53. The Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation provides loans at low rate of interest for the economic upliftment of the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities with an annual family income not exceeding Rs.40,000/- in the rural areas and Rs.55,000/- in the urban areas. This Corporation is providing loans to individuals, groups and societies belonging to the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities for viable schemes, trades or projects.

54. This Corporation is functioning as the State Channelising Agency for the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, New Delhi. The Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation is disbursing loans through its sub channelising agents like Tamil Nadu Industrial Cooperative Bank, Tamil Nadu Handloom Development Corporation, Cooperative Banks, Private and Nationalised Banks and Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Aavin) etc.

55. From 1993-94 onwards, this Corporation has so far received term loans to the extent of Rs.10,741.29 lakh from the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation and disbursed loans to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.

56. So far, this Corporation has disbursed individual loans to the members of Industrial Cooperatives and Cooperative Milk Producers Societies to an extent of Rs.5,729.97 lakh benefiting 46,298 persons at 6% interest under general term loan scheme. Loans to the extent of Rs.198.33 lakh at 4% interest has been disbursed under the New Swarnima Scheme for women. In order to ensure equal status and empowerment of women in the society, the members of Women Self-Help Group are sanctioned loan upto Rs.10,000/- per member to a maximum of Rs.2 lakh per group at 4% interest. So far, Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation has disbursed a sum of Rs.6,368.66 lakh at 4% interest rate benefiting 1,63,267 members of Self Help Group under this scheme.

During the year 2007-08, loans to the tune of Rs.30.10 crore have been disbursed through Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation benefiting 32,535 persons.

During 2008-09, it is programmed to give loan assistance to the tune of Rs.30 crore to benefit 35,000 persons.

GRANT CUM LOAN SCHEME FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM FARMERS BELONGING TO BACKWARD CLASSES, MOST BACKWARD CLASSES AND DENOTIFIED COMMUNITIES.

57. During 2007-08, a sum of Rs.25 crore was allotted towards the Grant-cum-Loan Scheme for creation of irrigation facilities to the small and medium farmers belonging to the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities to be implemented through the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Economic Development Corporation. The loan is sanctioned with a matching 50% grant by Government, subject to a maximum of Rs.50,000/- per beneficiary. 5,000 agricultural families will be benefited under this scheme.

A sum of Rs.25 crore has been provided to continue the scheme during the year 2008-09.

58. The scheme of issue of house site pattas which was dispensed from 2001-02 to 2005-06 has been revived immediately after this Government assumed office during 2006-07. To effectively implement the scheme, land acquisition units with Special Tahsildars and staff were created in 15 districts.

Under this scheme, a sum of Rs.5 crore has been allocated for the year 2008-09 for issue of house-site pattas to the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.

59. The scheme of provision of infrastructure facilities such as road, street light, drinking water and drainage are also implemented in the areas, where house-site pattas were already issued so as to encourage the beneficiaries to settle there by constructing houses.

60. The Denotified Communities Welfare Board was formed during 2007 under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Backward Classes as Chairman and is functioning from 20.4.2007 to monitor the sustained targeted progress of the Denotified communities in socio, educational and economic spheres and to render suggestions to the Government in formulating new schemes for their advancement. This Government has decided to enroll members in the Denotified Communities Welfare Board and provide them with all welfare schemes as provided to the members of Labour Welfare Boards for unorganized sector. The Commissioner, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities has been appointed as the authority to register the members in Denotified Communities Welfare Board. The Commissioner, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities will identify the families of the labourers belonging to Denotified communities and issue Identity Cards. Everyone in the age group of 18-60 belonging to Denotified communities is eligible to be enrolled as a member in the Denotified Communities Welfare Board. Financial assistance will be provided through the District Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Officers to the members registered with the Denotified communities Welfare Board, as provided to the labourers of the unorganized sector, under various welfare schemes such as Accident Insurance scheme, Educational assistance scheme, Marriage assistance scheme, Maternity assistance scheme and Old age pension schemes.

A sum of Rs.2 crore was sanctioned for the scheme for the year 2007-08.

61. Thanthai Periyar Award for Social Justice is awarded by the Government every year to honour those who struggled for social Justice in Tamil Nadu. The awardee is presented with a Gold Medal of one sovereign and Rs.1 lakh cash. The award for the year 2007 was given to Thiru R.S.Kavithai Pithan.

For the year 2008-09, a sum of Rs.1.25 lakh has been allocated for the scheme.

62. Following the orders of the Supreme Court in Mandal Commission case, the Backward Classes Commission was formed during 1993 to examine the claims relating to inclusion and exclusion of communities in the list of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes and to make recommendations to the Government. The Commission will also undertake the periodical revision of the list of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes.

63. Under this scheme, a financial assistance of Rs.500/- is granted to the family of the deceased person belonging to Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities for performing the funeral rites, if the annual family income is not more than Rs.24,000/-.

During the current year a sum of Rs.100 lakh is allocated for the scheme.

64. Tamil Nadu Wakf Board was constituted during the year 1958 to provide good administration and to supervise the activities of the Wakf Institutions in Tamil Nadu. As per the Wakf Act, the Wakf Board is re-constituted once in 5 years. The present Board has been re-constituted on 6.3.2007 with 13 members.

65. In order to recover wakf properties from the private encroachments, the provisions under section 3 of Tamil Nadu Public Premises Act, 1975 (Eviction of unauthorised occupants) has been amended to vest powers with the Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Wakf Board as the Estate Officer.

66. As the income derived from the Wakf institutions by way of contributions is not sufficient to meet the administrative expenses of Tamil Nadu Wakf Board, the Government sanctions administrative grant to the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board every year. A sum of Rs.45 lakh has been sanctioned to the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board as administrative grant for the year 2007 – 2008. During the current year also Rs.45 lakh has been provided for this.

67.The Government sanctions a sum of Rs.10 lakh every year to the needy wakf institutions for carrying out minor repairs and construction of compound wall and barbed wire fencing to prevent encroachment of Burial grounds (Kabarastans) and Mosque properties. A sum of Rs.10 lakh has been allocated for this scheme for 2008 – 2009.

68. The Government also sanctions financial assistance to the wakf institutions for repairing and renovating mosques and darghas which do not have sufficient income. Financial assistance to the tune of Rs.52 lakh was sanctioned for this purpose during the year 2007 – 2008. A sum of Rs.60 lakh has been allocated for this scheme for the year 2008 – 2009.

69. Orders have been issued, increasing the number of beneficiaries receiving Ulema Pension from 2200 to 2400. By this, additionally 200 Ulemas will receive pension at the rate of Rs.750/- per month.

70. The Government has provided a sum of Rs.5 lakh to Tamil Nadu Wakf Board during the year 2008-09 for digitalisation of the proforma records containing the details of property, administration and other information relating to the Wakf institutions registered with the Wakf Board to protect them against damage caused by pests due to efflux of time.

71. Consequent on the formation of the separate Tiruvallur district, the Government have issued orders for the constitution of a separate Wakf Tribunal for Tiruvallur district with the Sub-Judge, Tiruvallur, as presiding Officer to settle the disputes relating to Wakf properties.

72. As announced during the last Demand, the Government has issued orders for the formation of Muslim Women Aid Societies in the other 30 districts of Tamil Nadu, similar to the one in Chennai and sanctioned Rs.30 lakh as Seed Money at the rate of Rs.1 lakh each for the 30 societies. During 2007 – 2008, a sum of Rs.2.19 lakh was released by the Government towards matching grant to the Muslim Women Aid Society functioning at Chennai .

73. The Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee selects the intending Hajj pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and undertakes various activities required to ensure the smooth conduct of Hajj pilgrimage based on the guidelines of Hajj Committee of India and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

74. Under section 18 (1) of Central Hajj Committee Act, 2002, the Government of Tamil Nadu reconstituted the Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee on 20.11.2006 with 16 members including the Executive Officer of the Committee, who is an Ex-officio member.

75. The Committee undertakes various functions such as conduct of orientation training programmes to pilgrims on Hajj pilgrimage, conduct of Medical camps, arrange for direct flights and selection of suitable buildings to accommodate Hajj pilgrims at Makkah, convening of co-ordination committee meetings with various departments of Government and non-government organizations for the smooth and successful performance of Hajj pilgrimage.

76. During 2007 – 2008, the pilgrims were selected for the first time by draw of lots with the help of computers. The Government sanctions a sum of Rs.10 lakh every year as administrative grant to the Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee. For the year 2008-2009 also, a sum of Rs.10 lakh has been allocated. The Government also sanctions grants to Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee for deputation of representatives in Building Selection Team to Saudi Arabia for selection of suitable accommodation and for deputing Hajj volunteers to assist the Hajj pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia. During 2007 – 2008, the Government sanctioned Rs.8.53 lakh to Tamil Nadu State Hajj Committee for this purpose and a sum of Rs.8.33 lakh has been allocated for the year 2008 – 2009.

(Rs. in lakhs)

This Government is the forerunner to other States in implementing various welfare schemes for the socio, educational and economic development of the people of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities who constitute the majority of the population in the State.

(Rupees in Lakhs)