Page 10 - Lesson Notes

State initiative

 Since even before Independence the Indian state had special programmes
for the SCs(Schedule Castes) and STs (Schedule tribe)
 After Independence , the same policies have been continued and many new
ones also being added.

 The most important state initiatives attempting to compensate for past and
present caste discrimination is the one popularly known as „reservations.‟
 Reservation involves the setting aside of some places or „seats‟ for
members of the SCs and STs in different spheres of public life.
 These include reservation of seats in the state and central legislatures (i.e
State assemblies LokSabha and RajyaSabha). 84 seats are reserved for SCs
and STs (as per delimitation Commission in 2008)
 Reservation of jobs in government services across all departments and
public sector companies.
 Reservation of jobs in government services across all departments and
public sector companies.
 Reservation of seats in educational institutions,

Article 46 of the Indian Constitution states that “The State shall
promote, with special care the education and economic interests of the
weaker sections of the people particularly of the SCs and STs and shall
protect them from social injustice and all forms of social exploitation”.

There have been a number of laws passed to end, prohit and punish caste
discrimination, speciallyuntouchability.

 The Caste Disabilities Removal Act of 1850- which disallowed the
curtailment of rights of citizens due to solely to change of religion or caste.
It means a law was passed that abolished all laws affecting the rights of
people converting to another religion or caste.

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 93 Amendment Act of 2005 which became law on 23 January 2006.
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This 93 Amendment is for introducing reservation for the OBCs in
institutions of higher education.

 Article 17 of the Indian Constitution is a legislation that abolishes practices
of untouchability in any form.