November 12, 2001
'10’CONSTRUCTION WORK OF DR. AMBEDKAR NATIONAL LIBRARY AND NATIONAL MEMORIAL LIKELY TO START BY APRIL;
WELFARE ACTIVITIES FOR WEAKER SECTIONS BEING EXPANDED;
SIXTY-SIX NGOs BLACK LISTED
The construction work of Dr. Ambedkar National Library and Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial is likely to start by 14th April next year, the birth anniversary of Baba Sahib. Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of his ministry here this morning, the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya said that specific efforts are being made to set them up. He informed the members that possession of land for construction of National Library in the Capital has been obtained while the land and property for setting up for Dr. Amedkar Memorial is expected to be finalised shortly. Giving details about other major activities of the Ministry, Dr. Jatiya said that the welfare activities of the ministry are being expanded to reach to more people needing assistance. He said assistance to the voluntary sector has been continuously increasing. During the current financial year about 162 crore rupees have been released to 1,961 NGOs. This is 7.5 crore rupees more than the amount granted to NGOs during the last financial year. Dr. Jatiya said that conscious efforts are being made to reach out the disabled people with specific services. He said that during 1999-2000 about 4 lakh 60 thousand persons with disabilities have benefited by the activities of the National Institutes set up in the Disability Sector. He commended the Rehabilitation Council of India for developing courses and training paramedical staff and doctors. of primary health centres.
Regarding vigilance the Minister informed the members that the monitoring of functioning of NGOs has been strengthened. He said the Ministry for unsatisfactory performance has blacklisted sixty-six NGOs. Out of 898 NGOs inspected, the performance of 730 NGOs was found satisfactory while adverse reports were received in 168 cases. Dr. Jatiya said that 66 of them were blacklisted while in 69 cases the action is awaited pending re-inspection reports etc. He said the performance in 33 voluntary organisations was found satisfactory after re-inspections or receipt of replies. Dr. Jatiya said that two NGOs have been blacklisted during the current financial year, and show cause notices issued to 14, following inspection of 644 NGOs.
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament Shri Praveen S. Rastrapal and Shri Sukhdev Singh Libra. Shri Rastrapal urged the government to abolish as soon as possible the reprehensible practice of carrying night soil on head by scavengers. He also raised the issue of some cases of alleged atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Gujarat. Dr. Jatiya assured that the same would be taken up promptly with the Gujarat government. Replying to the member’s suggestion to grant subsidy to the Kalyan Cooperative Bank in Gujarat for advancing loans to members of Scheduled castes at low interest rates, Dr. Jatiya said the suggestion will be considered by the Ministry. It is the only bank in India managed and funded by Scheduled Castes.