3 pronged strategy of Constitution

The Constitution provides a framework with a three



pronged strategy to improve the situation of SCs and STs.

1. Protective Arrangements - Such measures as are required
to enforce equality, to provide punitive measures for
transgressions, to eliminate established practices that
perpetuate inequities, etc. A number of laws were
enacted to operationalize the provisions in the
Constitution. Examples of such laws include The
Untouchability Practices Act, 1955,
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atroc
, The Employment of Manual scavengers and
Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993,
etc.

 Continuation..

2) Compensatory Discrimination - provide positive

preferential treatment in allotment of jobs and
access to higher education, as a means to accelerate
the integration of the SCs and STs with mainstream
society. Compensatory discrimination is also
popularly referred to as Reservation.
3)Development - Provide for resources and benefits to
bridge the wide gap in social and economic
condition between the SCs/STs and other
communities.

 Educational grants

 Pre Metric Scholarship for children of those engaged in

Unclean occupation:
 Post metric Scholarship for SC /ST students:
 Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme:
 National Overseas Scholarship & Passage grants for Higher
education:
 Coaching & allied schemes for Weaker section including SCs,
STs, OBCs & Minorities
 Hostels for SC/ STs boys & girls:
 Detail of Constitutional provision for ST,SC,& OBC

Abolition of untouchability- Article-17 of the

Constitution.
Protection from social injustice & various forms of
exploitation.
Opening religious institutions like temples of public
character to all sections.
Removal of restrictions on access of shops, restaurants,
wells, tanks and roads giving them right to move
freely and acquire property.
Right of admission to educational institutions and
receiving grants out of the state funds.
 Continued..

States will make reservation for them in service and

academic institutes.
Special representation in Lok Sabha & State
Bidhan sabhas.
Separate departments and advisory council to
promote their welfare and safe guards their
interest.
Prohibition of forced labour.
Special provision for the administration & control of
scheduled areas.

 Reservation of ST/SC/ OBC

 Articles 330 to 342 of the Indian Constitution, 1950, granted

reservation rights to STs, SCs & OBC’s.
 Reservationin Indian Law is a form of affirmative action
whereby a percentage of seats are reserved in the
 public sector units,
 Union And State Civil Service
 Union and state government departments and
 in all public and private educational institutions, except in
the religious/ linguistic minority educational institutions,
for the socially and educationally backward classes of
citizens or Scheduled Castes and Tribes who were
inadequately represented in these services and
institutions.

 Proportion of Reservation

In central government funded higher education

institutions, 22.5% of available seats are reserved for
Scheduled Caste (Dalit) and Scheduled Tribe (Adivasi)
students (15% for SCs, 7.5% for STs).
This reservation percentage has been raised to 49.5%, by
including an additional 27% reservation for OBCs .
In AIIMS 14% of seats are reserved for SCs, 8% for STs. In
addition, SC/ST students with only 50% scores are
eligible
This ratio is followed even in Parliament and all elections
where few constituencies are earmarked for those from
certain communities, for eg. 79 constituencies for SC, 41
for ST constituencies in 2004.
 State wise differences

 In a few states like Tamil Nadu, the percentage of reservation

is 18% for SCs and 1% for STs, being based on local
demographics.
 In Andhra Pradesh, 25% of educational institutes and
government jobs for BCs, 15% for SCs, 6% for STs and 4%
for Muslims.
 Rajasthan have proposed a 68 % reservation which ironically
includes a 14% reservation for forward castes.
 Reservation in most states is capped at a maximum of 50%.
Development -
1. Abolition of Bonded Labour by passing Law
2.Organizing ‘Large Area Multipurpose Societies”
3.Integrated Tribal Development Programme.
4.Creation of Tribal Research Institute.
5.20 point programme for poverty alleviation.