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October
26, 2004
MEMORANDUM
presented
to
The
United Progressive Alliance Government, New Delhi
by
The
People's Educational Trust
Dr
Ambedkar Academy Chennai
INTRODUCTION
The United Progressive Alliance
Government at the Centre has announced National Common Minimum Programme. This
was followed by the Prime Minister's Address to the Nation. In both these emphasis
has been given to proper governance based on Economic Growth, Equity and Social
Justice. Special references have also been made to poverty alleviation, proper
schooling & higher education, filling up of Reservation Quota in Government
& Public Sector besides creating such provision in Private Sector and other
facets of Socio-Economic development in regard to Scheduled Castes &
Scheduled Tribes.
While Congratulating
the United Progressive Alliance Government and the Prime Minister, the Trustees
and others of The People's Educational Trust, Dr. Ambedkar Academy, have
written to the President of India, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Dr Manmohan Singh, Shri.
Ram Vilas Paswan, Smt Meira Kumar, Thiru P. Chidambaram and others enclosing a
copy of the Memorandum and requesting them to take appropriate action to give a
New Deal and Better Future for the Scheduled Castes in the Country, who
constitute about one fifth of the Population.
Chennai
2.7.2004
A Padmanaban
for The People's Educational Trust
Dr Ambedkar
Academy
Chennai
Also to –
5.
Smt Meera Kumar,
Honourable Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment
7.
Shri Ram Vilas
Paswan, Honourable Union Minister for Steel and Chemicals & Fertiliser
MEMORANDUM
presented to
The United Progressive Alliance
Government, New Delhi
by
The People's Educational Trust
Dr Ambedkar Academy Chennai
1.
INTRODUCTION
We, the Trustees
and other members of The People's Educational Trust (Dr Ambedkar Academy),
Chennai, congratulate the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and the
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The
People have given
them the mandate to govern the Country.
The National Common Minimum Programme and the Prime Minister's address
to the Nation clearly spell out the broad principles and policies aimed at
proper governance based on economic growth, equity and social justice. They also emphasize the urgent need for the
protection of the interests of the Scheduled Castes, Tribes and other weaker
sections. The Prime Minister has stated
pointedly that chronic poverty is particularly acute among the Scheduled
Castes. He has also laid emphasis on
proper access to schooling and higher education to Scheduled Castes, Tribes
& weaker sections. While we lend
our full support to the Prime Minister and the government, we would request
consideration of the following points –
2.
MINISTRY
FOR SCHEDULED CASTES
For long there
was a separate Ministry for the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes. This has been abolished and the Ministry of
Social Justice & Empowerment has been created. This is retrograde. There should be a separate Ministry for the Scheduled
Castes. There is already an exclusive
Department I Ministry for the Scheduled Tribes. For the 25 crores of Scheduled Castes, a
Ministry at the Centre is absolutely necessary.
3.
PROBLEMS
AND PROGRAMMES FOR SCs I STs
The problems of Scheduled Castes and Tribes are not only
complex but also unparalleled in the history of Human Civilization. Besides age-old disabilities and
discrimination, the Scheduled Castes are subjected to continuous suppression
and atrocities. Despite the efforts
taken by Government, rural India has still large areas where their condition is
deplorable. The Scheduled Tribes also
have their own peculiar problems connected with their very survival and
existence in hills and forest areas.
Several Schemes are being implemented for the socio-economic development
of these people. However the gap
between these people and others is widening which is not good for the
country. Therefore multi-pronged
effective and imaginative steps are called for urgently for –
I. Proper
and effective implementation of the programmes of the Government.
II. And
to ensure that the benefits of these programmes really accrue to these classes
of people through efficient Delivery system and continuous monitoring.
4.
Dr Ambedkar Foundation Reactivation
I. Dr
Ambedkar Foundation should be reactivated and all its original activities
restarted. Dr Ambedkar memorial in
Delhi has to be got completed quickly.
II. The
system of awarding scholarships for study aboard for the SC and ST Students
discontinued by the previous regime needs to be revived.
5. AMBEDKAR
CHAIRS IN THE UNIVERSITIES
Adequate and
timely financial help should be extended to all the Universities having Dr
Ambedkar Chair to take up research in the fields allotted to them under Dr
Ambedkar Foundation and from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
6. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION FOR RESERVATION
The
Constitutional Provisions for SCs and STs in regard to Reservation in services
are not implemented properly and effectively.
There is deliberate casual attitude, misinterpretation and non-implementation
of Reservation Policy. This is mainly
due to the fact that all the Guidelines and Instructions regarding reservations
are contained in the Executive Instructions issued by the Department of
Personnel and Training (DOPT). In this
connection, the proposal of the UPA Government to bring out an Act codifying
all instructions regarding reservation policy is a good decision. It is also gratifying to note that the UPA
Government has committed that all Reservation Quotas including those relating
to promotions must be fulfilled in time-bound manner. After the proposed Legislation is enacted, the same should be
brought under the 9th Schedule of the Constitution. The ban imposed by the Supreme Court in Mandal Judgment on
Reservation in initial recruitment of Scientific Posts, Posts in Indian
Airlines, Air India and other categories should be lifted through suitable constitutional amendment.
7. EDUCATION
It is well known
that Educational Progress at all levels particularly in Elementary
Education concerning the SC/ST is deplorable.
Therefore special efforts are required to have more access and
enrolment of Scheduled Caste Students, and avoidance of dropouts through
incentives like Midday Meals Scheme.
Higher Education also requires special attention. University and College Education has not
only become expensive because of large scale privatization, but also it has
adversely affected the SC/ST Students because of the exorbitant Capitation Fee
and other Charges levied and collected by the Engineering, Medical and other
Professional Colleges including IITs and IIMs.
Higher Education, in short, has become money spinning Commercial
Enterprise, which is against the basic principles of the Constitution
namely Equity, Social Justice and Education for all. A suitable Scheme should be formulated for the SC/ST Students by
way of proper and quick admission without any payment. Suitable Scholarship Scheme should also be
devised, in case payment of fees etc becomes imperative.
8. RESERVATION
IN PRIVATE SECTOR
We appreciate
the statement of the UPA Government, as it has been stated that it is very
sensitive to the issue of affirmative action in extending reservation in
private sector. It has also been stated
that it would initiate a National dialogue in this regard in order to find out
how best the Private Sector can fulfil the aspirations of the SC and ST
youths. We are quite sure that the Government
would take immediate action in this regard, and come out with positive decision
expeditiously, since private sector is only a Government-Assisted Sector with
Tax Payers' Money. Also it has its
Social Obligations, and it can not function in isolation from the Society. While privatizing the existing Public Sector
Undertakings, the Government should ensure the continuance of the Reservation
Policy, even after privatization. Any
Economic Reform should have Social Justice as fundamental basis. Otherwise, there will be sizeable reduction
in employment for the SCs and STs, besides creating islands of vested interests
and opulence, violating Principles of Equity and Social Justice.
9. Special
Component Plan and Tribal. Sub Plan
The Tribal Sub
Plan and the Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes are being implemented
from the Fifth and Sixth Five Years Plans respectively. Though it has been laid down that each State
Government should allot at least a minimum, percentage of their budget
equivalent to the percentage of the Population of the SCs and STs in that State
for implementing Schemes, which will directly improve the Socio-Economic
Condition of the People, in practice except a few States others do not
implement the scheme. Most of the
States, do not allot such amount in their annual budget, and even the allotted
amount is either not fully spent or is being diverted. This holds good, in respect of most of the Central
Ministries also. Strict Instruction
should be issued to Central Ministries and States, to implement the component
plans for SCs/STs, fully and effectively.
Whenever issue of (?) Licence or Permit is issued by the
Government for transport / industrial transaction / works contract / transport
operation etc, at least 25% of such Permits or Licences should be reserved for
the Scheduled Caste People. Such
Reservation would give them opportunities for Self-Employment and Economic
Development, removing thereby their dependence on vested interests.
10. Land
Commission and Land Allotment & Utilisation
A Land
Commission should be set up in each and every State, to look into the Assignment
of the Lands to SCs and STs to ensure not only their proper allotment, but
also effective utilization of such allotted lands by giving them necessary
inputs like seeds, fertilizer, provision for irrigation etc. Wherever the lands reserved for SCs and STs
or assigned to them by the Government have been usurped by non-SCs and non-STs,
effective action should be taken by this Land Commission to recover such lands
and re-allot them to the original SC and ST Beneficiaries. As it will take considerable time to realize
the Surplus Lands, on implementation of the Land-Ceiling Acts by the State
Governments, private cultivable lands should be purchased for assignment to the
landless agricultural labourers belonging to SCs and STs.
11. Atrocities
against SCs
and STs
Necessary
Legislation should be enacted to attach the properties of perpetrators of
atrocities against SCs/STs, wherever there is violence such as, rape,
destruction of property, murder, grievous hurt etc. The District Collectors and Superintendents of Police should be
made accountable for the atrocities and violence against the SCs/STs. The Government should initiate action
against them if they do not take adequate and effective steps to ensure safety
and security of these classes of people particularly in untouchability –
prone areas. Adequate Compensation
should be extended in time to the victims.
12. SPECIAL
COURTS TO
TRY THE ATROCITIES CASES
Exclusive
Special Courts should be established in all places of occurrence of atrocities
and violence, to deal with the cases registered under the Protection of
Civil Rights Acts of 1955 and the Prevention of Atrocities Act of 1989
quickly and effectively. In order to
expedite and complete all the cases of atrocities booked under the above
two Acts within a period of two or three months, the High Courts concerned
should review the pendancy of such cases with the Special Courts and take
remedial measures to ensure speedy disposal of such cases and render proper
justice. It is stated that the
percentage of conviction now is very low in the Country.
13. Representation
in the Judiciary
The
Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Law Ministry has clearly pointed out
the poor Representation of SCs and STs in Judiciary. Immediate steps should be taken to appoint
adequate number of SCs and STs as Judges at all levels of Judiciary including
High Courts and Supreme Court.
14.
Adequate Representation of SC and ST in
the post of Governors I Ambassadors
There should be
adequate share of SCs and STs in the Governance of the Country. There should be suitable number of SCs and
STs in the posts like Governors, Ambassadors, Secretaries to Government of
India, State and Central Service Commissions, the various recruitment boards
and commissions, Scientific and Research Establishments, University Grants
Commission etc.
15. More media space for Dalit liberation and literature has to be provided by Information, Broadcasting and Cultural Ministry.
16. More Dalit Facilitation and INFORMATION Centres for interaction and exchanges with Government. NGOs and others have to be set up at District, Taluk and Panchayat Union Levels.
17. In
order to equip the SC/ST
candidates who are appearing for the competitive examinations conducted
by the various agencies such as UPSC, State Service Commissions, the various
public sector undertakings etc., it is necessary to have proper coaching
centres in all the Central and State Universities. Government of India may
issue suitable instructions in this regard through the University Grants
Commission.
18. The
National Commission for Scheduled Castes
The National Commission for SCs is
the Constitutional Body, having been Constituted under Article 338 of the
Constitution. It is the watchdog for
the Welfare of the SCs. The
Commission should be more alert and actively look into their grievances and
redress them. The Chairman and Members
nominated to this Constitutional Body, should have adequate knowledge and
experience about the various Schemes being implemented by the Government. They should take real interest in fulfilling
the expectations of the SCs in this regard.
Dr A
Padmanaban IAS (Retd)
Former Governor
Mizoram
V
Viswanathan IAS (Retd)
Former
Member
State
Administrative Tribunal
Chennai
V
Karuppan IAS (Retd)
R
Rathinasamy IAS (Retd)
Dr P
Sivalingam
Former
Vice Chancellor
Anna
University
J
Ramalingam
Former
Member
TNPSC
A
Kuppusamy
Social
Activist
MB
Nathan
Chief
Engineer (Retd)
P
Rathinavel
Advocate
High
Court
A
Gandhi
Superintendent
Customs
G
Muniraj
Social
Activist
KP
Velayutham
Social
Activist
K
Madhavan
Social
Activist
J Paramanandam
JP Builders
C
Chellappan IAS (Retd)
Former
Member
National
Commission for SC&ST
A
Shanmugam IAS (Retd)
T
Teethan IA&AS
Auditor
General/TN
Dr
Susila Mariyappan
Director
- SAB
University
of Madras
S
Devadoss
Registrar
NIFT
Dr A
Mani
Retd
Addl Director of Medical Education
N
Mummoorthi
Chief
Engineer (Retd)
E
Dharmar
Asst
Inspector General of Registration
T
Venugopal
Social
Activist
M
Dhanraj
Social
Activist
MP
Sambandam
Social Activist
§
The UPA Government is very sensitive to the issue of
Affirmative Action, including Reservations in the private sector. It will immediately initiate a National
Dialogue with all political parties, industry and other organisations to see
how best the private sector can fulfil the aspirations of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes Youth – taken from the Common Minimum Programme
of the Govt
§
We must put in place Policies and Programmes which Empower
all our Citizens to lead a Life of Dignity and Self-Respect. Our Government is committed to the Security
and Welfare of all Minorities, the protection of the interests of the
Scheduled Castes and ScheduledTribes, of backward classes and all Weaker
Sections. Equally, we are committed
to the Empowerment of Women. We
will ensure equal participation of all in the processes of Governance – taken from the Prime Minister Dr
Manmohan Singh's address to the Nation
§
"It is the primary Responsibility of every
Educated Person to serve his Poor and Ignorant Brothers. After reaching an exalted position, this
educated person forgets his illiterate brothers. If he does not pay his attention to thousands of his brothers, it
would lead to the downfall of our society" – Baba Saheb Dr BR
Ambedkar
§
"The People's Educational, Social and Cultural
Society [People's Educational Trust, Dr Ambedkar Academy] has been a pioneer
service organization, rendering excellent guidance and encouragement to
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, particularly the Student Community"
– Shri KR Narayanan, former President of India
§
"This is the one Society [People's Educational
Trust, Dr Ambedkar Academy] in our Country, which has been doing commendable
work for our People, to advance their progress and to secure for them, Civic
Rights and Knowledge. This deserves
all our encouragement" – Babu Jagajivan Ram, former
Deputy Prime Minister of India
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