BACKWARD CLASSES, MOST BACKWARD CLASSES AND

MINORITIES WELFARE DEPARTMENT

DEMAND NO.31

2001 - 2002

POLICY NOTE

A.    INTRODUCTION

Tamil Nadu has been in the forefront in championing the cause of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities and Minorities by implementing various welfare schemes for the economic upliftment of  these groups.  To ensure their social emancipation and economic upliftment, this Government have placed the highest emphasis on formulation and implementation of several welfare schemes in order to improve their educational, social and economic status in the society.

B.   POLICY

1. (a)     RESERVATION

   2. The policy of reservation for Backward Classes has been under successful implementation in Tamil Nadu for quite a few decades.  Tamil Nadu pioneered the movement for reservation in Government jobs and seats in educational institutions and introduced the policy of reservation in the year 1921. This Policy has paid good dividends and contributed to substantial social, economic and educational advancement of these classes. It is estimated that a little over two thirds of the State’s population belong to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities. The extent of reservation has been growing upward from time to time consistent with the needs of the majority of the people and it has now reached the level of 69%. The present policy stipulates 18% reservation for Scheduled Caste, 1% for Scheduled Tribe, 30% for Backward Classes and 20% for Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities. Consequent to the Supreme Court judgement in Indira Sawhney case, popularly known as the “Mandal Commission case”, the overall reservation should not exceed 50%. To overcome this hurdle,  only this Government under the dynamic leadership of our Honourable Chief Minister Dr. Puratchi Thalaivi enacted the historic legislation (Tamil Nadu Act 45 of 1994) providing for 69 percent reservation in education and employment for the depressed sections of the society and prevailed upon the Centre for its inclusion in the IX schedule of the Constitution.  The several Writ Petitions filed against this Act in the Supreme Court have been referred to the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court and the same are pending. This Government have also filed an expedite petition in the Supreme Court in the matter.

            It is the firm view of this Government that the quantum of reservation for the depressed classes of the people should be commensurate with the percentage of the State’s population. Also there are other social parameters and historic reasons that go into the fixing of percentages for reservation for various components of the disadvantaged groups of people, which differ from State to State. Hence the quantum of reservation should be left to the rational judgement of the respective State Governments. The Union Government have been requested to bring in a Constitutional Amendment to this effect.

The Central Government are also being moved for increasing the reservation for Backward Communities in Central Services from 27 percent to 50 percent and for implementing the same in recruitment to the All India Services and the Central Services

1. (b)     EDUCATION

       3. As Education is an important tool to bring in overall development of these downtrodden communities, this Government is keen to promote literacy and to improve the educational standards of people belonging to these communities.

(c) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

       4. As poverty is the root cause for the social and educational backwardness of these communities, this Government take special care in formulating schemes for these groups for their economic development by encouraging self employment, supplying tools free of cost to Mudithiruthuvors, Salavai Thozhilalars and Boyars, provision of financial assistance for setting up of saloons, laundry, mobile laundry etc. and also imparting several employment oriented training programmes in more than 20 fields to the unemployed youth of these communities such as Computer training, Heavy vehicles driving, Information Technology, etc.

(d) HOUSING

       5. Majority of the poor people belonging to the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities population, do not possess houses of their own. This department has been implementing a scheme to provide free house sites to these people by acquiring private lands at Government cost and has issued more than 1.5 lakh pattas to them.  The scheme of issue of free house site pattas was initially made applicable only to the poor landless families of Most Backward Classes Communities, particularly the occupational group, namely,  (1) Mudithiruthuvor (2) Salavai Thozhilalar (3) Boyar and (4) Narikuravar. This scheme was subsequently extended to all Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities and also to Forward Communities who are living below poverty line in rural areas. But the beneficiaries have constructed houses of their own only in a fraction of these sites due to various reasons including paucity of funds for the construction of houses by the beneficiaries. It has therefore been decided to take up construction of houses in the sites allotted already.  It has been proposed to provide infrastructural facilities such as roads, streetlights, water supply and drainage in the first phase. The construction of houses will be taken up in the second phase. A sum of Rs.1025.00 lakhs has been provided during 2001‑2002 towards provision of infra-structural facilities and a sum of Rs.261.50 lakhs has been provided for house sites.

WELFARE OF MINORITIES

       6. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis are the important minority communities living in Tamil Nadu. It is the endeavor of this Government to promote religious harmony among the various sections of society. Schemes have therefore been formulated and they are implemented to make the Minorities feel that they are part and parcel of the State.

C. SCHEMES

1. 1.        EDUCATION

KALLAR RECLAMATION SCHOOLS

       7. The people belonging to the Denotified communities, particularly, the Piramalai Kallars very much lag behind in the educational front and their literacy rate is very low. In order to achieve educational advancement of Denotified Communities, with special reference to Piramalai Kallar Community, the Department is running 265 Kallar Reclamation Schools in the Districts of Madurai, Theni and Dindigul where the population of Piramalai Kallar community is concentrated.  The total strength of the students studying in these schools is 51494. The Government are taking every effort to improve the quality of education in these schools. Upgradation of schools, construction of additional classrooms, laboratories and toilet blocks for girl students, supply of laboratory equipments, provision of electricity, drinking water facilities etc.are the various steps taken by this Government in this direction. Out of 265 Kallar Reclamation Schools functioning in Government owned buildings under the control of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities Department, drinking water facilities in 62 schools, electrification in 72 schools and toilet facilities in 72 schools have so far been provided. The Hon'ble Chief Minister has directed to take up a crash programme for provision of basic amenities like water supply, electricity and sanitation facilities to the hostels and Kallar Reclamation schools.   In the first phase it has been proposed to provide toilets to the remaining 193 Kallar Reclamation Schools for which a sum of Rs.137.35 lakhs has been provided during 2001‑2002. Under the introduction of computer education scheme for all Higher Secondary Schools, announced by the Government, computer education has so far been introduced in 8 schools out of the total 15 Kallar Reclamation Higher Secondary Schools.

8. Every year substantial allocations are being made to improve the infrastructure of the Kallar Reclamation Schools so as to provide better education to the disadvantaged Piramalai Kallar Community.  A sum of Rs.2123.61 lakhs has been provided for the current year for the functioning of these schools.

SUPPLY OF BOOKS AND SLATES

       9.  Under this scheme, slates to students studying up to III Standard, note books and books to students studying up to X Standard in Kallar Reclamation Schools are supplied free of cost.  For this scheme, a sum of Rs. 36.49 lakhs has been provided for the year 2001-2002.

SUPPLY OF UNIFORMS

       10. Two sets of uniforms are supplied every year to students studying up to VIII Standard in the Denotified Communities Schools and to boarders studying up to X Standard and staying in Hostels for Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities. 21,120 boarders in Backward Classes Hostels and 20,050 boarders in Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities Hostels and 44,950 students in Kallar Reclamation Schools are covered by this scheme.  A sum of Rs.148.67 lakhs has been provided for this scheme for the year 2001‑2002, as provisional allotment.

SCHOLARSHIPS

       11.  Scholarships are awarded to the students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities whose parental income does not exceed Rs.50,000/- per annum

PRE-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS

       12.  All text books are supplied free of cost to students belonging to Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes studying in the 9th and 10th standards.  Students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities studying in 4th to 8th Standards and staying in the Hostels run by this Department are also supplied text books free of cost. Text Books are supplied from 6th to 10th standards to the students belonging to Denotified Communities free of cost through the Tamil Nadu Text Book Corporation subject to a parental annual income limit of Rs.50,000/-.  Further, the special fees paid by the students are reimbursed to the educational institutions.  The Public examination fees payable by the students of 10th Standard are also paid on behalf of the students to the Director of Government Examinations.  Backward Classes Students whose parental annual income is less than Rs.50,000/- and who are hailing from Non-Graduate families get reimbursement of tuition fees for their studies in English Medium classes. In respect of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities students, these conditions do not apply to get this benefit. Students studying in Government and Aided schools are eligible for this assistance.   A sum of Rs.737.51 lakhs has been provided for the current year under this scheme.

INCENTIVES TO GIRL STUDENTS OF MOST BACKWARD CLASSES AND DENOTIFIED COMMUNITIES

       13. Drop outs in primary schools is quite common due to rural poverty, particularly, among the girl children belonging to Most Backward Classes and Denotified communities. In order to reduce the drop out rate amongst the girl students belonging to these communities due to poverty and to encourage them to complete their study upto middle school, an incentive of Rs.500/- per year to 60,000 girl students studying in standards III to V and an assistance of Rs.100/- per month for 10 months to 30,000 girl students studying in Standard VI are given.  A sum of Rs.600.00 lakhs has been POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS provided for this scheme during 2001‑2002.

       14. This scheme covers students studying from Higher Secondary courses in Schools and up to Research scholars in Colleges/Universities.  Under this scheme, a portion of the tuition fees, special fees and cost of books besides the Examination fees in full are sanctioned as scholarship, to the students whose parental income does not exceed Rs.50,000/- per annum.  For the Backward Classes students studying in plus two courses in English medium, the restriction of parental income of Rs.50,000/- per annum and the condition that there shall be no graduate in the family are imposed for the reimbursement of tuition fees.  But in the case of students of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, these conditions are not applicable.

BOARDING AND LODGING CHARGES

         15. For the students with parental income not exceeding Rs.50,000/- per annum and pursuing their studies by staying in Hostels attached to the educational institutions, boarding and lodging charges as prescribed in the scholarship notification are also sanctioned along with the scholarship amount. For the post-matric scholarship schemes a sum of Rs.1122.62 lakhs has been provided for the year 2001-2002.

FREE EDUCATION

       16. The students belonging to Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities studying from Xth Standard upto Degree courses like B.A., B.Sc., and B.Com., are provided free education without imposing any restrictions on their parental income.  However, Backward Classes students are provided free education from Xth Standard up to Degree level subject to the conditions that (a) the annual income of parent shall not exceed Rs.50,000/- and (b) there should be no graduate in the family of the student.

        In the case of students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, subject to the above said two conditions and if the student is the first person in the family to pursue diploma course or professional degree course, he is provided free education in Diploma Courses in Polytechnic and professional Degree courses viz. Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, Veterinary, Law, etc.

       The students covered under the Free Education scheme are fully exempted from paying tuition fees, Special fees, examination fees and other non-refundable compulsory miscellaneous fees at the rates approved by the Government. Under these schemes a sum of Rs.1705.29 lakhs has been provided for the current year.

AWARD OF PRIZES

1. (i)        STATE LEVEL AND DISTRICT LEVEL PRIZES

       17. Two first prizes (one boy and one girl) are awarded for proficiency, each in Twelfth and Tenth Standard at the State Level every year under this scheme.   The first prize for Twelfth Standard is Rs.3,000/- in the case of Backward Classes and Rs.5,000/- in the case of Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities.  The first prize for the Tenth Standard is Rs.1500/- in the case of Backward Classes and Rs.3000/- in the case of Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities.

       Two such first prizes (one boy and one girl) for proficiency in Twelfth Standard at the District level are being awarded.  The prize is Rs.1,500/- in the case of Backward Classes and Rs.3, 000/- in the case of Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities. Similarly, two first prizes, two-second prizes and two third prizes are being awarded for Tenth Standard.  The I, II and III Prizes are Rs.500, Rs.250 and Rs.150 for Backward Classes and Rs.1,000, Rs.500 and Rs.300 for Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, respectively. A sum of Rs.2.13 lakhs has been provided for the year 2001-2002 under this scheme.

1. (ii)      PERARIGNAR ANNA MEMORIAL AWARD

       18. Perarignar Anna Memorial Award is awarded to two boys and two girls belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities, who secure the first and second ranks in the Twelfth Standard Examination in each District and joining Professional Degree Courses at the rate of Rs.3000/-per annum per student for four /five years.

1. (iii)    THANTHAI PERIYAR MEMORIAL AWARD

       19. Similarly, two boys and two girls belonging to Backward Classes/ Most Backward Classes/ Denotified Communities are awarded Thanthai Periyar Memorial Award at the rate of Rs.3000/- per annum per student for three years, for those who secure highest and next highest marks in Tenth Standard, and get admitted into the Polytechnics in each District.

       A sum of Rs.23.66 lakhs has been provided for Anna and Periyar Memorial Awards for the current year.

(iv) INCENTIVES TO MERITORIOUS MOST BACKWARD CLASSES/DENOTIFIED COMMUNITIES BOYS & GIRLS

       20. Under this scheme, totally 500 boys and 500 girls who belong to the Most Backward Classes  / Denotified Communities and who secure the highest marks at the state level in the +2 Public Examinations are sanctioned incentives at the rate of Rs.1500/- p.a. to pursue higher studies. The incentives are sanctioned every year to the selected students till the completion of Degree Courses or for a maximum period of five years whichever is less. The scheme is implemented without any restriction on the parental income. A sum of Rs.30.00 lakhs has been allotted for this scheme for the current year.

HOSTELS    

       21. There are 972 hostels functioning, out of which 537 hostels come under the control of Director of Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare and the balance 435 hostels under the control of Director of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.  Totally 52505 students availed themselves of hostel facilities during 2000-2001.  Students with parental annual income up to Rs.50,000/- are admitted in these hostels.  Out of the 972 hostels, 202 hostels are housed in Government Buildings and the rest of the 770 hostels are functioning in rented buildings. This Government proposes to construct 43 hostels in schools and colleges for students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified communities at a cost of Rs.19.63 crores. This cost will be shared between the Central and State Governments. This Government also proposes to tap other sources of funding for completing construction of the remaining hostels, which are now housed in rented buildings in a phased manner. A provision of Rs.25.00 crores has been made during the current year for construction of hostels. Basic amenities such as water supply, toilet and electricity facilities will be provided in all the existing hostels in a phased manner.

       22. The hostels are provided with Wet Grinders, Colour T.V.sets (College hostels only), play materials and Libraries.  In order to improve the general knowledge of the hostel inmates, one English daily and two Tamil dailies are supplied to these hostels.  The hostel students upto tenth Standard are supplied with free text books under different schemes.  The tenth and Plus Two students in the hostels are also supplied with guides for all subjects to improve their performance in Public Examinations. A new scheme of supply of woolen sweaters to inmates of hostels in hill areas will be implemented during the current year. Hostel Management Committees have been formed to ensure proper functioning of these hostels.

FOOD CHARGES AND BOARDING GRANTS

       23. Food charges are allowed to College hostel boarders and school hostel boarders at Rs.400/- and Rs.225/- respectively per month per boarder. The Hon'ble Chief Minister has given approval to increase the food charges for school hostels from Rs.225/- to Rs.300/- per boarder per month, as the present rates are considered to be not adequate. A sum of Rs.4210.30 lakhs has been provided for running these hostels for the current year. Boarding Grants are also provided to 39 Government Recognised Private Management Hostels/Homes maintained for the welfare of poor students to meet out the expenses relating to boarding and lodging charges of boarders belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities whose parental annual income does not exceed Rs.50,000/-.  A sum of Rs.150/- per month per student for 10 months in a year is being sanctioned. Totally 1856 students were benefited under this scheme during 2000-2001. For the year 2001‑2002 a sum of Rs.21.18 lakhs has been provided for this purpose.

II. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

SUPPLY OF FREE TOOLS

        24. To improve the economic conditions of Salavai Thozhilalars, Mudithiruthuvors and Boyars  whose annual income is less than Rs.16,000/- in rural areas and Rs.24,000/- in urban areas, 4000 Brass iron boxes, 500 barber kits and 500 stone cutting tools are supplied free of cost to them every year. A sum of Rs.58.18 lakhs has been provided for this scheme during 2001-2002.

SETTING UP OF SALOONS, LAUNDRIES AND MOBILE LAUNDRIES

       25. The Government give financial assistance for setting up of Saloons, Laundries and Mobile Laundries to members of Most Backward Classes.

A sum of Rs.4.00 lakhs has been provided for the current year to provide assistance to 320 beneficiaries.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MBCS/DNCS FAMILIES FOR FUNERAL RITES

       26. Financial assistance of Rs. 500/- is sanctioned to Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities families with annual income upto Rs.24,000/- for funeral rites, for death in their families. For the current year, Rs.2.00 crores has been provided under this scheme.

III. TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

SPECIAL COACHING SCHEME FOR ALL INDIA SERVICES

       27. A Special Training Institute is functioning at Chennai for imparting training to bright boys and girls belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities to come out successful in the All India Civil Services Examinations. 100 students are admitted every year in this Institute. A Regional Training Centre is also functioning at Madurai, where coaching is given for 75 students. Boarding charges at the rate of Rs.500 per mensem per student is given in addition to free lodging, coaching and library facilities.  Students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, irrespective of parental income are eligible for admission in this Institute.      

       With a view to bring in communal harmony amongst the trainees hailing from the various communities, the two Training Institutes maintained separately for the students of Adidravidars and Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities have been merged and brought under the control of Anna Institute of Management, Chennai. A sum of Rs.80.74 lakhs has been provided in the Budget for the current year for this training programme.

JOB ORIENTED TRAINING PROGRAMME

       28. In order to improve the capabilities of the students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities to enable them to secure job, employment oriented training is provided.    Job Oriented Training Courses are being conducted mostly through Government Institutions and wherever such institutions are not available they are conducted through recognised private institutions.  The training fee is borne by the Government.

Training is provided in the following fields: -

A sum of Rs 1588.35 lakhs has been provided under this scheme for the current year.

V. OTHER ACTIVITIES

TAMILNADU BACKWARD CLASSES COMMISSION

       29. In pursuance of the direction of the Supreme Court in the Mandal Commission case, Government have constituted a permanent Commission termed as “The Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission" to examine and to recommend the claims and requests relating to inclusion and exclusion of communities from the list of Backward Classes/Most Backward Classes.  Periodic revision of list of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes is also entrusted to the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission.  The Commission is now conducting enquires on the representations received from various community organisations and individuals for inclusion of their communities in the list of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes. The Commission has so far received representations seeking inclusion in the list of Backward Classes/Most Backward Classes from 148 communities, out of which the Commission has completed the inquiry in respect of 73 communities.  The inquiry is in progress in respect of the remaining communities.

TAMILNADU BACKWARD CLASSES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED

       30. Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation Ltd., (TABCEDCO), a State Government Undertaking commenced its operations on 22.5.1982.  The total authorised and paid up share capital of the Corporation is Rs.1200.00 lakhs and Rs.1119.01 lakhs respectively. The main object of the Corporation is to promote economic development of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities by providing loans for the economically and financially viable scheme, trade or project to the individuals, groups or societies.  TABCEDCO is also acting as the State Channelising Agency for National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, New Delhi. The following institutions are acting as channelising agencies for the disbursement and recovery of loan.

1. (1)   Tamil Nadu Industrial Cooperative Bank
2. (2)   Tamil Nadu Handloom Development Corporation
3. (3)   Co-operative Banks
4. (4)    Private and Nationalised Banks and
5. (5)    Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Aavin)

        So far TABCEDCO has received funds to the tune of Rs. 3103.51 lakhs from the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation and a sum of Rs.464.00 lakhs from the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, New Delhi. The financial assistance provided so far to 36306 beneficiaries belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities amounts to Rs.3090.69 lakhs.  A sum of Rs.143.30 lakhs was sanctioned  to 276 minority people by TABCEDCO prior to the commencement of business by Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation (TAMCO) and the balance of Rs. 320.00 lakhs has been transferred to TAMCO.

THANTHAI PERIYAR AWARD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

       31. The Government have introduced the Thanthai Periyar Award for Social Justice to honour those who have struggled for Social Justice. The Award consists of 1 Sovereign Gold Medal and Rs.1.00 lakh cash award.

WELFARE OF MINORITIES

       32. Under the Prime Minister’s 15 Point Programme, the following schemes are being implemented for the welfare of the Minorities:

1. (i)  Giving special consideration to the Minorities in recruitment to the Police Force.
2. (ii)   Giving fair chances to the Minorities in developmental schemes.
3. (iii)   Providing facilities to students belonging to Minority Communities to study through their mother tongue.
4. (iv)  Supplying Text books through the Tamil Nadu Text Book Corporation to the Linguistic Minorities.
5. (v)   Running Teacher Training Institutes in Urdu, Telugu and Malayalam languages at Chennai, Krishnagiri and Desur respectively.

STATE MINORITIES COMMISSION

       33. A Minorities Commission has been constituted to protect the interests of both the religious and linguistic minorities in this State.  The State Minorities Commission receives representations from the members of the minority communities and institutions.  They call the petitioners for personal hearings, get reports from the Government departments on the issues raised by them and visit various parts of the State to study the problems of the Minorities and recommend suitable measures to the Government for ensuring effective implementation of the schemes for their welfare.

TAMIL NADU MINORITIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

34. The Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation (TAMCO) has been functioning with effect from 27.12.1999 with its main focus on the Socio-economic development of minorities in Tamil Nadu, with an authorised share capital of Rs.5.00 Crores. This Corporation functions on the same lines as that of the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation (TABCEDCO).

            Out of a sum of Rs.330.79 lakhs released by the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation through the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation in 1994, a sum of Rs.169.75 lakhs has been disbursed to 499 Minority people up to 15.6.2001 by TAMCO leaving a balance of Rs.188.79 lakhs, which includes interest on deposits.

The Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation acts as the State channelising agency to National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation, New Delhi.  The sub-channelising agencies of TABCEDCO are also acting as sub-channelising agencies for TAMCO.

WAKF BOARD

       35. The Wakf Board is constituted under the provisions of the Wakf Act, 1995  (Central Act 43 of 1995). Twenty-three Wakf Tribunals having jurisdiction over 30 districts have been constituted for determining any dispute relating to Wakf or Wakf property. The Government sanction administrative grant every year from the State fund to Tamil Nadu Wakf Board. A sum of Rs.45.00 lakhs has been provided for the Board during 2001-2002. This Government will provide financial assistance to the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board for construction of a new office building at a cost of Rs.40.00 lakhs.  This will meet a longstanding demand of our Muslim brethren. Out of this a sum of Rs.16.00 lakhs will be released during 2001‑2002. The Wakf Board and its 10 zonal offices will be provided with computers during 2001‑2002 at a cost of Rs.15.00 lakhs.

REPAIR AND RENOVATION GRANT

       36. The Government sanction grant every year for the renovation of Mosques/Durgahs and for the construction of compound walls/ barbed wire fencing to the burial grounds of Muslims. A sum of Rs. 10.00 lakhs has been provided under this scheme for the current year. The Government have also approved the scheme of special repairs and renovation of the mosques/durgahs at an ultimate cost of Rs.80.00 lakhs. Out of this, a sum of Rs.32.00 lakhs will be released during 2001‑2002.

ULEMA PENSION

       37. The Ulemas who have rendered service as Mua-zzins, Pesh Imams or Arabic Teachers and who have attained the age of 60 years after serving for 20 years in any surveyed and notified wakf paying annual contribution and who are in indigent circumstances are paid a sum of Rs.500/- per month as pension. The number of beneficiaries receiving Ulema pension is 1850 against the sanctioned strength of 2200. A sum of Rs.1.32 crores has been provided for this purpose during the current year.

TAMILNADU STATE HAJJ COMMITTEE

       38. Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee functions under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister in-charge of Wakfs with 15 members.  The Government have also accorded sanction to Co-opt 7 persons as members. Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee is given an annual grant of Rs.7.00 lakhs to meet the administrative expenses.  The Tamil Nadu Hajj Committee takes care of the welfare of the Hajj Pilgrims during their Pilgrimage by providing necessary assistance like transit accommodation to the outstation pilgrims at Chennai, transport facilities from the transit point to the Airport and supporting arrangements for operation of Flights from Chennai to Jeddah.

       In addition to the administrative grant, the Government sanction grants to the Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee every year to meet the expenditure on deputation of Hajj Volunteers to Saudi Arabia and for deputation of two representatives to Saudi Arabia for selection of buildings to accommodate the pilgrims.

MUSLIM WOMEN AID SOCIETY

       39. Muslim Women Aid Society registered under the Societies Registration Act was founded at Chennai on 1st October 1892.  The main object of the Society is to help any destitute Muslim widow by sanctioning monthly allowance and to help deserving Muslim women and girls and to organise a Home for training destitute Muslim women in Khadhi Crafts and Small Scale Handicrafts.  The Society raises its funds by accepting donations from volunteers.  Half of the amount raised by the society is sanctioned as grant by the Government every year.

NEW SCHEMES

       40. The following schemes will be implemented under Part II schemes during the current year.

D.   CONCLUSION

         41. With a view to fostering the upliftment of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, the Government have been following the reservation policy effectively in employment in Government Services and admission in Educational Institutions.  Apart from this, a number of welfare measures and Economic Development Programmes intended for the benefit of the people belonging to the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities are also implemented by the Government with a view to make Tamil Nadu number 1 State in this regard as per the wishes of the Hon'ble Chief Minister.

           Tmt.VALARMATHI JEBARAJ

MINISTER FOR BACKWARD CLASSES

ANNEXURE

ALLOTMENT FOR 2001-2002

 (Rupees in thousands)