SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT MINISTRY
CONSTITUTES RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SCHEDULED CASTES DEVELOPMENT
The Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment has constituted the Research Advisory
Committee on Scheduled Castes Development. It will advise the
Ministry on promotion/ coordination and utilization of research
for the development of Scheduled Castes. It will also assist the
Ministry in screening and approval of various research proposals
and projects received from organisations and individuals in this
regard. The twelve-member Committee headed by the Secretary Social
Justice and Empowerment has four non-official members.
The Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment sponsors research and evaluation studies
in order to have a review from time to time of the impact of the
schemes and programmes run by it. These studies also help the
Ministry in future planning. The Ministry provides cent percent
financial assistance to universities, research institutions and
professional bodies to conduct studies in the areas of social
policy, social development and social welfare.
At the instance of
the Planning Commission, the Ministry has sanctioned evaluation
studies on Scheduled Caste Development Corporation, National Safai
Karamcharis Finance Development Corporation and NGOs working for
the development of SCs. It has also initiated action to undertake
an evaluation study entitled "Main causes/ reasons for increasing
crimes on SCs and STs and the disposal of cases by exclusive Special
Courts under the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention
of Atrocities) Act, 1989" as desired by the Parliamentary committee
on the Welfare of the scheduled Castes.
During 9th
Plan studies were undertaken covering several aspects of development
of Scheduled Castes. These included the performance of Scheduled
Caste Development Corporation in various states, impact of Special
Central Assistance to Special Component Plan, Pre- and Post-Matric
Scholarship Schemes etc.
