Welfare Schemes: Impact on Educational Status of Scheduled Castes in Rural Punjab

 

Dr. Lakhvir Singh*

Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Arts Block no: 2, Punjabi University

Patiala--147002

 

ABSTRACT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

A segment of Indian society known as 'Sudras' and 'Untouchables' that has suffered from social and economic disabilities has come to be known as Scheduled Castes in the present era. The term 'Scheduled Castes' denotes such castes or races or part of groups as are deemed under Article 341 to be Scheduled Castes for the purpose of the Indian Constitution.

It may be said that all depressed classes are Harijans. All Harijans are Scheduled Castes. All the untouchables are depressed classes, Harijans or Scheduled Castes.¹ Thus Scheduled Castes is a constitutional and not a sociological concept. Socially, the only thing they have shared common is poverty and Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work Punjabi University Patiala. social disabilities arising from the fact that until lately, they were untouchables, though they were an integral part of the Village community and functioned as such through the ages. They account for 16.73 per cent of the population of our country and reside mostly in the rural areas, scattered over all the states of the Indian Union. Thus, they are a significant segment of the Indian Society.²

 

The word “Welfare” connotes the well being of all persons. According to Encyclopaedia of Britannica – “The word welfare mean the well being of all sections of society particularly depressed classes”.³The concept of social welfare is distinct from that of general social services like education, health etc. It is a specialised work for the benefits of the weaker and more vulnerable sections of the population, and include special services for the benefit of women, children, the physically handicapped, the mentally retarded and other socially handicapped groups. For the benefit of these groups, the government has devised various services and programmes along with various social legislations. The working of all these programmes requires effective coordination which is systematically and progressively being achieved by various social welfare institutions of the government and civil society organisations. This section cover information related to these issues. In State of Punjab, as per latest survey by Department of Rural Development and Panchayat and Department of Local Government, out of total 8.71 lakh families living below poverty line, 5.39 lakhs (62%) families belong to Scheduled Castes.⁴ As a welfare state, the main objective of the Indian government is to provide basic amenities to all sections of society so that their needs could be fulfilled.

 

So, far most of studies on Scheduled Castes focused upon various aspects of their social, economic, political and cultural life either highlighting a singular aspect or a combination of aspect and also fairly good amount of literature relating to the Scheduled Castes, reports of the commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as also some empirical research studies are now available. Very little research attention has however been paid to examination and evaluation of various Government schemes in terms of their actual impact on the condition and the Scheduled Castes. Nor has any monitoring been done to date in terms of how the targeted beneficiaries viewed the impact of these schemes.

 

The actual living conditions of families below poverty line in a number of poor districts of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh and found a large gap between the bureaucratic knowledge and the people’s knowledge related to the process of socio-economic development of the poor. It critically evaluated the impact of government’s wasteful efforts to uplift the poor in those areas (Saithnath’s, 1996).⁵ The study was  meant to evaluate the benefits given Scheduled Castes under the different developmental programmes especially to those living in Ambedkar and as well as non-Ambedkar villages. An attempt has also been made to compare the changing status and social development of Scheduled Castes in the context of Ambedkar and non-Ambedkar villages (Kaur and Pattanaik, 2000)⁶. In his article, Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India (in Peter Reonald Desouza (ed.), critically evaluated the various programmes and legislation aimed at improving the condition of the poor in the country. The study historically evaluated the measures for the poor (Shah, 2000)⁷.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.    To examine the impact of welfare facilities on the quality of living of the Scheduled Castes.

2.    To study the impact of different welfare schemes on the quality of life of Scheduled Castes with special reference to educational schemes.

 

HYPOTHESIS:

1.   It has been assumed that the quality of life of the majority of the Scheduled Castes is still not improved.

2.   It has been assumed that majority of the targeted beneficiaries do not get the benefits from the government schemes just because of their ignorance about them.

 

METHODOLOGY:

The present study was conducted in the villages of Nawanshahr District. The study has been carried out in twelve villages of one of the districts of Punjab with highest population of Scheduled Castes. It may be able to give an overall picture of the Scheduled Castes in the entire state. For the purpose of the present study a sample of 300 respondents belong to Scheduled Castes in two different tehsils namely Balachaur and Nawanshahr has been drawn using the multistage random sampling technique. The data was collected with the help of a pre-designed and structured interview schedule. The interview schedule consisted of questions framed to collect the relevant information according to the pre-decided objectives of the present study.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

Majority of the targeted beneficiaries do not get the benefits from the government schemes just because of their ignorance about them. With this in mind, the respondents were asked if they knew about the government schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Castes people. Out of total 300 respondents, there were only 67 (22.33%) respondents who told that they knew about a couple of the government schemes meant for Scheduled Caste welfare. The other 233 (77.67%) respondents stated that they knew nothing about any of the government schemes for Scheduled Caste welfare.

 

Table 1: How Many Respondents were Benefited from Welfare Schemes

Villages	Yes	No	Total (N = 67)
Asron	8 (11.94)	0 (0)	8 (11.94)
Atari	5 (7.46)	0 (0)	5 (7.46)
Bachhouri	3 (4.47)	0 (0)	3 (4.47)
Chack Kalal	3 (4.47)	6 (8.95)	9 (13.43)
Chankoi	4 (5.97)	0 (0)	4 (5.97)
Jadla	0 (0)	7 (10.44)	7 (10.44)
Jainpur	7 (10.44)	0 (0)	7 (10.44)
Mhalon	2 (2.98)	2 (2.98)	4 (5.97)
Railmajara	3 (4.47)	0 (0)	3 (4.47)
Saloh	2 (2.98)	0 (0)	2 (2.98)
Sotran	7 (10.44)	1 (1.49)	8 (11.94)
Tonsa	7 (10.44)	0 (0)	7 (10.44)
Total	51 (76.11)	16 (23.89)	67(100)

Figures in brackets show percentage

 

From the above table we can see that out of 67 persons who knew about one or the other schemes, 51 (76.11%) persons actually took the benefit from them. Village-wise break-up shows that from Asron 8 (11.94%), Atri 5 (7.46%), Bachhouri 3 (4.47%), Chack Kalal 3 (4.47%), Chankoi 4 (5.97%), Jainpur 7 (10.44%), Mhalon 2 (2.98%), Railmajara 3 (4.47%), Saloh 2 (2.98%), Sotran 7 (10.44%), Tonsa 7 (10.44%) persons took benefits from one or the other schemes. It was found that in Jadla village none of the respondent took any benefit. It is further evident that of the total respondents who knew about the schemes, 23.89% did not take any benefit out of these schemes. Now it is clear that more than three-fifth (23.89%) sampled respondents were not taking any benefits from the schemes.

 

Improvement in the Quality of Living Conditions of Scheduled Castes:

Regarding the improvement in the quality of living conditions after taking these benefits from the schemes, it was found that there has been a very little improvement as a result of the schemes. The following table presents the detail.

 

Table 2: If Any Improvement in the Quality of Living Conditions of Scheduled Castes

Villages	Positive change	Condition worsen	No change	Total (N = 51)
Asron	1	2	5	8
Atari	0	1	4	5
Bachhouri	0	0	3	3
Chack Kalal	1	0	2	3
Chankoi	2	0	2	4
Jadla	0	0	0	0
Jainpur	2	1	4	7
Mhalon	0	0	2	2
Railmajara	0	0	3	3
Saloh	0	0	2	2
Sotran	0	3	4	7
Tonsa	2	0	5	7
Total	8 (15.68)	7 (13.73)	36 (70.58)	51 (100)

Figures in brackets show percentage

 

The above table shows that out of 51 respondents who took benefit of the schemes, 8 (15.68%) respondent felt that they were positively benefited from them. 7 (13.73%) respondents felt that their conditions worsened because they could not pay back the loans that they took under the scheme. And due to the interest, their debt burden increased all the more. It may be mentioned here that these respondents were those who had taken loans for carrying out small business like shops, dairy or a pony-cart etc. Since the business could not take-off, their debt-burden increased. of the total, 36 (70.58%) respondents were of the view that there was no change in their living condition due to the welfare schemes.

 

“In a similar study, it was found out that out of total 79 beneficiaries, 13 (16.45%) stated that their condition improved after taking the loan under the scheme as they could start their self employment venture. For 2 respondents, the condition remained more or less the same as before as their venture failed and they somehow returned the loan amount. The remaining 64 (81%) beneficiaries stated that they were caught in a debt trap.”⁸

 

So from the present study (refer to table 2) we can say that there has been a small change in the status of living in the Schedueled Caste people from various welfare schemes of the government and quality of life of Scheduled Castes remain, by and large, the same in the sampled households in the area of the study.

 

“Shakuntla Kaushal (1988) in her study shows the views of respondents about their future. Out of 100 respondents, 8 (8%) were of the views that it would be bright, 22 (22%) respondents said that their future would be dark, 52 (52%) respondents refused to comment.  While 18 (18%) respondents said that they expect no change in quality of living due to these schemes.⁹

 

Educational Schemes and their Impact on Educational Status:

There are a variety of educational schemes for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste people. Following table shows various educational schemes run by the government and number of persons availing those schemes. Since most of these schemes (Table 3) relate to the school or higher education, the respondents were asked whether they or their wards/children are/were availing these schemes at any point of time.

Table* 3 : How Many Respondents Took Benefits from Educational Schemes ?

Educational Schemes	Availed	Not availed
Free text books to Scheduled Castes students studying in 1st to 10th classes	35 (11.66)	265 (88.34)
Grant for the purchase of Medical, Engineering, Veterinary, Agriculture, Law, CA, MBA, Bio-Science and Polytechnic  Books	0 (0)	300 (100)
Attendance scholarship to Scheduled Castes girl students studying in primary classes	0 (0)	300 (100)
Post matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes students	5  (1.66)	295 (98.34)
Award of scholarship under the state government Post matric scholarship scheme to SCs.	0 (0)	300 (100)
Pre Matric scholarship to the children of those engaged in unclean occupation i.e. sweepers, scavengers, flayers and tanners	0 (0)	300 (100)
Special grant to Scheduled Castes girl students studying in post matric and post graduate classes	0 (0)	300 (100)
Grant to SC students studying in Medical and Engineering Colleges	0 (0)	300 (100)
Opening of hostels for SC boys/girls in school /colleges	0 (0)	300 (100)
Hostels for SC girls in schools and colleges	0 (0)	300 (100)
Coaching for stenography to SC candidates	0 (0)	300 (100)
Setting up of institute for training to SC candidates in stenography	0 (0)	300 (100)
Award to SC sports students(6-12th classes)	0 (0)	300 (100)
Award to brilliant SC students	0 (0)	300 (100)
Setting up of residential institute for coaching of IAS/PCS and other alied services to Scheduled Castes (Ambedkar Institute of Career and Courses) S.A.S. nagar, Mohali	0 (0)	300 (100)
Scheme  for residential schools for boys/girls upto 10+2 level in the blocks having low literacy rates	0 (0)	300 (100)
Scheme for promotion of education amongst educationally backward classes in Punjab, state scholarship to SC and BC students	0 (0)	300 (100)
Scheme of pre examination coaching for weaker sections based on economic criteria	0 (0)	300 (100)
Total	40 (13.33)	300 (100)

*Multiple response table.; Figures in brackets show percentage

 

 

The data reveals that out of 300, 35 (11.66%) had availed the benefits of free text book schemes to Scheduled Castes students, where as 265 (88.34%) did not avail any benefit from the said schemes because they neither had any knowledge nor did they had any source for disseminating information regarding the schemes. As for the scheme which provides grant to purchase Medical, Engineering, Veterinary, Agricultural, Law, C.A., MBA, Bio-science and polytechnic books, nobody had availed this scheme. The reasons were that hardly any student reached the level of higher education at which the benefits are given. But they expected that their children would be in a situation to avail these schemes if they reach that stage of their education. Poverty and ignorance are major inhibiting factors for the sampled respondents for not having availed the intended benefits from the schemes. The scheme regarding the attendance scholarship to Scheduled Caste girl students studying in primary classes, had not also been availed, due to teacher, impersonal attitudes. However, post matric scholarship scheme was availed by 5 (1.66%) respondents, whereas 295 (98.34%) did not avail it.

 

Apart from above other educational schemes like pre matric scholarship, special grant for Scheduled Castes girls students, grant to Scheduled Caste medical and engineering students, hostel facilities, stenography and its training to Scheduled Castes students, award to sports students and brilliant students, scheme for residential schools etc., there was no respondent (out of 300) who had availed any of these schemes. The reasons were, by and large, same. In the another similar study of Singh (2003), out of the 104 respondent who heard about the government schemes, 78 told that they knew only name of the scheme.22 respondent stated that they also knew from where to get benefit of that scheme. Only 4 respondents seemed to be confident that they knew all about scheme that is regarding the procedure of application, decision makers and the agency they had to approach.  So, the  study blames the social, political groups and governments which are not there to ensure that the policies are enforced with efficiency and commitment and also blames these NGO’s / target groups/small activists would never want awareness to percolate down to the rest of the people.¹⁰

 

Improvement in Educational Status:

Education is one of important aspects of one’s life for progress and development. Undisputable, education ensures the improvement in the quality of life of the individuals, groups and families. It is also important for inter-class mobility. Studies show that there is positive correlation between the level of education and quality of living of the people. Against this presumption, the present section presents information about the extent of improvement in the educational status of the sampled Scheduled Castes households in the area of the study.

 

Table 4: Improvement in Educational Status

N = 40 are the respondent who took benefit from the schemes:

 

The data depicts that only 10% respondents, out of 40 (who availed benefits from educational schemes) stated some improvement in their educational status while 90% replied in negative as they think that their educational status did not improve as a result of the educational schemes started by the state government.

 

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

In the light of above findings, it may be concluded that majority of the targeted beneficiaries do not get the benefits from the government schemes just because of their ignorance about them and majority of rural scheduled caste people are not aware of the various schemes run by the Government. The main reasons for this level of unawareness are their illiteracy and poverty. Because of their illiteracy, they have not been able to get any benefits of various schemes. When asked about the suggestion regarding any change in educational schemes for better improvement then out of three hundred respondents, eighteen (six percent) respondents wanted some changes while sixteen respondents did not want any change. The remaining two hundred sixty six respondents did not give any answer because they neither have any knowledge nor have they availed any of the schemes nor have they any source of information regarding these schemes. The eighteen respondents who wanted change gave their suggestions that education should be made free for all poor people belonging to whatever castes. Although education is free for girl students in the state of Punjab but the parents, even after, do not send their female children to the schools due to various negative views manifested in the socio-cultural fabric of the Punjabi society. In order to make these schemes successful, it is important that the socio-cultural values which are negative particularly to girls, must be reformed. One  respondent said that food is not good in anganwari and number of teachers should be adequate. The quality of food should be improved and the number of teachers should be increased. The mid-day meal scheme though good at its own place, demands the involvement of good number of staff which results in the diversion from their educational obligations as they have to spend lot of time in maintaining the records of mid-day meal scheme. Two respondents said that schemes are not provided to children because the teachers do not take interest in carrying out the scheme as they avoid to complete the formalities. The scheme should be implemented after inspecting the requirements and conditions of the schools, two respondents are of the view that scholarship should be given at increased rate because of inflation, two respondents suggested that scholarship should be given in full, as the mediators like clerks etc., take some part of the scheme and the remaining part is provided. It should be strictly checked upon, four respondents suggested that schemes should run properly, should arrange more money for media, so that awareness regarding the schemes can be disseminated. These schemes should not run in papers only. They should be made practical and three respondents wanted that there should be camps to aware about such schemes.

 

So it is concluded that there is very small proportion six percent of respondents who wanted changes in educational schemes for better improvement in the education system. This further shows that Scheduled Castes people in rural areas are ignorant even about the ways and means by which the entire education system can be improved.

 

REFERENCES:

1      Khan, Mumtaz Ali (1980). Scheduled Castes and Their Status in India. New Delhi: Uppal Publishing House.

2      Government of India. Census of India.  2011. Delhi.

3      Jacob E. Safra and Ilan yeshua (2002). Britannica Concise Encyclopaedia. p. 1997

4      Government of Punjab. Special Component Plan of India. 2002 -2007. Delhi

5      Saithnath’s, P. (1996). Every body Loves a Good Drought. New Delhi : Penguin Publishers.

6      Kaur, Kuldip and Pattanaik, B.K. (2000). Development and Changing Status and Scheduled Castes: A Study of Ambedkar and Non-Ambedkar Villages in UP. Chandigarh: Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development.

7      Shah, Ghanshyam (2000). Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India. New Delhi: Sage Publication

8      Singh R.B. (2003). Scheduled Castes Welfare: Myth or Reality. New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation.

9      Kaushal Shakuntla (1988). An analysis of the impact of Government measures for the development of weaker sections: A case study of two Punjab villages (A Dissertation for M.Phil). Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Punjabi University, Patiala

10    Singh R.B. (2003). Scheduled Castes Welfare: Myth or Reality. New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation.

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 08.11.2017       Modified on 19.02.2018

Accepted on 20.04.2018      © A&V Publication all right reserved