Centre ensures place for Madiga member in Scheduled Caste panel

  • March 11, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
No Comments

 

 

Centre ensures place for Madiga member in Scheduled Caste panel

Subject: Polity

Section: National Body

Context:

  • The Union government has formed the latest National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), focusing on including members from underrepresented communities, particularly ensuring at least one member from the Madiga community, significantly present in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Details:

  • The Ministry of Social Justice announced the appointments, naming BJP Gujarat spokesperson Kishor Makwana as the NCSC Chairperson.
  • VadepallyRamchander from Telangana and Love Kush Kumar from Uttar Pradesh have been appointed as members.
  • VadepallyRamchander’s inclusion is notable following the government’s move to form an internal committee aimed at the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes, addressing a long-standing demand from the Madiga community for equitable distribution of benefits and reservation.
  • The acting chairperson was Arun Halder.

About the Madiga community:

  • The Madiga community is a Telugu caste from southern India, primarily residing in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, with a small minority in Tamil Nadu. Historically, they were associated with tannery, leatherwork, and small handicrafts. Today, most are agricultural labourers.
  • The community is categorized as a Scheduled Caste by the Government of India.
  • Their concern:
    • The Madiga community has voiced concerns over being marginalized in favour of the Mala community, despite their significant numbers within the Scheduled Castes.
    • The government’s initiative to explore sub-categorisation aims to ensure fair access to benefits for the most backwards among the SCs, though the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the feasibility of SC quota sub-categorisation.

What is the sub-categorization of SC groups?

  • Sub-categorization involves classifying existing SC caste groups into further categories based on their historical dominance in availing government benefits meant for SCs.
  • It aims to ensure a more equitable distribution of benefits among SC communities by giving higher shares to historically marginalized groups and lesser shares to those that have traditionally dominated such benefits.

NCSC

  • NCSC is a constitutional body that works to safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes (SC) in India.
  • Article 338 of the constitution of India deals with this commission:
  • It provides for a National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with duties to investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for them, to inquire into specific complaints and to participate and advise on the planning process of their socio-economic development etc.

Its evolution

  • Special Officer:
    • Initially, the constitution provided for the appointment of a Special Officer under Article 338.
    • The special officer was designated as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • 65th Amendment, 1990:
    • It replaced the one-member system with a multi-member National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
    • The Constitution (65th Amendment) Act 1990, amended Article 338 of the Constitution.
  • 89th Amendment, 2003:
    • By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for SC and ST was replaced by two separate Commissions from the year 2004 which were: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)- under Article 338-A.

Structure –

  • Chairperson.
  • Vice-chairperson.
  • Three other members.

They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

Functions –

  • Monitoring and investigating all issues concerning the safeguards provided for the SCs under the constitution.
  • Enquiring into complaints relating to the deprivation of the rights and safeguards of the SCs.
  • Taking part in and advising the central or state governments with respect to the planning of socio-economic development of the SCs.
  • Regular reporting to the President of the country on the implementation of these safeguards.
  • Recommending steps to be taken to further the socio-economic development and other welfare activities of the SCs.
  • Any other function with respect to the welfare, protection, development and advancement of the SC community.
Centre ensures place for Madiga member in Scheduled Caste panel Polity