During last year this Government have issued orders upgrading the Adi Dravidar Welfare Middle School at Athipallam, Dharmapuri District into High School and the High School at Manamai, Kancheepuram District into Higher Secondary School.
Taking into account the welfare of the Scheduled Caste girls, this Government have issued orders opening a separate girls High school in Dr. Ambedkar Government Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School at Chepakkam, Cuddalore District during the current year.
About 2,12,000 students are studying in Adi Dravidar Welfare schools and 45,600 students in Tribal Residential Schools.
To induce the eagerness of students in Computer Science 30 high schools have been supplied with computers. Computer Science education has been introduced in 62 Higher Secondary Schools. It is noteworthy to mention that 97% of Scheduled Caste boys and girls came out successfully in Computer Science in the Higher Secondary Public Examination held during last year.
57 high schools have been equipped with laboratory buildings. As far as higher secondary schools are concerned, construction of laboratory buildings have been completed in 58 schools. During last year alone, new science laboratories were established in 12 Higher Secondary Schools at a cost of Rs. 16 lakhs per school with Special Central Assistance to the tune of Rs. 192 lakhs.
Tuition Fee Concession
Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Scheduled Caste Converts students studying in Government and Government Aided educational institutions are totally exempted from the payment of tuition fee without any income limit.
Free Education
Free education is provided upto degree level.
The Government which is very much concerned in the development of Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe girls in the field of education has extended this concession to the girls of these communities upto Post Graduate level from the academic year 2001-2002.
This concession is given to all the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Convert students studying in self finance colleges under the free seat category, to the extent of tuition fee fixed for the courses in Government educational institutions, provided their parental / guardian’s income does not exceed Rs.50, 920/- per annum.
Educational Scholarship
The Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students studying in standards VI to X are exempted from the payment of special fees. This department reimburses the loss incurred by the concerned educational institutions on account of the exemption granted.
Similarly the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students studying in Standards X and XII are exempted from the payment of examination fees. The entire amount is paid to the Directorate of Government Examinations by this department.
Scholarship is given at the rate of Rs.25/- to Rs.50/- per month to the children of those engaged in unclean occupation studying as day scholars in Standards I to X irrespective of their community, religion and income. For hostellers Rs. 200/- is paid per month in respect of students studying in standards III to V and Rs. 250/- per month for students studying in Standard IX and X . Besides a lump sum grant of Rs. 500/- per annum is paid to all the students.
Under the Government of India scheme for the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe Students pursuing further studies as day scholars beyond X standard, an amount ranging from Rs. 90/- to Rs. 190/- has been granted per month so as to meet out the compulsory expenses including the examinations fees payable by them to the educational institutions provided the annual income of their parent / guardian does not exceed Rs. 65,290/-. In the case of students studying as hostellers, Rs. 150/- to Rs. 425/- is paid per month depending upon the class in which they study.
Similarly under the State Government scheme, scholarship is given to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Convert students at the rate of Rs. 65/- to Rs. 125/- per month for dayscholars pursuing further studies beyond X standard, provided the annual income of the parent/guardian does not exceed Rs. 50,000/-. In case of hostellers a sum of Rs. 115/- to Rs. 280/- per month is paid as scholarship towards maintenance charges depending upon the class in which they study.
Higher Education Special Scholarship.
As far as the students residing in Government recognised institutional hostels and pursuing graduate, post graduate or professional courses are concerned, the Government have ordered converting the loan scholarship scheme under which an amount hitherto paid at the rate of Rs. 6500/- and Rs.7000/- as loan into a grant based scheme called Higher Education Special Scholarship scheme during 2002-2003 in accordance with the announcement of Hon’ble Chief Minister so as to enable these students to meet out the increase in hostel expenses. For this, the Government allocated Rs. 5.00 crores during the previous financial year and the amount was paid as grant. For the students pursuing medical education, 75% of the amount is given as grant and 25% as loan. To become eligible for this grant, the income limit of parent / guardian should not exceed Rs. 50,000/-per annum. A sum of Rs. 4.75 crores has been allocated during the current year under this scheme.
Book Bank Schemes
The Book Bank Scheme is implemented for the academic development of students pursuing Medical, Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary, Polytechnic, Law, Master in Business Administration, Chartered Accountant, Bio-Sciences and other similar technical courses. Under this scheme, one set of books for every two students worth of Rs. 2,400/- to Rs. 7,500/- is bought and distributed. A sum of Rs. 34.56 lakhs has been allocated for this scheme during the current year.
Scheme of supply of free Text Books and Note Books.
Free text books are supplied to all students studying in Standards I to X in Adi Dravidar Welfare schools. Free note books are supplied to students in Standards III to X. As far as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students studying IX and X standards in schools run by Education Department are concerned, free text books and note books are supplied through this Department. Free text books are distributed to students studying upto VIII standard through the Education Department.
Slates
Free slates are distributed to boys and girls studying I standard in the schools run by this department.
Uniforms
Two sets of free uniforms are given annually to all students studying in Standards I to XII in Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department Schools and all students residing in Adi Dravidar Welfare hostels.
Special Incentive Scheme for encouraging girls education
Under the special scheme of encouraging girls education brought out by Hon’ble Chief Minister during the last regime, in order to ensure 100% enrollment of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe girls in schools, a sum of Rs.500/-is given for 10 months at the rate of Rs. 50/- per month for 60,000 girls studying in Standards III to V of the educationally backward districts viz., Dharmapuri, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Virudhunagar, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Salem, Namakkal, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur and Nagapattinam. Similarly to encourage the continuance of their studies after entering VI Standard, 30,000 Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe girls are given a sum of Rs. 1000/- at the rate of Rs. 100/- per month for 10 months. A sum of Rs. 6.00 crores is spent under this scheme for each year. Hon’ble Chief Minister has allocated Rs. 6.00 crores during the current year also.
Supply of free Bicycles Scheme
Hon’ble Chief Minister who is very much concerned about the educational development of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe girl children, after assuming office again, announced the laudable scheme of supply of free bicycles to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Scheduled Caste Convert girls studying in XI and XII Standards. As per this scheme, 56,525 free bicycles were supplied to girls during the academic year 2001-2002 at a cost of Rs. 7.69 crores.
Similarly 47,980 girls were supplied with free bicycles at a cost of Rs6.91 crores during the academic year 2002-2003.
A sum of Rs.7.49 crores has been allocated for implementation of this scheme during the current financial year.
Concession and Hostel facilities for Post Graduate girl students
As per the orders of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. Puratchithalaivi, the scheme of free education has been extended to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe girls upto post graduate level from the year 2001-2002.
Similarly a separate hostel has been opened in Chennai during 2001-2002 for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe girls under going Post Graduate courses.
Awards (State Level)
Award of common prizes is distributed at State Level to students who secure the highest percentage of marks in X Standard and XII Standard Public Examinations as follows:
1 |
XII Standard (Higher Secondary) |
To one boy and one girl from each community from Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts Rs.25000/-per student securing first rank at State level. |
2 |
X Standard |
To one Boy and one girl from each Community from Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts. Rs.10000/- per student securing first rank at State level. |
3 |
+2 Examination State Level
(22 subjects). |
To one boy or one girl from each Community from Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts Rs.2000/- per student securing first rank in each subject (22 subjects) at State level. |
4 |
X Examination State Level (First 5 subjects) |
To one boy or one girl from each community from Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts Rs.1000/-per student securing first rank in each subject (5 subjects) at State level. |
Awards (District Level)
Award of common prizes is distributed at district level to students who secure the highest percentage of marks in X Standard and XII Standard Public Examinations in Adi Dravidar Welfare Schools and all the schools including general schools.
1 |
XII Standard
(Higher Secondary) |
To one boy and one girl from among Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts Rs.3000/-per student. |
2 |
X Std. (Three Prizes) |
First Prize |
To one Boy and one girl from among Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts Rs.1000/-per student. |
Second Prize |
To one Boy and one girl from among Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts Rs.500/-per student. |
Third prize |
To one boy and one girl from among Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste Converts Rs.200/- per student. |
Chief Minister’s Merit Award
To encourage high scorers in the Higher Secondary Public Examination, first thousand boys and thousand girls belonging to Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Converts, who continue their higher studies, a sum of Rs. 1,500/- is given per annum as award for a period of 5 years. Rs. 42.79 lakhs has been provided in the Budget Estimate for 2002-2003.
Hostels
There are 1076 hostels for Scheduled Castes and 26 hostels for Scheduled Tribes functioning under this department. Among this, 502 hostels are functioning in government buildings and 574 hostels in rented buildings. About 76,000 students (boys and girls) are continuing their studies by residing in these hostels.
As per the orders of Hon’ble Chief Minister to construct own buildings with all facilities to the 574 hostels functioning in rented buildings within a period of two years, construction work has been taken up for 143 hostels in the first phase with loan from the HUDCO and financial support from MLA’s Constituency Development Fund and the works are nearing completion. As per the announcement of Hon’ble Chief Minister in the present Budget, action is being taken for selection of sites for construction of 150 hostel buildings. Selection of sites will be finalised soon and construction work will be started. Besides this, the construction works for 23 hostels has also been taken up separately with the usual provision made in the budget under Government of India’s 50% grant. The survey conducted reveals that the construction works of 51 hostels are under various stages and they are now nearing completion. As a result of these follow up action, 367, hostels housed in rented buildings will start functioning in Government’s buildings within the current year.
Convergence with School Education Department
This department has initiated convergence proceedings with School Education Department through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The quality and facilities of primary and middle welfare schools will be upgraded through this. Refresher training of teachers will be taken up for the first time under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
Protection of Civil Rights
To abolish untouchability and prevent atrocities against Adi Dravidars. Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 (PCR) and the Scheduled Caste / Tribal (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 are being implemented very efficiently in this State. Human Rights / Social Justice wing is functioning for this purpose with Chennai as head-quarters under the direct control of Additional Director General of Police (Social Justice-CID) and under the direct supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police.
There are 7 Police circles with 7 Deputy Superintendents of Police with 34 Inspectors of Police functioning in the districts. At the state level State Vigilance and Monitoring Committee is functioning with the Hon’ble Chief Minister as the Chairperson. In the districts, District Vigilance and Monitoring Committees headed by District Collectors are constituted for implementing the provision of the Act, reviewing the ongoing schemes and sanctioning monitory relief and rehabilitating the victims and their dependents.
Sensitisation Workshops
As per the orders of Hon’ble Chief Minister to sensitise the bureaucracy towards the welfare of Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe people with great zeal, 24 awareness meetings and workshops have been conducted and sensitised the bureaucracy at State and District levels.
Reservation
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates are appointed by all recruiting agencies of the Government viz., Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board by following 18% and 1% rule of reservation. Whenever no such eligible candidates are available as per this reservation, those posts are notified as backlog vacancies and are filled up through the succeeding examinations or special tests. Those backlog vacancies will not be allowed to be lapsed on any situation as per law.
As per the orders of Hon’ble Chief Minister detailed instructions have been issued to ensure adequate representations for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes in all the posts under ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ and ‘D’ groups in government departments, quasi government departments, Boards and Government aided educational institutions and when the representation is less, those posts will be filled up through direct recruitment at the entry level under each category of posts, or by transfer and if necessary by amending the service rules. To review this, a high level committee under the Chairmanship of Minister (ADW) has been constituted. Through this, orders issued in G.O (Ms)No.44 Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department dated 25.05.1998 has been confirmed.
