
is proper.

A 1992 decision of the supreme court of India resulted in a requirement that 27% of civil
service positions be reserved for members of OBCs. At most 7%of eligible positions in
government jobs had been filled by OBCs, in spite of the 27% reservation. The difference
between the proportions of different communities in higher educational institutions is
mainly because of difference in primary school enrolment. Political parties in India have
attempted to use these communities as vote banks.

FIRST BACKWARD CLASSES COMMISSION:

 The First Backward Classes commission was established by a
presidential order on 29 January 1953 under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar. It had
prepared a list of 2,399 backward castes or communities for the entire country, of which
837 had been classified as the most backward. The commission also examined the
existing list of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes. Certain additions and deletions were
recommended by the commission. Some of the notable recommendations of the Kalelkar
commission were:

1. Undertaking caste-wise enumeration in the census of 1961.

2. Relating social backwardness of a class to its low position in the traditional caste
hierarchy of Indian society.
3. Treating all women as a class as “backward”.
4. Reservation of 70% seats in all technical and professional institutions for qualified
students of backward classes.
5. Reservation of vacancies in all the government services and local bodies for other
backward classes.

Some criteria like low social position, lack of general educational

advancement, etc were adopted by the commission to identify the socially and
educationally backward classes. The commission in its final report recommended
“caste as the criteria” to determine backwardness. However, the report was not
accepted by the government, which feared that the backward classes excluded from
the caste and communities selected by the commission might not be considered, and
those in most need would be swamped by the multitudes, thus receiving insufficient
attention.

MANDAL COMMISSION:
The decision to set up a second backward classes commission
was made official by the President. The commission popularly known as the Mandal
Commission submitted that stated that the population of OBCs, which included both
Hindus and non-Hindus, was around 52% of the total population according to the
Mangal Commission. The number of backward castes and communities was 3,743 in
the initial list of Mandal Commission. The number of backward castes in central list
of OBCs has now increased. Mandal commission developed 11 indicators or criteria
to identify OBCs, of which 4 were economic.
 However, this finding was criticized as based on “fictitious data. It is generally
estimated to be sizable, but lower than the figures quoted by either the Mandal
Commission or and National sample survey.

27% of reservation was recommended owing to the legal constraint that the total
quantum of reservation should not exceed 50%. States which have already introduced
reservation for OBC exceeding 27% will not be affected by this recommendation.
With this general recommendation the commission proposed the following overall
schemes of reservation for OBC.

1. Candidates belonging to OBC recruited on the basis of merit in an open

competition should not be adjusted against their reservation quota of 27%.
2. The above reservation should also be made applicable to promotion quota at
all levels.
3. Reserved quota remaining unfilled should be carried forward for a period of 3
years and de-reserved thereafter.
4. Relaxation in the upper age limit for direct recruitment should be extended to
the candidates of OBC in the same manner as done in the case of Scheduled
Caste and Scheduled Tribe.
5. A roster system for each category of posts should be adopted by the
concerned authorities in the same manner as presently done in respect of
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates.

These recommendations in total are applicable to all recruitment to public sector

undertakings, both under the central and state governments as well as to nationalised
banks. All private sector undertakings which have received financial assistance from the
government in one form or other should also be obliged to recruit personnel on the
aforesaid basis. All universities and affiliated colleges should also be covered by the
above scheme of reservation. Although education is considered an important factor to
bring a desired social change “educational reform” was not within the terms of reference
of this commission. To promote literacy the following measures were suggested:

1. An intensive time bond programme for adult education should be launched in

selected pockets with high concentration of OBC population.
2. Residential schools should be setup in these areas for backward class students to
provide a climate especially conductive to serious studies. All facilities in these
 schools including board and lodging should be provided free of cost to attract
students from poor and backward class homes.
3. Separate hostels for OBC students with above facilities will have to be provide.
4. Vocational training was considered imperative.
5. It was recommended that seats should be reserved for OBC students in scientific,
technical and professional institutions run by the central as well as state
governments. The quantum of reservation should be the same as in the government
services, i.e. 27%

Current Government schemes forthe Backward class

1. National Commission for Backward Classes

(A Statutory Body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment)

The National commission of Backward classes is an Indian statutory body established

under the provision of National commission of Backward classes Act.It is permanent in
nature and is responsible for entertaining, examining and recommending upon requests
for inclusion and complaints of over/under inclusion in the list of BCs. NCBC has
proposed that the minimum ceiling for BC should be an annual family income of 15
lakhs. It describes the term backward as people other than SC & ST that has been
specified by Central Government in their list ( that gets revised from time to time) and
has also recommended subdivisions of OBC into backward , more backward and
extremely backward to divide quota among them in proportion to their population thereby
ensuring that the stronger BCs don’t corner the quota benefits.

Constituitional Provisions

NCBC mainly functions to ensure prohibition of discrimination on grounds of

religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth and to provide equality of opportunity in
matters of public employment for the BCs.

Need for appointing the commission

 The commission aims to investigate the conditions and the difficulties faced by the
socially and educationally backward classes and makes appropriate
recommendations to help them overcome these challenges. The President may by
order appoint this Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to
investigate the conditions of the socially and educationally backward classes
within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to
make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any
State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition and as to the
grants that should be made for the purpose and the conditions subject to which
such grants should be made. A Commission so appointed shall investigate the
matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts
as found by them and make such recommendations as they think proper. The
President then makes a copy of the report so presented together with a
memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each house of
Parliament.

Powers and functions of the National Commission for Backward Class

NCBC investigates and monitors all matters relating to the protection provided for the
backward class under any law to be enforced or under any order of the
Government considers inclusion/exclusion from the list of communities notified as
backward for job reservation and evaluates the working of such safe guards. It also
inquires into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and
safeguards of these people. The commission participates and advise on the
planning process of socio-economic development of these people and evaluates
the progress of their development. NCBC then presents to the President reports
about the working of these safeguards, measures that should be taken for the
effective implementation of these safeguards and other measures for the
protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the group. Thus it
discharge such functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development
and advancement of the backward class and advice the central government on
these issues. These suggestions madeby NCBC are binding upon the central
government. In order for the commission to perform its duties effectively, it has
been given special powers and previlages like the authority for i)summoning
attendance of a person from any part of India to examine his oath ii) asking for the
production of documents /affidavits /public record from the court iii) appointing
commissions for examination of witness and documents etc .An annual report and
audit report is prepared by the commission and laid before the Parliament through
the Central government.
BACKWARD CLASS PROGRAMMES IN STATE LEVEL

Organizations in State level

The TamilNadu Backwardclass Commission and the Directorate of Backward Classes

Welfare under the Government of Tamil Nadu are the state level organisations
responsible for the welfare of backward class.

Objectives

The organisation has been established to examine and recommend on matters relating to
inclusion and exclusion from the list of Backward classes/Most Backward Classes upon the
request . It does periodic revision of list of Backward Classes and Most Backward classes
and conducts enquiries on the representations received from various community
organizations and individuals for inclusion of their communities in the list. The
Department also implements policies, laws, regulations and programmes ordered by the
Government for the economic, educational and social development of the Backward
classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities in the State. It aims to
empower the target groups through their educational, economic and social development
and hence they implement various programmes and schemes to achieve this goal.

Powers , Duties & Fuctions of the Commission

The Commission is responsible for examining and recommending for inclusion and
complaints of over-inclusion and under-inclusion in the lists of Backward Classes / Most
Backward Classes upon requests. It also examines recommend upon the demand made by
various communities to provide for internal reservation within the reservation provided
for Most Backward Classes. Periodic revision of list of Backward Classes and Most
Backward Classes in this State is done by it as and when decided so that it can make
recommendations on improved reservation for Christians, Muslims and other Minorities
based on their social and educational backwardness. Thus the Commission examines and
make recommendations on all the matters relating to Backward Classes that may be
referred to it. After reviewing the measures taken so far for the welfare of “Backward
Classes” and the betterment of their conditions and assessing the effectiveness of these
concessions, privileges and benefits the Commission may make recommendations as to
the further short-term and long-term measures that should be taken by the State
Government to improve the conditions of the “Backward Classes” in domains of
education, representation in Public services, trade, commerce, and industry, housing
grants, community development etc.

Welfare Schemes

Only the natives of Tamil Nadu who belong to the castes included in
the list of BCs, MBCs, DNCs has access to benefits from schemes
implemented for the welfare of OBCs in Tamil Nadu. Any one who is
not a native of Tamil Nadu is not entitled to any benefit from any
scheme even if he belongs to a caste included in the list of OBCs of
Tamil Nadu.

The District Collectors assisted by the District Backward Classes and

Minorities Welfare Officer implements the BC, MBC & DNC Welfare
schemes to provide these benefits at the district level. These schemes
include the following benefits listed below.

 Prematric Scholarships

In Tamil Nadu , no amount towards tuition fees is sanctioned to BC/MBC/DNC

students under the scholarship scheme since free education is offered for
students studying in Tamil Medium Government/Aided schools and no tuition
fees is collected from the students irrespective of community/income. But since
Tuition fees is charged for Govt./Govt. Aided English Medium students, a part
of theTuition fee gets reimbursed to BC/MBC/DNC students. Reimbursement of
Special Fees(from class VI-X) and examination fee(for class10) is also done.

 Post-matric Scholarships

Students from Plus 1 to Ph.D level receive postmatric scholarships

where Tuition fees , Special fees ,Examination fees, Book money,
Boarding and Lodging are reimbursed at predetermined rates. “Scheme
 of Post-Matric Scholarship for students belonging to the Minority
Communities” by The Prime Minister's New 15 Point Programme for
the Welfare of Minorities provides a post-matric scholarship scheme for
meritorious students from minority communities

 Free Education Schemes

Free Education Scheme is applicable to BC, MBC & DNC students
studying in undergraduate courses where tuition fees, special fees,
examination fees, other Compulsory fees etc payable by the students to
the institutions at the rate fixed by respective Departments are
reimbursed to the students.

 Free Hostels & Boarding Grants

Along with the scholarship amount, additional regular post matric / free education
amounts, boarding & lodging charges etc are also sanctioned and disbursed for the BC /
MBC /DNC students staying in hostels attached to Educational Institutions & private
approved hostels. The students staying in Hostels attached to the Institutions are eligible
for sanction of Boarding & Lodging charges at nominal rates. Besides the above free
Government Hostels, the Government has also recognised privately managed subsidised
Hostels for enabling the poor OBC students to secure accommodation and food for
continuing their studies. The managements of these private Hostels are sanctioned
boarding grants to meet the feeding charges of the students.

 Incentives for Rural MBC/DNC girl students

There are additional incentives provided in the form of cash for rural
MBC/DNC girl students in which special preference is given to girl students
of widows , abandoned mothers and to the poorest among the poor.

 State and District level prizes

 The Thanthai Periyar Memorial & Perarignar Anna Memorial Awards
gives away cash every year based on merit as a token of appreciation
for the Highest Marks scorers (in Higher Secondary Exam and S.S.L.C
Public Exam) among BC/MBC/DNC students at the State level and
District level irrespective of income ceiling.
.

 Kallar Reclamation Schools

The schemes intended for the upliftment of the the people belonging to
"Piramalai Kallar" community(concentrated in Madurai, Theni and
Dindigul districts in Tamilnadu), which is included in the list of DNCs
are being implemented through the project Kallar Reclamation, with its
head quarters at Madurai .Numerous Special Kallar Reclamation (KR)
Schools and hostels are being run for the benefit of Piramalai Kallars in
these districts providing midday meals, uniforms, text books and slate,
given free of cost in these schools.

 Supply of Free Tools

Equipments like brass iron boxes and sewing machines are supplied
free of cost to BC , MBC&DNC peoples families based on their age,
income, profession and their knowledge in that particular domain to
ensure that all those who are really deserving benefit from this scheme.

 . Free Supply of Bi-Cycles to Students

After introducing a scheme for the Supply of Free Bicycles for BC /

MBC / DNC Girls students, studying +1 and +2 classes in Government
and Government aided schools , the scheme which been extended to
Boy students who are studying +1 and +2 classes in Government,
 Government aided and Partly aided schools too . Government has then
subsequently ordered the scheme of supply of Free Bicycles to BC /
MBC / DNC girls students, who were studying +1 in Government,
Government aided and Partly aided schools.

 Job Oriented Training Schemes

Job oriented training is provided to BC, MBC & DNC Candidates to

enable them to acquire the requisite skill for self employment. The
training Courses and the Number of Candidates to be trained may vary
from year to year according to the funds provided.

 Issue of Free House Site Pattas and provision of infrastructure facilities

Under this scheme implemented, free house site pattas have been
distributed to numerous beneficiaries belonging to BC/MBC/DNCs and
even poor families belonging to Forward Communities.Since basic
infrastructure facilities were not available in these places formed with
the free house pattas assigned, the poor families could not construct
their own house. So as a new scheme of provision of infrastructure
facilities to the acquired vacant lands, the Government has started
providing basic amenities like formation of roads, street lights, drinking
water, drainage, toilet etc. facilities for enabling the poor beneficiaries
to construct their own houses.

Backward Class
The term ' backward class ' is difficult to define. Backwardness is expressed in lack of adequate
opportunity for group and individual self-development, especially in economic life and in
matters of health, housing and education. It is measured in terms of low levels of income, the
extent of illiteracy, and the low standard of life demonstrated by living conditions. Thus the
Backward class refers to the members of a caste or community who are recommended for special
help in education and employment.
Welfare services for these people are included in the special programme for the welfare of the
backward classes. Education is the most urgent need of these communities, and extensive
measures for increasing educational facilities have been taken. Emphasis is placed in almost all
cases on vocational or technical training. The concessions usually take the form of free tuition,
stipends, scholarships, provision of books, stationery and other equipment. In certain cases the
aid extends to clothing and mid-day meals. The opening of primary schools in areas where BCs
live in large numbers and the running of hostels for their benefit in district towns and educational
centres are the other two usual activities. For vocational training there are peripatetic parties of
instructors and also the established technical and vocational training centres .The trainees,also
receive loans and subsidies to enable them to settle down in their respective trades.Togather with
all these there are also programmes to empower and create awareness through campaigning and
other programmes.

Non Government Organisation

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit legally constituted organization that
is independent from the government and perform humanitarian, progressive, or watchdog
activities.They are either funded by donations or are altogether and are run primarily by
volunteers. NGOs cover a wide range of activities like charitable status, social purposes,
political, religious interests etc. These organizations take a three step approach towards issues in
the sense that they first act as implementers by mobilizing resources in order to provide goods
and services to people who are suffering. Then they act as catalysts where they drive change
through their ability to 'inspire, facilitate or contribute to improved thinking and action to
promote change'. Finally, NGO's often act as partners alongside other organizations in order to
tackle problems and address human needs more effectively. These organizations can be
community based , city-wide, national or international.

NGO for the Backward Class

NGOs for the backward class, like the government organisations , function both in state level &
national level and they investigate the conditions and the difficulties faced by the socially and
educationally backward classes and takes appropriate measures to help them overcome these
challenges. Even they focus on domains like free education, scholarships , providing equipments
at nominal rates , job oriented training etc along with other concessions and incentives to ensure
the upliftment of these people.

These NGOs can function with a charitable orientation with its activities directed toward
meeting the needs of the poor people like ‘Akshayapathra’ whose mission is to ensure that no
child who is at a disadvantage specially from backward class is deprived of education because of
hunger. Service oriented NGOs provide provisions such as health, family planning or education
services in which the programme is designed by the NGO and people are expected to participate
in its implementation and in receiving the service. Smile foundation’s ‘Mission Education’ is
one such programme providing preschool , informal & remedial education along with bridge
courses for kids belonging to these weaker sections. NGOs for OBCs with a participatory
orientation is characterized by self-help projects where people are involved particularly in the
implementation of a project by contributing cash, tools, land, materials, labour etc. Almost all
organizations with private funding for example CRY (Child rights and you) aiming to ensure
fundamental rights of underpriviledged children ‘UDAAN India’ etc work with a participatory
orientation. If it is functioning with an Empowering orientation it aims to helps the poor
backward class develop a clearer understanding of the social, political and economic factors
affecting their lives, and to strengthen their awareness of their own potential power to control
their lives .For example the ‘All India OBC employees in Indian Ordnance Factories welfare
association’ in Trichy working for the upliftment of downtrodden OBC function with an
empowering orientation.

NGOs for the backward class functioning with Governments Scheme of

Assistance
OBJECTIVES
The NGOs mainly gets involved to improve educational and socioeconomic conditions of the
target group i.e. BCs, using the schemes for free coaching provided by the government thereby
upgrading skill to enable them to start income generating activities on their own or to help them
find employment

TYPE OF ACTIVITIES COVERED

Ngos functioning with governments assistance equip the OBCs, by upgrading their skills to
enable them to start income generating activities either through self employment or
wage employment. The backward class are trained in activities like carpentry , computer
education , craft , ,Electrical training , Welding and fitting training , photography ,plumbing
,printing, composing and book binding automobile repairing ,Spinning and weaving ,typing and
shorthand ,dye training ,leather art ,electronic repair etc so that they can choose a profession in
the field of manual labour.They also provide concessions in education & healthcare , reservation
etc and other benefits.

Examples of such Organizations

Voluntary Health Services, VHS Hospital , is a multispecialty tertiary care referral hospital in
Tamil Nadu, serving the economically weaker sections of the society. The TANKER (Tamilnad
Kidney Research Foundation) aims to provide healthcare and financial assistance to those
underprivileged who have kidney problems of any kind, reversible or terminal but do not have
the wherewithal to seek medical attention.

NGOs for Backward Class functioning with private funding

 Functions
NGOs functioning for the welfare of Backward class without governments assistance have to
get support, funding, financial help and donation from private organizations and donors to
execute, implement & accomplishment their aims, spread awareness through campaigns and
targets they desire to fulfill. To get funding and other support, these NGOs have to submit
project proposals according to requirement and guidelines of donor agency, support groups or
funding agency. Projects for funding are submitted in a such a frame work that explain the
issues, needs and requirements of the plan, why the need of fund and support is and the way
how the NGO and its beneficiaries will implement it.

Objectives
NGO for backward class have to explain the requirement of the backward class community for
whose betterment and upliftment they are working (like education facilities , employment
opportunities , subsidized commodities, money) for winning sponsorship from contributors
and donor. More clearly in projects proposal they have to explain, describe, clarify, define,
illustrate and justify information regarding issues, problems, requirement to fulfill and has to
explain for the problems, objectives, purpose, plan, motive, justified reasons and requirements
to get funds for betterment and to improve and promote the beneficiaries for resolving,
achieving and implementing the plan through campaigns and awareness programmes to
mobilize people.

EXAMPLES of such organizations

The Dalit Foundation, an NGO, is a grant-making institution working for the empowerment of
Dalit communities with an aim to build the capacity of its partners order to execute effective
grassroots level interventions.The Foundation supports individuals, community-based
organisations, and networks that work to secure social change and protect the rights of Dalit by
providing small grants and fellowships towards strengthening the Dalit Movement and
nurturing future leaders for the movement.The Dalit Foundation pursues the world's most
important value - equality - and works to end the injustice of caste discrimination. By so
doing, the Foundation works for the whole of humankind
 Backward Classes

Other
Scheduled Schedule
Backward
Castes Tribes
Classes

Scheduled Castes
Scheduled Castes The title of ‘scheduled caste’ was given by the Simon Commission in
1927. Before independence, the SCs were given various names, Dr. Ambedkar termed
them as depressed class – referred to those classes or categories of person who were poor
and exploited, and socially and ritually degraded. Gandhiji called them as Harijans – the
children of God. But since the enactment of the Government of India Act, 1935, they
have been generally referred to as ‘scheduled castes’. They are also referred to as ‘dalits’.
After independence, the Constitution of India specified the social groups which were to
be treated as SCs by the Government of India and States. The caste system, which has
existed for more than 3000 years in India, is a traditional system of social segregation,
which works on the principle of purity and pollution. The Dalits are placed at the bottom
of this hierarchical ladder

Who Is A Dalit?
The word ‘Dalit’, in Sanskrit, means “oppressed” or “downtrodden”. In Marathi, the
language in which the word was first used for social and political mobilization by the
‘untouchable’ communities means “broken” or “broken to pieces”.

Dalits are placed at the lowest rung of the caste hierarchy, based on ritual purity and
occupation.The Constitution of India classifies Dalits as Scheduled Castes. According to
the census figures of 2011, they constitute 16.6% (201.4 million, up from 166.6 million
 in 2001) of India’s population. Of this population, about 80% live in rural areas spread all
over the country.

The practice of untouchability and social discrimination is a basic violation of civil rights,
prohibiting SCs from using public water bodies like wells, water taps, temples, tea stalls,
restaurants, community baths, road and other facilities.To fight against these atrocities is
the right of all dalits. Therefore, a dalit movement comprising of grassroots initiatives,
community leaders and every individual who believes in equality, need to put up a united
stand to be able to put a STOP to any more human right violations.

1. Dalit Foundation (Ahmedabad district

Gujarat)
 Dalit Foundation is a non-government organization, working for the
empowerment of Dalit communities. Established in June 2003, the
Foundation’s mission, vision and programme objectives focus exclusively
on empowerment of Dalit communities.

Serial Topic
number
1 Mission Equality, dignity and rights

2 Vision We envision a society in South Asia where Dalit communities,

especially women, live with dignity and have equal opportunity,
and social and economic justice.

3 Focus The foundation focuses on areas, especially in northen India,

where Dalit concerns need to be addressed. It seeks to support
new initiatives led by Dalits in neglected areas, while
strengthening existing movements and groups.
4 Objectives
 Eradicate untouchability, social discrimination and
caste-based atrocities, with emphasis on Dalit
women.
 Provide support for livelihood-minimum wages,
education, health, housing and insurance for
laborers in the unorganized sector.
  Rights over land, water bodies, villages, forests
and other means of production.
 Create public understanding and favorable public
opinion.
 The foundation supports voluntary organizations to
access government programs and resources.

There Important Work:

1. SENIOR DALIT ACTIVIST (SDA) PROGRAMME
The SDA programme was launched in 2011 with the objective of developing Dalit
leaders who work at the grassroots level and directly impact the community in
their area. These SDAs develop the organizing ability, skills, and perspective of
local organizations and grassroots activists and work in collaboration with them to
create tangible grassroots change and initiatives for effective impact in their
communities.

2. CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES

Leadership Training for Dalit Women:In order to enhance Dalit women leadership
women partners are provided training on leadership, Dalit feminism and importance of
women in the Dalit Movement. Women fellows are also trained in basic organizational
requirement.
Legal-Aid Training Workshop: The Legal-Aid workshops are Dalit Foundation’s
attempt to build the legal capacities of our fellows and grantees. Training on Dalit human
rights filing of RTIs Prevention of Atrocities on SC/ST Act 1989 and Rules 1995, and
Domestic Violence Act is facilitated by legal experts and human rights activists.

3. GROUP SCHOLARSHIPS
 Dalit Foundation provides group scholarships to individuals working among all
the marginalized communities including Dalits in India. The informal group of
four persons having the religious, gender and social diversity adopt to a common
minimum program which includes combating caste discrimination and
untouchability in public schools and the local self-governments. The fellows
organize youth and women across castes to ensure that such organization can
combat caste and gender prejudices and practices. The fellows also work with
the children of all poor communities to ensure quality education.

4. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
The Foundation focuses on those states/areas of India, where Dalit concerns need to be
addressed urgently. Since the approach to Dalit issues in the southern sector is more
organised, Dalit Foundation is giving more emphasis to the northern sector. The major
thrust is on support to new and nascent initiatives in neglected areas while strengthening
existing movements and groups.
2. Dalit Solidarity
 Dalit Solidarity, was established as a charitable and tax-exempt
organization in 2000 to promote equality and justice for Dalits who have
been marginalised and segregated for centuries under the shadow of Caste
oppression in the sub-continent of India. Even today, at the dawn of twenty
first century when India has become a super power, the pain of
untouchablity is strongly felt as ever before by more than three hundred
million dalits. Although some dalits have achieved success in getting
political, economical and social status, still majority of dalits live in
extreme poverty and continue to go through severe discrimination in all
walks of life. For the past 16 years, Dalit Solidarity has worked steadily to
provide India’s Dalits with the tools they need to make better lives for
themselves and their families.
 Approximately 25% of India's 1.1 billion people are Dalits. Most Dalits live
in severe poverty, earning less than $0.50 a day. Dalit Solidarity, together
with its sister Indian charitable organization, Community Care Trust,
provides Dalits with opportunities for education, healthcare, employment
training, social development and housing.
There work is about access, opportunity and empowerment.

ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE

Dalit Solidarity provides quality health care for over 1500 patients each month. We also
operate a First Responder Program to provide first aid in the villages. Our Village Health
Program (“VHP”) provides community health care for over 36 villages in the Villupuram
District.
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALITY EDUCATION
Most of the adults in our villages have no more than a sixth grade education. We are
working hard to ensure that all Dalit children finish high school, and have the opportunity
for further studies.

 Dalit Leadership Academy-We are now providing a year of intensive training in

academics, communications and leadership skills to help students succeed in
secondary school.
 Scholarship Program
 Community College Program

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Dalit Solidarity strives to empower the poorest members of Indian society, particularly
the women and especially the widows, by providing them with new economic
opportunities.

 Sprouts (Widows’ Program)

 Dairy Cow Project
 Homebuilding Project
Dalitsangh (Madhya Pradesh)

Dalit Adhikar Abhiyan- project

Under Dalit Adhikar Abhiyan program various activities with the sole objective of
securing equality among the all as per the constitution in society. Hoshangabad and
Harda district’s 150 villages are undertaken with the assistance of Action Aid. Key
initiatives under the program are – Dalit Rights, Women Rights, Child Rights and Land
Rights issues for Dalit community and creating an amicable environment by using
administrative and legal tools as well as ushering in a mindset change for securing entries
of Dalit people to public places with constitutional guarantee of dignity. A dedicated
cadre base is formed which functions as an animator to make sure that the rights of the
downtrodden communities are not violated.

Aims of the Program are:

Key Activities in the Program – Awareness Campaigns, Workshops, Seminars, Fact-

Finding & Documentation, organize rallies to express solidarity and unity of the
community people on different levels from village to State. The Dalit Adhikar Abhiyan is
state-wide campaign and our organization is a key partner in it. The program intervene
land right initiative under Women and Land Right in rural areas.
Main thrust in women and children’s security, protection and development in the
program in Dalit Community. we organize various(Health, enrollment, recreational)
camps, at villages to sensitize children through various activities like Games, Poetry,
Songs, and open debate competitions, special classes for leadership development
workshops, exposure visits etc. We organize various activities for Women’s like :
Training, Workshops, Seminars and Public Hearing on Domestic Violence Act 2005,
Law & Legal Remedies for community, Adolescent Health, National Rural employment
Guarantee Act. and on various welfare schemes, legislation and Public Hearing also.

Key Achievements Under the program is :-

 Under Nirmal Bharat Scheme 29 families benefited.

 Under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 267 Families benefited.
 Under various Housing Schemes 23 families benefited.
 Under Economic Rehabilitation theme for person with disability 15 women
benefited.
 Drinking Water Accessibility fluent to 29 Dalit community areas by hand pumps.

Schedule Tribes:
The term ‘tribe’ has always been on abstract grounds and lacked clarity. Of course, some
superficial and empirical characteristics are employed to arrive to the result. However,
deeper studies pointed out that defining a tribe with precision in India is particularly
difficult, given the high degree of social and ethnic diversity that exists in the country and
due to frequent interaction between the tribal and non-tribal echelons. It is difficult to list
the ethnic features that are common to all Indian tribes since India’s tribal world exhibits
a high degree of diversity. After independence, however, the Commission for Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes listed common features which tribes shared among
themselves.

These features were: Tribes live away from the civilized world in the inaccessible part
lying in the forest hills; Tribes belong to one of the three stocks – Negrito, Australoid or
Mongoloid; The members of a tribe speak the common dialect; Tribes practice primitive
religion known as animism in which they worship ghosts and spirits; Tribes follow
primitive occupations such as hunting and food gathering;

However, not all tribes in India share the above features. In fact, it is extremely difficult
to find a tribe with all above features. There are significant social and cultural differences
that exist among the tribal people in India. Thus, it is difficult to specify the exact
features of a tribal society. After independence, the Constitution of India specified the
social groups which were to be treated as STs by the Government of India and States.
The Constitution does not define the scheduled castes by itself, but empowers the
President of India to identify as per each state or region. Those STs which were
educationally and socially more backward and nearly isolated, surviving at pre-
agricultural level, and had a declining or nearly constant population, were placed
separately in a list of primitive tribes. There are 75 such communities in India. Some
examples are Jarwa, Onge, Great Andamanese and Sentinel of Andaman Island.

Ananda Foundation

The foundation primarily support projects and helps NGOs who work with the vulnerable
populations. They partner with local NGOS and work towards the upliftment of the
marginalized sections of the society by providing nonprofit funds.

Empowering the Inferior and Irular Tribal Community

(Snake Snatchers) to Sustainable Livelihood
 The project provides seed capital for self help groups for income
generation projects spinning rope and handicrafts from coir—(fibers from
the husks of coconuts). Coconuts are found in abundance in village
communities and are a natural resource that can be used to create many
types of products.
 Located about forty-eight kilometers from the temple city of Madurai, this
project is in Manamadura, here Ananda Foundation’s partnership with the
local NGO- SERD is to serve the poor Irular community.
 People of the Irular community are traditional rat and snake catchers. The
tribals of "Irulas" have been practicing this art for generations. With the
help of a simple stick they catch the snakes from the fields or houses,they
used to get money by selling snakes and venom, Street performances were
also a good source of income but now in India because of the enforcement
of strict wildlife laws such a profession is no longer visible .
 Displaced from the forest area and being unable to continue their
profession in the open, they have come down to the villages and occupied
Government wasteland.

 SERD has adopted four such settlements near Manamadurai with Ananda
Foundation’s support.
  Since they do not have any land there is no option to switch over to
agriculture. Learning an alternate skill is the only option left. They are
willing to learn a new skill if someone is there to show them the way.
 NGO Partner: Social Education for Rural Development
 # Of Beneficiaries: 212 families in four settlements with a total population
of around 800 people
 Timeframe: This is a multi-year project

Health Outreach for Isolated Tribal Community in

Jamunamathoor Block, Tiruvannamalai District

 This project aims to provide basic health treatment using natural Siddha medicine
to Tribal Communities.
 Area of Concern-Chengam is a town in Tiruvanamalai district in the state of Tamil
Nadu. As of 2001 India census, Chengam had a population of 23,200. PET
submitted a proposal to Ananda Foundation to initiate a basic needs health
outreach in remote tribal villages. Six villages are covered under this project; four
of them are tribal villages in the basement of Jawadu hills where the majority of
the population are scheduled tribes. Lack of a health care facility or clinic is the
major problem for the villagers. They have to travel 12-25 kilometers from their
villages.PET decided to start a program of indigenous medicine (Siddha) in the
villages.
 Target Population-The target populations are tribal people from four villages and
scheduled castes from two villages comprising of a total population of 12,500.
People from neighboring hamlets are also included.People in the project villages
are living on agriculture. The target population is landless laborers. Collection and
sale of forest goods is the main source of income for some families in the tribal
community.
 Project provides-1.health education to the tribal and poor population,2.motivate
people to use locally available herbal medicines for simple ailments3.ensure
quality health services through herbal treatment and referral services 4.educate
women on first aid and preventive measures 5.To supply herbal medicines to the
villagers at affordable cost.
 Project Activities-Volunteers from the target villages are trained in basic health
care and treatment. They will be out in the field with the people for treatment of
small illnesses and for referral services. Project activities include the following.
 NGO Partner: Paramedical Education Trust
 # Of Beneficiaries: 12,500 people in rural villages
Samadhan
Samadhan is an Independent, Non- Governmental, Non- Profit, Non- Violence, secular
organization to ensure the practical realization of Human rights.

Samata Andhra Pradesh

Samata is an non-governmental organization that focuses on advocacy and development
issues among tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh. Samata helps tribal groups address
problems of land alienation, displacement, and political dis-empowerment. Its mission is
to uphold the traditional, constitutional, and human rights of the tribal or adivasi people.
Activities

1. Advocacy on Tribal Issues

Protection of Constitutional rights of the tribals. Support to tribal community struggles

for protection of their rights against the proposed bauxite and other mining activities in
tribal and forest lands. Campaign against large-scale displacement of tribal people for
proposed irrigation projects. Monitor public policies relating to tribal people and dialogue
with government.

2. Strengthening Tribal Self Rule and Decentralized Governance

Realization of the goal of Tribal Self Rule through promoting decentralized governance
institutions like the Gram Sabhas (village councils).Training tribal women to take
leadership in governance institutions and in community struggles.

3. Development Support

Education: Support in setting up primary level community schools and dialogue with
government to fulfill its mandate of universal primary education. Develop tribal
contextual curriculum and promote tribal culture through education. Explore resources to
support higher education for meritorious tribal students

Health: Training of Community Health Workers and promotion of traditional health

knowledge systems. Coordinate with local health departments and advocacy on tribal
health policies. Social health counseling for tribal girls

Projects of Samata
Within a larger development context, Samata explored ways of creating holistic
approaches to supporting tribal groups struggling for land rights, environmental
protection, and a responsive democracy. Samata's action took the form of grassroots
campaigns to address the problems and issues facing tribal groups. These campaigns
included:

 Building up micro credit networks among tribal women.

 Encouraging alternative development systems and local democratic institutions to
avoid future economic exploitations and deprivations. This led to the creation of
business associations and cooperatives, grain banks, property protection groups,
health centers, and water-user associations.
 Constructing community managed primary education centers to meet the growing
demand for education among tribal groups at the village level.
 Resolving forest conflicts, attaining recognition of forest settlements, and forming
Vana Samrakshana Samithis (forest protection committees under the World Bank-
aided forestry project).
 Using alternative technology development systems. These systems combine the
traditional knowledge of tribal groups with low-cost modern technologies for safe
drinking water, environmentally friendly irrigation, electricity, housing and land
development projects.
 Promoting eco-tourism.
 Setting up a micro-hydel project as a model in an interior tribal area as alternate
source of energy generation in the hills.

Participatory Action & Learning Methodologies (PALM 2)

Participatory Action & Learning Methodologies (PALM 2) is a Non Governmental
Organization registered in Gudalur taluk, the Nilgris district, Tamil Nadu state of South
India. One of the main activities of the Ngo is Tribal development .The tribal
communities are not integrated with other communities and still have strong traditions
and cultural behaviors.
The tribals in target area make a living mainly from the minor forest produce. This is
often seasonal and channeled through the Forest Department.Palm2 forms village
development committees to identify possibilities for a better income through government
schemes.
Other activites are - Establishment of Preschool; Formation of village development
training; training on gender/ health issues; income generation programme. Linking govt
schemes,etc

PROJECTS
examples of projects are :
1.Solarlamps in tribal village Kodamoola, Gudalur
In the village there was no electricity in the evening so very dark and people were
dependent oil lamps. PALM 2 is distributed 84 pieces of solar lamps and now all the
roofs of the houses with brightness. Security is also important, People feel easier to work
with more lamps even in the darkness E.g food preparation, homework, children’s studies
and village gathering. The lamp is very easy to carry and when is needed. A great
successful project which has brought a lasting and integrated change in the lifestyle of
villagers especially the elderly women and many children!
2.Summer Camp
To increase the capacity and knowledge of children of 5 – 15 years old in 11 tribal
villages to develop their talents and make them acquainted with many skills and with
outside communities, to achieve a feeling of self worthiness..
Summer camp in Thekkupadi-Mudumalai tribal village- Creative thinking and drawing
Workshop.
3. Pre Schools
In the game reserve : Mudumalai a tribal pre school is now running.
4.Minor Forest produce
income from animalhusbandry
The tribal communities in the Thalavadi target area have been living from the forest
products for ages. They collect amla, tamarind, broom grass, medicinal tubers, gums,
fibres and tree seeds and sell it through a distribution network of private middlemen.
Financial support is requested by PALM 2 for additional infrastructure development for
the processing of amla, tamarind and honey and the related training programs .
Food processing and value addition
Based on their requirements, the PALM 2 has organized a training programs in the
production of pickles, masala powders, tomato products etc. At least 20 women are
producing masala powders on a regular basis, both in Thalavadi and in the Gudalur Block
and sell it to the nearby shops. Additional income comes from packing ragi, pulses and
maize products, which is sold to the local shops with a good profit.
Other Backward Classes
The term ‘backward classes’, as originally used around 1919 by political leaders, referred
to a section of population which was backward in a socio-economic sense. It did not limit
itself to the matrix of caste. The term ‘backward classes’ encompassed the depressed
classes, the aboriginal tribes and other backward classes (OBCs). Even the Constitution is
not clear about the OBCs. While the constitution clearly says that special provisions must
be made for the SCs and STs, it does not mention the OBCs. It only refers to “social and
educationally backward classes of citizens, in addition to the scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes”. However, Article 16 in the constitution says, “nothing in this article
shall prevent parliament from making any provision for the reservation of appointments
or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which in the opinion of the state is
not adequately represented in the service under the state”. It is important to note that the
state is permitted to make provision for the socially and educationally backward classes
of citizens. As SCs and STs are listed in separate categories, identifying backwardness
purely on the basis of caste or Hindu religion was unjustifiable as groups could be
backward in nonHindu and intermediate caste communities too.

Muslim Seva
 Muslim Seva is an NGO formed by like minded social workers in Hyderabad
belonging to different walks of life working for the welfare of Weaker Sections
and Deprived Communities.

 They are Mobilizing Job Oriented Technical Training for backward classes in
education, employment. They have provided Training and placed the Unemployed
Youth to different renowned Home Appliances Companies of India.

 Empowering women of Economically backward Classes helping them and

providing training and guidance to Self Employment. Guide them to Avail
Schemes of the Government as well as Marriage Schemes.

 To guide and help the people get benefits of various Government Schemes for the
welfare of backward Classes of Society.
Centre for Coaching and Career Planning-Jamia Millia Islamia
University
The idea of starting a scheme of coaching classes for Minorities was conveyed by the
University Grants Commission in pursuance of the Government’s policy of bringing
educationally backward minorities on par with the rest of the society and to make them
participate fully in the activities of national development. Accordingly, in 1984, the
University Grants Commission formulated a scheme regarding coaching classes for
competitive examinations for students belonging to weaker sections amongst
educationally backward minority communities.

In order to meet the objectives as defined above and in pursuance of its mandate, the
Centre for Coaching and Career Planning runs free coaching programmes for aspirants
belonging to SC, ST, Women and Minority communities who wish to prepare themselves
and compete for a variety of jobs, both academic and administrative, as also to pursue
courses of studies in the areas of their choice. The funding for the Centre is available
from the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government
of India.
NGOs IN TAMIL NADU FOR BACKWARD CLASSES:
NGOs in Tamil Nadu have been actively working for genuine social
development programmes and welfare activities of urban and rural communities. Some of
the NGO schemes in Tamil Nadu are

1. Tamil Nadu scheduled tribes social development association.

2. Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar housing and development corporation
3. Centre for tribals and rural development, Nilgiris.
4. Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation Limited.

TAMILNADU SCHEDULED TRIBES SOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION:
Tamil Nadu scheduled tribes social development association is
located in Tiruvannamalai Tamil Nadu. It is registered as a society at Chennai with NGO
registration ID ‘TN/2013/0069401’ The NGO registration was done by Registrar of
Societies on the date of 1999 January 19th. Its major achievements are Tribal people socio
economic development in education, total sanitation, self reliance, health self
development and self employment.

TAMIL NADU ADI DRAVIDAR HOUSING AND

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION:
In order to improve the living conditions of scheduled castes/
scheduled tribes and improving human skills, TAHDCO provides financial assistance to
both the programmes. The importance of this charter is to educate the scheduled castes
and scheduled tribes and to know the officers to be approached for assistance.

District level workshops are also being held in all districts, as a

consultative forum, to evolve localized strategies and plan for the economic development
of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes. TAHDCO’s Head Office provides assistance to
SC/STs for high employability Vocational training programmes in reputed/ popular state/
Central institutions at Chennai for the residents living all over Tamil Nadu. TAHDCO
acts as a state Channelizing Agency in implementing the national schemes of the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment The schemes are:
 1. National scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation
scheme.
2. National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation
scheme.
3. National Safari Karamacharis Finance and Development Corporation.
4. National Schemes for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers and
Dependents scheme.

CENTRE FOR TRIBALS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT,

NILGIRIS:
Centre for Tribals and Rural Development was established with the
missions of empowering the tribal communities to stand on par with others, be a part of
the nation and contribute to its progress. Some of its objectives include creating
educational facilities to all the tribals, providing a comprehensive health care system,
creating personal as well as community asset, assisting the tribals to be self sufficient,
etc. The purpose of CTRD is rural development and to concentrate on tribal issues.
TAMIL NADU MINORITIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION LIMITED:
The object of Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development
Corporation Limited is to provide loans for the economically and financially viable
schemes, trade or project to the individuals, Groups, Societies, belonging to the minority
communities at lower interest rates for their economic upliftment. It was registered at
Registrar of companies Chennai on 31st August, 1999 and is categorised as company
limited by shares and a state government company. It is involved in in Community,
Personal and social services activity.

Social Welfare in CORPORATE SECTOR

Social work has evolved from a profession focusing on people living in poverty to one offering
counselling, medical health-related services , educational and other settings and in nonprofit and
private-practice settings. But now there is a new emerging trend of social work moving into
corporate sectors.
Today workers expects corporations to be socially responsible because people are not just
looking for a product or service but are also pay attention to how companies contribute to the
greater good in society and in their employees’ lives.Thus communities expect corporations to
give back in some way, and the corporate social responsibility helps companies be successful.

The term “corporate social responsibility” has been coined to define the responsibility of
enterprises for their impacts on society how companies behave in social, environmental, and
ethical contexts. CSR is a management concept whereby companies integrate social and
environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders. It is
generally understood as being the way through which a company achieves a balance of
economic, environmental and social imperatives (“Triple-Bottom-Line- Approach”), while at the
same time addressing the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders. This can be both a
strategic business management concept, and at the same time a charity, sponsorships or
philanthropy. Even though the latter can also make a valuable contribution to poverty reduction,
will directly enhance the reputation of a company and strengthen its brand. The corporate sector
mainly engage in Community involvement (which includes raising money for charities,
providing volunteers, sponsoring events, supporting local economic growth, engaging in fair
trade practices, etc) along with other initiatives like environment sustainability and ethical
marketing.

Corporate sector companies involved in upliftment of the Backward

classes
 Aditya Birla Group Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development

Birla Group which is an Indian multinational conglomerate actively contribute to the social and
economic development of backward communities to build a better sustainable way of life for
these weaker sections of the society helping them to be independent.They help backward
communities grappling with the "quality of life" challenges that they face, and work towards
making a meaningful difference to them. They mainly focus on 5 areas for the upliftment of
backward class which is mentioned below.

1. Education

 Formal and non-formal education, adult education

 Scholarships for girls, merit scholarships and technical education for boys
 Distance education
 Girl child education
 Digital literacy / computer education

2. Health care and family welfare

  Pulse polio programme
 Health care centres and hospitals
 Mobile clinics — doctors' visits
 General and multispeciality medical camps, cleft lips
 Reproductive and child health care, supplementary nutrition / mid-day meal projects
 Safe drinking water, sanitation — household toilets, community hospitals
 HIV / AIDS, cancer, TB awareness and prevention camps
 Blood donation
 Responsible parenting

3. Social causes

 Widow re-marriage / dowry-less mass marriages

 Social security (insurance)
 Culture and sports
 Women empowerment

4. Infrastructure development

 Community centres
 Schools in villages
 Roads
 Homes for the homeless
 Rural electrification
 Irrigation and water storage structures

5. Sustainable livelihood

 Self-help groups (microfinance for women and farmers)

 Integrated agriculture development
 Integrated livestock development
 Watershed management
 Microenterprise development
 Skill development / vocational training through Aditya Birla Technology Park for
integrated training programme and VT centres

 Mahindra & Mahindra

M&M which is an Indian multinational automobile manufacturing corporation focus on the

upliftment of girl child, youth and farmers belonging to the backward sections of society
through programmes in the domains of education, public health and environment. Scholarships
& grants provided promoting education, including special education and employment enhancing
vocation skills and livelihood enhancement projects enable students to overcome financial
challenges and fulfil their educational dreams . Mahindra Pride Schools provide livelihood
training to youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backward communities to enable
them to get lucrative jobs based on the skills learnt. In support of prime ministers appeal for
clean India , they have built toilets for girls in government schools as a part of Swatch Bharat
Swatch Vidyalaya programme. Project Nahni Kali supports the education of Backward class
under privileged girls from tribal communities providing material and academic support thereby
increasing the enrolment of girls and decreasing the dropout rates. They have partnered with the
Impact India foundation to sponsor the Lifeline Express which provides backward communities
in remote rural areas access to health care by eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition, and
by providing preventive health care &sanitation and making available safe drinking water.
Vardha Farmer & Family and Krishi Mitr project supports small marginal farmers by training
them in effective farming practises. Promoting gender equality, empowering women, setting up
homes and hostels for women and orphans, setting up old age homes, day care centres and such
other facilities for senior citizens etc are other benefits provided at nominal rate for the OBC.
Apart from all these activities , they also contribute to any fund set up by the central government
for socioeconomic development & relief of Schedule cast, schedule tribe and other backward
classes. All these measures help to reduce the inequality faced by socially and educationally
backward class.

 Larsen & Toubro

L&T which is an Indian multi-national conglomerate with business interests in
engineering, construction, manufacturing goods, information technology, and financial
services aim to transform the lives of the underprivileged backward class by addressing
the most pressing needs – water, sanitation, education, health and skill-building.

Water & Sanitation: Since many people belonging to the backward class mainly live in villages
in India struggling for water and sanitation , the unavailability of safe drinking water leads to
increase morbidity and mortality rates and impacts educational attainments, migration and
livelihood opportunities The Integrated Community Development Programme has been
launched, which focuses on holistic development in water and sanitation, education, health and
Skill-development based on need-assessment. They work towards enabling water-stressed rural
communities to be self-sufficient in water for drinking, sanitation and agriculture. In drought-
prone agricultural areas, check dams have been built to ensure water supply during the dry
months.. Drinking water facilities in schools and public places enable people to be Well-
hydrated. Many girls drop out of school due to the lack of toilets, so building toilets in girls’
schools contributes to female literacy. By helping meet the basic need for water and sanitation,
thus they lay the foundation for progress and development of OBC’s.

Education : Their social interventions covering educational initiatives for the backward class
focus on providing education, developing infrastructure and enhancing the learning experience.
Enriching education through innovative learning methodologies , building and repairing
municipal schools , conducting after-hours Single Teacher schools, setting up computer
laboratories, providing teaching aids, distribution of colourful school kits etc are some of its
programmes. Infusing joy into learning through creative means like Science-on-Wheels van
visits, giving children the opportunity to experience the thrill of hands on experiments ,summer
camps and sports activities help pupils develop social skills. Extra-curricular outings organized
help widen children’s horizons.

Healthcare : To help the economically-weaker sections stay healthy despite the high cost of
healthcare, L&T has launched affordable health and welfare initiatives. They conduct diagnostic
and clinical camps and programmes that support maternal and child healthcare, immunisation
and health education. Rural health camps , regular health check-up camps in schools , artificial
kidney dialysis centres , AIDS management initiatives like awareness camps, Anti-Retroviral
Therapy, counselling and testing etc set up for the underprivileged are some of its initiatives.

Skill Building : To help the backward class minorities with limited schooling elevate their social
standing to make them self sufficient and to help them support themselves, L&T has set up
vocational institutes and has programmes that impart skills in several trades to enhance the
employability of underprivileged youth. Their Construction Skills Training Institutes impart free
training to rural and urban youth in basic construction trades. To empower underprivileged
women, they organise vocational training programmes in the areas of tailoring, beautician skills,
home nursing and food processing

Voluntary Service: L&T employees contribute their time and skills for the benefit of the
underprivileged by getting involved in social causes like teaching English and Maths to children
at community learning centres , mentoring them and encouraging them to realise their potential
despite the odds. Volunteering activities also include educational trips and creativity workshops ,
blood donations and community health camps , marathons and melas supporting various causes
etc.

 Gail India Ltd

GAIL, a natural gas processing and distribution company believes that corporate responsibilities
go beyond the financial, to non-financial areas such as community development and nation
building contribute to Community improvement. They support solutions for rural development,
uplifting the backward class and reducing socio-economic disparities. They have set aside 1% of
the company's net Profit after Tax of the previous financial year to CSR programmes. Their
social welfare programmes come under the Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan
(TCP) of the Government of India. GAIL is one of the few companies that has fulfilled the
reservation target for employment to Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribe and OBC.

They enact efficient measures to help empower India's minorities in areas of Health Care
(provide eye surgeries with implant , Hi-Tech Ambulance for Accident Relief, mobile health van
in villages, free distribution of medicine, development of medical appliances, medical scheme
for Sr. citizens ,contribution to the Leprosy Mission Trust)Empowerment
(self-employment through distribution of sewing machines, empowerment through Fishery,
Poultry, Dairy & Mushroom Farming, Tailoring, Candle Making etc , self Income generation
through stitching and tailoring for women ,Vocational training in Carpentry, Electrician
Trades , providing vocational / Industrial Training for meritorious youth , rehabilitation of
war widows through vocational training ,financial assistance to Hearing Impaired children &
bus for transportation of these children) Infrastructure(contribution for upgradation of
 schools and hospitals , construction of roads,platform shed and waiting room ,class rooms ,
halls for conducting work shops & training programmes ,Sports Stadium) Community
Development (books & furniture for library ,vehicle to school ,construction of community
hall, financial assistance to foundation for delivery and service of mid day meals , adopt-a-
Gran programme for the adoption of destitute and poor senior citizens) Educational Aid
(Construction of class rooms , furniture for School ,repair and Maintenance of school ,
construction of residential hostel ,teaching aids / materials for upliftment , renovation and
construction of school building and toilet blocks for poor students of tribal areas ,furniture,
electrical appliances and lab instruments ,contribution for Mobile Computer Aided Learning
Centre) and Sanitation (Drinking water facility by providing bore wells ,maintenance of
pumps, filters, tubes, pipe network , installation of hand pumps and water Tanks ,Organizing
cleanliness and sanitation drive , installation of aqua guards and extension of drinking water
pipeline )

 Hindustan Unilever Limited

HUL which is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company is an organization
committed to operate and grow its business in a socially responsible way. Its vision is to
grow our business whilst increasing positive social impact.Its activities for the backward
class mainly work in providing education and health services and to put an end to hunger
& malnutrition

Project Shakti promotes education, including special education and employment

enhancing vocation skills and livelihood enhancement projects which acts as a means of
financial empowerment.It is mainly an initiative to financially empower rural women and create
livelihood opportunities for them by helping them to develop an entrepreneurial mindset which
makes them earn a stable income and to feel more empowered.

The programme Swachh Aadat Swachh Bharat & Domex Toilet Academy (DTA) launched
aims to eradicate hunger, poverty and malnutrition and to promote health care including
preventive health care and sanitation .Their 3 main goals are to popularise among the OBCs the
adoption of 3 clean habits of wash hands before meals and after defecation, adopt safe drinking
water practices stop open defecation. For this proper sanitation facilities are created and
awareness is created about behavior change on improved sanitation. FAL Foundation promotes
education, including special education and employment enhancing vocation skills among
minorities through scholarships. Prabhat & Sanjivini are Rural development projects promoting
preventive health care by running free mobile medical service camps equipped with basic kits
such as diagnostic kit, medicines and a mobile stretcher.Unilever partners the World Food
Programme and launched the Together for Child Vitality initiative to bring our expertise in
nutrition to children belonging to backward class from poor socio economic status in order to
create a world where everyone has enough food to eat and no child goes to bed hungry. Their
relief funds also contribute to socio-economic development , relief and welfare of the Scheduled
Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes.
  National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) & National
Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)

Formed under Companies act , with the objective of promoting economic activities amongst the
backward sections of notified minorities, NMDFC and NBCFDC togather provides concessional
finance for self-employment activities to eligible beneficiaries belonging to the backward class
communities, having a family income below double the poverty line. To promote economic and
developmental activities for the benefit of "Backward Sections" ,promote self-employment and
other ventures for the benefits of Minorities, grant loans and advances, extend loans and
advances to members belonging to the Minorities for pursuing general/professional/technical
education or training at graduate and higher level and to assist the up-gradation of technical and
entrepreneurial skills of Minorities for proper and efficient management of production units the
organisation provides various lending and promotional schemes for the backward class.

The lending scheme includes i)Term loan schemes for commercially viable and technically
feasible venture, which are classified into the following sectors -Agriculture & allied, Technical
trades, Small business, Artisan and traditional occupations, Transport and services sector ii)
Educational Loan Scheme with an objective to facilitate job oriented education for the eligible
persons belonging to Minorities iii) Micro Financing Scheme providing micro-credit to the
poorest among the poor who are not able to take advantage of the formal banking credit iv)
Mahila Samridhi Yojana which has a unique scheme linking micro-credit with the training to the
women members to be formed in to SHGs, in the trades such as tailoring, cutting and
embroidery, etc

The Promotional Schemes include i)Vocational Training Schemes imparting skills to the targeted
individual beneficiaries leading to self/wage employment ii)Marketing Assistance Scheme meant
for individual crafts-persons to support and promote marketing & sale of their products at
remunerative prices. In these exhibitions, handloom / handicraft products of Minority crafts-
person are exhibited and sold.iii) Assistance for Design Development/Skill Up-gradation-For the
handloom & handicraft items, produced by the crafts-person to be in line with the latest designs
and aesthetics as well as competitive in terms of cost crafts-person require exposure to new
designs and training to upgrade their skills to meet this challenge. They organize such skill
development training programmes for their benefit.

NESTLE:
Nestle Philippines Incorporated is a large- scale, well-known international food
manufacturing corporation engaged in the manufacture of instant coffee, milk, and ready-
to-cook noodles. It was established in 1983 and is registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) and Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD). Currently, it has
497 employees and member of various organizations such as Mindanao Association for
Quality, Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Industries and Personnel Management Association
of the Philippines.

Nestle Philippines is committed to helping in community and nation building through

programs that help the underprivileged members of society. Agronomy Assistance Since
the 1960's, Nestle Philippines has been helping coffee farmers in different parts of the
country through imparting knowledge on how they can improve their crops. Members of
the company visit these farmers regularly to reinforce among them the importance of
good plantation management. By improving methods in growing coffee, farmers get
better yields and eventually help increase the coffee supply in the Philippines as well as
help the farmers increase their income.

The company has been very active in corporate social responsibility practice and puts
premium on programs on agriculture, education and manpower development, community
development, health and nutrition, and environmental protection and preservation

WIPRO:
Disadvantaged communities face several challenges and one that visits them at regular
frequency in a country is natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and cyclonic storms.
The already fragile basis of their livelihoods gets further disrupted in the wake of a
natural disaster. Since 2002, Wipro has responded in both monetary terms and in-kind to
several natural calamities wherein Wipro’s employees have also risen to the occasion and
played a sterling role. By design, it focuses on the more difficult challenge of long term
rehabilitation of the affected communities.

During 2014, Wipro initiated two disaster rehabilitation projects in Uttarakhand and
Odisha in response to the floods and cyclone events in 2013. In line with it’s approach,
both these projects focus on long term rehabilitation and strengthening of the affected
communities. In Uttarakhand, in collaboration with very credible local partners with a
long track record, multiple activities on strengthening local livelihoods were initiated. 20
village level farmer’s group have been formed with the objective of training them on
alternate methods of farming.8964 fruit saplings have been planted in farms belonging to
293 farmers while 236 beneficiaries have been identified for vegetable plantation.
Wipro’s work in Odisha touched the lives of 250 farmers and their families who were
provided fishing nets and awareness training around them, Village level Disaster
Committees were set up in 15 villages. The urban biodiversity program addresses the
twin goals of creating biodiversity in our urban campuses while also using it as a
platform for wider education and advocacy, Wipro’s first project of a unique Butterfly
Park in the Electronic City campus in Bangalore was initiated two years back and
completed in early 2014. In 2014-15 it progressed as per plan on the next phase of an
innovatively conceived wetland biodiversity zone that will use recycled water. In Pune
campus, the first phase has been completed with a tripling of the number of native species
from 59 to 167. Both these projects will serve a larger purpose of education on
biodiversity and the plan going forward is to link it with earthian program for schools on
sustainability education.

INDIAN OIL FOR COMMUNITY (CSR):

Indian Oil is country’s largest commercial enterprise and flagship national Oil Company.
It has privilege of being a corporation that provides petroleum products which are crucial
to turn the wheels of progress of nation. Indian Oil also understands the importance of
creating a benevolent social impact of its work and minimizing the adverse impact of
energy use on ecology. Indian Oil’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is guided by
its corporate vision of caring for environment and community. Indian Oil believes that
Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave
ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of
the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.

Indian Oil has been engaging in various activities to up-lift the conditions of the people
living in neighbourhood of its units/ installation since 1964. The core thrust areas of
Indian Oil Sustainability & CSR initiatives fall under Schedule VII to Companies Act,
2013. The activities are undertaken in vicinity of our business units and for stakeholders
in value chain of corporation’s business. Also, activities are undertaken in backward
areas, and for underprivileged sections of society, St/ SC/ OBCs and PWDs with sole
intention of nation building.

Sustainable development is the only way forward for growing economies like India and
Indian Oil, views this responsibility with utmost commitment. Though these initiatives
are not funded through CSR budget, but are supportive in development of communities at
large. Energy conservations are one of the major initiatives of corporation. It shall help in
redistribution of resources and providing a greener environment to the community.