Policy Note 2008 - 2009 of Backward Classes & Most Backward Classes Department, Tamil Nadu, India

The Government of Tamil Nadu is always concerned with social justice and empowerment of the people at the lowest strata of the society. The educational and economic development had been a distant dream for the socially backward classes. Tamil Nadu has been the forerunner to other States in implementing various schemes for the socio, educational and economic upliftment of Backward Classes. The Directorate of Backward Classes Welfare and the Directorate of Most Backward Classes and Denotified communities Welfare were formed by this Government during 1969 and 1989 respectively for the effective implementation of the welfare schemes formulated by this Government for the welfare of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities. The Directorate of Minorities Welfare was established in 2007 to focus attention on the advancement of minorities in the State.

2. Education is the best tool for the socio- economic advancement. Hence, a major portion of the Budget allocation of this Department is spent on education. Further, the reservation provided in education and employment paves the way for the people of Backward Classes to get admission in higher education and employment in Government services. The skill development training given in various trades facilitates them to get employment and to establish self employment ventures. Educational advancement enables them to get employment which enhances their economic status. Further, the advancement in educational and economic spheres helps them in raising their social status.

3. The great Philosopher Aristotle argued that "to treat equals unequally is unjust, but to treat unequals equally is also unjust". Though all are equal by birth, unequal conditions of cultural life at the surroundings cause the unequal capabilities of children from different strata of society. The reservation in education and employment is essential to bring the people of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes on par with other forward communities. On this basis only, the Government of Tamil Nadu has formulated and is implementing the reservation policy for the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities in education and employment and also taking firm steps to protect the reservation law.

4. As a result of the continued efforts taken by Hon’ble Chief Minister, the Central Government has enacted the law providing 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes in higher educational institutions of Government of India. This Government will take firm action to continuously protect the reservation law for Other Backward Classes in Central higher educational institutions and would strive for reservation in employment in private sector.

5. As promised in 2006 Election manifesto, this Government has enacted the law providing 3.5% reservation for Backward Class Christians and 3.5% reservation for Backward Class Muslims from out of the 30% reservation provided for Backward Classes.

6. As education forms the basis for the economic advancement of a society, this Government is laying emphasis for the educational advancement of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities. As women have a powerful influence on the lives of their children and family, this Government is keen on encouraging women’s education. Considering the difficulties of the rural students in commuting longer distances for their education, free hostels are provided for their stay nearer to the educational institutions. The Government is implementing Scholarship Schemes for the economically poor students to continue their education, supply of free uniforms and award of prizes to motivate the students for learning. Further, Kallar Reclamation Schools are run by this Department for the educational advancement of Piramalai Kallar Community. The scheme of encouraging meritorious students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, securing highest marks in 10^th standard public examination from the Government schools in each district is implemented from 2007-08 by providing financial support to continue their higher secondary education in the best private schools of their choice in Tamil Nadu.

7. With the objective of improving educational standards of the Piramalai Kallar Community on par with other communities, this Department is running 260 Kallar Reclamation Schools in Madurai, Theni and Dindigul Districts where the population of this community is predominant.3 primary schools, 3 middle schools and 3 high schools were upgraded to Middle Schools, High Schools and higher Secondary schools respectively, during 2007-08. At present, there are 19 Higher Secondary Schools, 23 High Schools, 31 Middle Schools and 187 Primary Schools functioning under this Department. In order to teach the students of Kallar Reclamation schools with a focussed attention, 37 posts of Graduate Teachers have been additionally created by adopting 1:40 teacher pupils ratio.

8. During the current year, 5 computers and 1 printer each will be provided at the cost of Rs.12.60 lakh to the 3 High Schools and 3 Higher Secondary Schools which were upgraded during 2007-08. This will facilitate the students in these schools to download the required course materials and also to improve their general knowledge.

9. In order to improve the infrastructure facilities to Kallar Reclamation Schools, 19 class rooms for 7 schools and laboratory buildings for 4 schools will be constructed during 2008-09 at the cost of Rs.66.50 lakh and Rs.51.68 lakh respectively.

During the current year Rs.3274.75 lakh has been provided for the functioning of Kallar Reclamation Schools.

10. With a view to encouraging the students of Kallar Reclamation Schools to secure highest marks in 10^th and 12^th Standard Public Examinations, a common prize scheme is implemented for all the Kallar Reclamation Schools in Madurai, Theni and Dindigul districts. As per the scheme, the students (boy or girl) securing the first and second rank in the 10^th and 12^th public examination are awarded cash prizes of Rs.3,000 and Rs.2,000/- respectively. Three students (boys or girls) who secure the 3^rd rank are awarded a cash prize of Rs.1,000/- each.

11. The students of Kallar Reclamation Schools in the 1^st to 3^rd standard are supplied with slates, 3^rd to 10^th standard with note books and 1^st to 12^th standard with text books free of cost.

For the year 2008-09, a provision of Rs.45 lakh has been made towards supply of slates, note books and text books.

12. The 1^st standard to 12^th standard students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities in Government, Government aided and partly aided schools are supplied with text books free of cost through Tamil Nadu Text Book Corporation.

13. The 1^st to 8^th standard students of Kallar Reclamation Schools and 4^th to 10^th standard students staying in the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities Hostels are supplied with 2 sets of poly cotton uniforms.During 2007-08, the Government allotted an additional amount of Rs.1.28 crore over and above the Budget allocation of Rs.1.55 crore, making the total allocation of Rs.2.83 crore towards supply of uniforms, by improving the quality of cloth and supplying Churidhars instead of half sarees to the girl students of 9^th and 10^th standards.

For the supply of uniforms during 2008-09, an allocation of Rs.284.32 lakh has been made.

14. The pre-matric scholarship, post-matric scholarship and the free education schemes are implemented for the students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.

15. In the 2008-09 Budget speech, announcement has been made abolishing the special fees for the students of 6^th standard to 12^th standard in Government and Government aided schools from the ensuing academic year, apart from enhancing the annual income ceiling from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh for availing the scholarship.

16. The Government has issued orders abolishing the public examination fees for 10^th and 12^th standard students of Tamil medium in Government and Government aided schools from the year 2007-08.

17. Hence from the current year, the examination fees for the 10^th standard students of English medium in Government and Government aided schools will be reimbursed in full without any condition in respect of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities and with the condition that the annual parental income should not exceed Rs.1 lakh in respect of Backward Classes.

18. The students studying in 6^thstandard to 10^th standard in English medium in Government and Government aided schools are granted tuition fees with the condition that the annual parental income should not exceed Rs.1,00,000/- and there should be no graduate in the family in respect of Backward Classes and without any condition in respect of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.

Under prematric scholarship scheme, a sum of Rs.927.67 lakh has been allocated for the year 2008-09.

19. All students pursuing under graduate courses in Government and Government aided Arts and Science colleges are exempted from payment of tuition fees from 2007-08.

20. The Backward Classes students pursuing under graduate courses in Government and Government aided Arts and Science Colleges are sanctioned the special fees and book money as specified in the scholarship notification and examination fees in full with the condition that the annual parental income should not exceed Rs.1,00,000/-. The undergraduate students belonging to Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities are sanctioned scholarship under free education scheme without any condition.

21. The Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities students studying in Post Graduate courses, Industrial Training Institutes, Polytechnics, Professional courses and Research studies are sanctioned tuition fees, special fees and book money as specified in the scholarship notification and the examination fee in full with the condition that their parental annual income should not exceed Rs.1 lakh.

22. From 2007-08, the scheme of payment of scholarship has been extended to the students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities studying in the evening /second shift in Government and Government aided colleges.

23. The examination fee for the 12^th standard students in English medium classes in Government and Government aided schools is reimbursed in full without any condition in respect of students belonging to Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities and with the condition that their parental annual income should not exceed Rs.1,00,000/- in respect of the students belonging to Backward Classes.

24. The students of 11^th and 12^th standards in Government and Government aided schools in English medium of education are sanctioned tuition fees without any condition in respect of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities and with the condition that the parental annual income should not exceed Rs.1 lakh and there should be no graduate in the family in respect of Backward Classes.

For the year 2008-09, a sum of Rs.3220.38 lakh has been allocated for the post matric scholarship scheme.

25. The special fees and other non-refundable compulsory fees as fixed by the Government and the examination fees in full are reimbursed under free education scheme to the Under graduate students in Government and Government aided Arts and Science Colleges with the condition that their parental annual income should not exceed Rs.1 lakh and the beneficiary should be the first graduate in the family in respect of Backward Classes students and without any condition in respect of Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities students.

26. The tuition fees, special fees, non-refundable compulsory fees as fixed by the Government and the examination fees in full are reimbursed to the Backward Class, Most Backward Classes and the Denotified Community students studying in Polytechnic and professional courses with the condition that the parental annual income should not exceed Rs.1 lakh and the beneficiary should be the first graduate in the family.

For the year 2008-09, a sum of Rs.6089.89 lakh has been provided for the Free Education Scheme.

27. The State level and the district level prizes are awarded to encourage the students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities. From the year 2008-09 onwards, the award scheme has been modified by increasing the number of prizes and the award amount.

28. So far under this scheme, every year a common prize was awarded to one boy and one girl from among Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities securing highest marks in the 10^thand12^th Standards. The student securing the highest marks in 12^th standard was awarded a prize of Rs.3000 if he/she belonged to Backward Class and Rs.5000/- if he belonged to Most Backward Class/Denotified Communities. Similarly, students securing highest marks in 10^th standard was awarded a prize of Rs.1500 if he/she belonged to Backward Class and Rs.3000 if he/she belonged to Most Backward Class/Denotified Community.

29. From 2008-09 onwards, one boy and one girl from Backward Class and one boy and one girl from Most Backward Class /Denotified Community securing the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd ranks in 12^th Standard public examination will be awarded

30. Similarly, one boy and one girl from Backward Class and one boy and one girl from Most Backward Class /Denotified Community securing the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd ranks in 10^th Standard public examination will be awarded 4 first prizes of Rs.5,000 each, 4 second prizes of Rs.4,000 each and 4 third prizes of Rs.3000 each.

31. So far, one boy and one girl securing the first mark in 12^th Standard public examination at the District Level were given a common prize for the Backward Class and Most Backward Class/Denotified Community. If the awardee belonged to Backward Class, a prize of Rs.1500/- and if the awardee belonged to Most Backward Class/Denotified Community, a prize of Rs.3000/- was awarded. Similarly, in respect of 10^th Standard public examination, two 1^st prizes, two 2^nd prizes and two 3^rd prizes were awarded for one boy and one girl commonly from among the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes / Denotified Communities. In the case of Backward Class students, the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd rank holders were awarded the prize of Rs.500/-, Rs.250/- and Rs.150/- respectively. In the case of Most Backward Class/Denotified Community, the awardees for the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd ranks were given Rs.1000/-, Rs.500/- and Rs.300/- respectively.

32. From 2008-09 onwards, one boy and one girl from Backward Class and one boy and one girl from Most Backward Class/ Denotified community securing the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd rank in 12th Public Examination in each district will be awarded 4 first prizes of Rs.3000/- each, 4 second prizes of Rs.2000/- each and 4 third prizes of Rs.1000/- each.

33. Similarly, one boy and one girl from Backward Class and one boy and one girl from Most Backward Class /Denotified community securing the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd ranks in 10th Public Examination in each district will be awarded 4 first prizes of Rs.1500/- each, 4 second prizes of Rs.1000/- each and 4 third prizes of Rs.500/- each.

34. Upto 2007-08, two boys and two girls belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities who secured the first and second ranks in the 12^th Public examination at District Level and pursue their studies in professional colleges were awarded Perarignar Anna Memorial Award carrying a cash prize of Rs.3000/- per year for the entire course.

35. Upto 2007-08, Thanthai Periyar memorial award was given at the rate of Rs.3000/- per year to 2 boys and 2 girls from among the students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities who joined polytechnic courses in each district with highest marks in 10^th Public examination. From this year onwards, Thanthai Periyar Memorial Award will be given to 2 boys and 2 girls belonging to Backward Classes and 2 boys and 2 girls belonging to Most Backward Classes / Denotified Communities at the rate of Rs.5000/- each.

For the year 2008-09, a sum of Rs108.52 lakh has been provided for the award of prizes.

36. The Government is providing financial assistance to 10students from each district ie. 3 boys and 3 girls from Backward Classes and 2 boys and 2 girls belonging to Most Backward Classes / Denotified communities who secure highest marks in 10^th Public examination from Government High Schools to pursue their higher secondary education in the best private schools of their choice in Tamil Nadu. The annual parental income of the students availing the benefit under the scheme shall not exceed Rs.1 lakh and a student will be sanctioned the financial assistance of Rs.56,000/- for two years, not exceeding Rs.28,000/- per year.

INCENTIVE SCHEME FOR RURAL GIRL STUDENTS OF MOST BACKWARD CLASSES AND DENOTIFIED COMMUNITIES.

37. With a view to encourage education among girls in rural areas and to prevent drop-out of girl children at the primary school level, the girl students belonging to Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities studying in Government and Government aided schools are granted an incentive of Rs.500/- from 3^rd standard to 5^th std. and Rs.1000/- for 6^th standard. Every year 90,000 girl students belonging to Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities are benefited under this scheme.

38. Free bicycles are distributed to 11^th Standard students of all communities studying in Government, Government aided and partly aided schools. From the year 2006-07, free bicycles are distributed to the students availing free bus pass also. During 2007-08, free bicycles were distributed to 3,78,582 students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities at an expenditure of Rs.8118.63 lakh. The process has been initiated to supply free bicycles to the 11^th standard students at the beginning of the academic year 2008-09.

For the year 2008-09, a sum of Rs.8073.72 lakh has been allocated under this scheme.

39. In Tamil Nadu, there are 50 college girls hostels, 72 college boys hostels, 362 school girls hostels, 697 school boys hostels totaling to 1181 hostels are functioning to facilitate the students of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities to continue their education without any financial difficulty. This includes 100 hostels newly opened by this Government at 50 hostels each during 2006-07 and 2007-08. The students in these hostels are provided with free boarding and lodging. 65,402 students were benefited by getting accommodation in these hostels during the year
2007-08.

40. 25 new hostels will be opened during the current year to accommodate more number of students.

41. Considering the price-hike, the monthly food charges for the students in respect of school hostels was increased from Rs.300/- to Rs.400/- and in respect of college hostels from 400/- to Rs.500/-with effect from 1.6.2007. The Government has incurred an additional expenditure of Rs.6.89 crore for this during 2007-08. Taking into consideration of the demands for a further increase, the monthly food charges has been increased by Rs.50/-, thus making it to Rs.450/- in the case of school hostels and Rs.550/- in the case of college hostels from the coming academic year.

42. Out of the total 1,181 hostels, 773 hostels are functioning in Government buildings. The construction of own buildings for 240 hostels are at various stages. During 2007-08, orders have been issued for construction of 25 hostels with the student strength of 50 and 25 hostels with the student strength of 100, totaling to 50 hostels at a cost of Rs.32.15 crore and the works are under progress.

During the current year, own buildings will be constructed for 25 hostels at an estimated cost of Rs.12.50 crore.

43. From 2007-08 onwards, the amount paid towards miscellaneous charges has been increased from Rs.15 to Rs.25 in respect of the school hostel students and Rs.15 to 35 in respect of college hostel students.

44. During 2007-08, solar water heaters for 126 hostels at a cost of Rs.150 lakh, Invertors for118 college hostels at a cost of Rs.17.70 lakh, water purifier for 400 hostels at a cost of Rs.44 lakh, first-aid boxes to all the hostels at an expenditure of Rs.7.28 lakh and wet grinders to 690 hostels at a cost of Rs.55.20 lakh were supplied.

45. As the boarders in the boys and girls hostels at Usilampatti, Madurai district are large in number, pressure cookers with steam boilers were provided at a cost of Rs.25 lakh for preparing their food.

46. In order to enable the students to learn about the use of computers and to download their lessons, 5 computers per hostel will be provided with tutor to 25 Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities college girls hostels situated in rural areas at a total cost of Rs.63 lakh during 2008-09.

47. The students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities staying in 39 Government approved private hostels whose parental annual income does not exceed Rs.50,000/- are sanctioned food charges at the rate of Rs.200/- p.m. per student for 10 months.

For the current year, a sum of Rs.34.50 lakh has been provided towards boarding grant for the students staying in the Government approved private hostels.

48. The Government is implementing schemes like supply of free iron boxes, supply of free sewing machines, various job oriented training etc., to improve the economic status of the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities through self employment. Further, loans are sanctioned at low rate of interest to establish self-employment ventures.

49. Sewing machines are supplied free of cost for the economic upliftment of the poor Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities with an annual income not exceeding Rs.16,000/- in rural areas and Rs.24,000/- in urban areas.

Under this scheme a sum of Rs.66.63 lakh has been allocated for the year 2008-09.

50.Iron-boxes are distributed free of cost to those engaged in laundering with an annual income not exceeding Rs.16,000/- in the rural areas and Rs.24,000/- in the urban areas.

51. The socially and economically backward students belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities are imparted coaching in the training centre under the control of Anna Institute of Management to improve their efficiency on par with other communities to compete in the Indian Civil Services Examination. The students belonging to the above categories are admitted to the training centre without any income ceiling. However, for staying in the hostel attached to the Institute, the parental income should not exceed Rs.50,000/- per annum. The food charges are allowed at the rate of Rs.600/- per month per boarder.

52. The youths belonging to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified communities are imparted training through this department to acquire the skill required for employability and to take up gainful self-employment. The entire training fee is borne by the Government. 47 types of Job Oriented Training Scheme were implemented including the Air Hostess training for 258 girls during 2007-08. Under this scheme, training is imparted through Central and State Government Undertakings and private institutions in various job oriented courses like Plastics Processing Machine Operator, Footwear and Leather Goods Production, Apparel and Garment Manufacturing, Apparel Designing, Heavy Vehicle Driving, Hotel Management and Catering Technology etc. 6730 Backward Classes candidates and 5842 Most Backward Classes and Denotified Community candidates were benefited in this scheme during 2007-08 at a cost of Rs.10 crore.

The Scheme is continued during 2008-09 also at a cost of Rs.10 crore to provide skill development training to 10,000 youth.