DEPARTMENT OF BACKWARD CLASSES AND MOST BACKWARD CLASSES AND MINORITIES WELFARE

DISTRICT BACKWARDCLASSES AND MINORITIES WELFARE OFFICER, TENKASI

INTRODUCTION

Tamil Nadu has been in the forefront in striving for the welfare of the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities and Minorities. It proactively implements various schemes for their social upliftment, educational advancement and economic development. Further, schemes such as provision of loans through Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation and Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation for self-employment, supply of iron boxes and sewing machines for their economic development, issue of free house sites, sanction of pension to Ulemas, financial assistance for Jerusalem pilgrimage and facilitation and sanction of financial assistance to Haj pilgrimage are some of the schemes implemented by this Department.

BACKWARD CLASSES, MOST BACKWARD CLASSES AND MINORITIES WELFARE DEPARTMENT SCHEMES

1.Educational Scholarship Schmes

The Government implements three Scholarship schemes viz., Pre-matric, Post-matric and Free Education to enable the poor students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities to continue their education without interruption. The parental income ceiling for availing these scholarships is Rs. 2 lakh/annum.

2.Pre-matric scholarship

The Government has waived the payment of tuition fee and special fee to students studying in Tamil and English medium in Government and Government aided schools. The examination fee for 10th standard Tamil medium students has also been waived. Hence under the pre-matric scholarship scheme, examination fee for the Backward Classes students studying in 10th standard in English medium in Government and Government aided schools is reimbursed. This is subject to the condition that their annual parental income should not exceed Rs. 2 lakh. For Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities examination fee is reimbursed without any condition.

3.Post-matric scholarship

The Government has waived the payment of tuition fee and special fee to the students studying in Tamil and English medium in Government and Government aided schools. The examination fee for 11th and 12th standard Tamil medium students has also been waived. Hence under Post-matric scholarship scheme, examination fees for the Backward Classes students studying in 11th and 12th standard in English medium in Government and Government aided schools are being reimbursed. This is subject to the condition that their annual parental income should not exceed Rs. 2 lakh. For Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities students examination fee is reimbursed without any condition.

I.Scholarship to college students

Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities students studying ITI, Diploma in Polytechnics, Post Graduate, Professional and Ph.D. courses are sanctioned tuition fee and special fee as fixed for the Government educational institutions.

4.Denotified Communities Welfare Board

Denotified Communities welfare board has been formed by the Government for the social, educational and economic development of Denotified Communities.

5.Tamilnadu Narikoravar Welfare Board

Tamil Nadu Narikoravar Welfare Board” is functioning for providing education and assistance for alternative employment to Narikoravars and to provide various welfare assistances to them

6.TAMIL NADU VANNIYAKULA KSHATRIYA PUBLIC CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND ENDOWMENTS BOARD

In order to identify and co-ordinate with various charitable trusts endowed by Vanniyar philanthropists and to better fulfill the objectives 55 of the trusts, the Government has formed the Vanniyar Public Property Welfare Board.

7.Thanthai Periyar Award

social justice is being given by the Government to honour those who have made outstanding contribution for social justice. The award was instituted in the year 1994. The awardee is selected by the Hon’ble Chief Minister every year. The award carries a gold medal and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh.

8.INCENTIVE SCHEME FOR RURAL GIRL STUDENTS OF THE MOST BACKWARD CLASSES AND DENOTIFIED COMMUNITIES

In order to minimize the dropouts in primary schools which are quite common in rural areas because of poverty, particularly among the girl children belonging to the Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities and to encourage them to continue their studies, an incentive of Rs. 500 per year to the girl students studying in standards III to V and Rs. 1,000 per year to the girl students studying standard VI are given. The annual parental income ceiling for availing this benefit has been enhanced to Rs. 72,000 from the year 2017-2018.

9. DISTRIBUTION OF UNIFORMS

The boarders of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities and Minority hostels studying up to 10th standard are supplied four sets of uniforms free of cost every year.

10.BOARDING GRANTS TO GOVERNMENT APPROVED PRIVATE HOSTELS

Boarding grant is sanctioned to students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities staying in 39 Government recognized private hostels, at the rate of Rs. 900 per month. The annual parental income ceiling to avail this benefit has been enhanced from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 in the year 2019-2020.

11.HOSTELS

Benefit of poor Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities and Minorities students to pursue their studies without any impediments.

Food charges

I.The Government has enhanced the monthly food charges of school hostel boarders from Rs. 755 to Rs. 900 and college hostel boarders from Rs. 875 to Rs. 1,000 with effect from 1.6.2017.

II.STATE LEVEL AWARDS TO HOSTELS AND STAFF BY SELECTING BEST THREE HOSTELS

From the year 2019-2020, three best hostels will be selected at the State Level. Shield and Memento will be awarded to the best three hostels and cash prizes will be awarded to the staff of these hostels.

12.DISTRIBUTION OF BICYCLES

Bicycles are distributed free of cost to the students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities and Minorities studying in 11th standard in Government, Government aided and partly aided schools without any income ceiling. The students staying in the hostels situated in the school premises and students of residential schools are not eligible to get bicycles.

13.Supply of Sewing Machines

Motorized sewing machines are distributed free of cost to the poor people belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities for their economic upliftment. For availing benefit under the scheme, the annual income of the beneficiaries should not exceed Rs. 72,000.

14. Supply of Iron Boxes

Iron boxes are distributed free of cost to the poor amongst Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities who are engaged in laundry activities to improve their economic status. For availing the benefit under the scheme, the annual income of the beneficiaries should not exceed Rs. 72,000.

15. Distribution of House Sites

Houseless persons of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities are allotted house sites free of cost, subject to the condition that the annual income of the beneficiaries should not exceed Rs. 72,000.

16.Backward Classes welfare Loan Schemes

Loan Cum Subsidy Scheme for Small and Marginal Farmers for Creating Irrigation Facility Under the scheme, small and marginal farmers of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities are provided loan with subsidy.

17.Minority Scholarships

The Government is implementing the following scholarship schemes of Government of India for the benefit of students belonging to Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi and Jain religions studying in Government / Government Aided and Government recognized private educational institutions.

1.Muslim women aid society

Muslim women aid society For providing assistance to the poor, destitute widow and aged Muslim women, Muslim women aid societies have been formed in all the district head quarters headed by the District Collector as Ex-Officio Chairman.

2.Christian women aid society

Christian women aid society In order to provide assistance to poor, destitute widow and aged Christian women, Christian women aid societies have been formed in all the district head quarters headed by the District Collector as Ex-Officio Chairman.

3.Ulemas and employees welfare board

Ulema and employees welfare board was formed for the upliftment of educational and economic status of the Aalims, Pesh-Imams, Arabic Teachers, Mothinars, Bilal, and other employees working in Mosques and Madarasas and Mujawars and other employees working in Darghas, Ashurkhanas, Burial grounds, Thaikas, Muslim orphanages.

18.Financial Assistance for Jerusalem Pilgrimage

The scheme of providing financial assistance for Jerusalem Pilgrimage by all sects of Christians in Tamil Nadu is being implemented by the Government from 2011-2012.

1.Grant in Aid for repair and renovation of Churches

A scheme of providing financial assistance for repair and renovation of Christian churches has been introduced by the Government in the year 2016-2017.

19.Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme

Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme is being implemented to ensure equitable share are extended to Minorities in proportion to their population under various schemes in Tamil Nadu.

20.TAMIL NADU MINORITIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation was established under Companies Act, 1956 for the benefit of Minorities viz., Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains of Tamil Nadu.

21.Haj pilgrimage

The Tamil Nadu State Haj Committee was constituted in 1958. After the enactment of the Haj Committee Act, 2002, (Central Act No.35 of 2002), the State Government is constituting the Tamil Nadu State Haj Committee to look after the welfare of the Haj pilgrims and also for making necessary arrangements for the successful performance of Haj pilgrimage with the guidance of Haj Committee of India and Ministry of Minority Affairs, New Delhi.