Issues Highlighted:
- Ineffective enforcement of laws like the SC/ST Act and manual scavenging prohibition.
- Low fund utilization: Welfare schemes such as PMAGY and SHRESHTA suffer delays and underutilization due to inadequate state proposals.
- Education Disparity: Target GER of 27% for SC students in higher education remains unachieved.
- Manual Scavenging: Despite the NAMASTE Scheme, fatalities in sanitation work persist due to a lack of mechanization.
Observations:
- Delays in declaring Adarsh Grams under PM-AJAY, with few states actively implementing the scheme.
- Reduced annual action plans submitted by states for SC-centric programs.
Way Forward:
- Fix quantifiable targets for all schemes and strictly enforce timelines for fund utilization.
- Empower institutions like the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) to address marginalized groups’ needs.
- Expand and adequately fund skill development schemes like PM-DAKSH for larger outreach.