NATIONAL SCHEME OF LIBERATION AND REHABILITATION OF SCAVENGERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS
The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to scavengers for their training and rehabilitation in alternate dignified occupations. This scheme has been in operation since 1991-92 and was transferred to the then Department of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation (now M/o Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation) in 2003-04 from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The scheme is implemented by the respective State Scheduled Castes Development Corporation and where such Corporations have not been set up, the scheme is implemented by the State Governments. The Scheme provides both for training and rehabilitation. For training, stipend upto Rs.500/- per trainee per month upto six months in the age group of 15 to 50 years is provided. The training fee upto Rs. 300/- per month per trainee besides honorarium to craftsman upto Rs. 100/- per month is also provided. There is a provision of one-time tool kit of Rs 2000/-. 100% assistance for training component is provided by the Central Government. Rehabilitation of scavengers is attempted through sanction of projects costing up to Rs 50,000/- for each beneficiary comprising 50% subsidy subject to a ceiling of Rs 10,000/- per project, 15% of project cost as margin money loan (MML) and the rest through bank loan/NSKFDC loan. The M.M.L is shared between Central & State Governments in the ratio of 49:51.
Physical and financial achievements
Since Since inception of the scheme in 1991-92, Rs 747.11 crores have been released upto 2004-05 and 1,72,681 scavengers have been assisted for training and 4,43,925 for rehabilitation upto 2003-04. Rs. 460 crores has been allocated by the Planning Commission for the 10th Plan period. The physical and financial performance of the scheme since 2000-2001 is given below:-
Year |
Central Assistance Released |
No. of Scavengers Assisted for |
||
(Rs. In crore) |
Training |
Rehabilitation |
||
2000-01 |
60.92 |
5447 |
24050 |
|
2001-02 |
9.20 |
15821 |
26498 |
|
2002-03 |
40.95 |
7146 |
12320 |
|
2003-04 |
21.41 |
2649 |
16171 |
|
2004-05 |
13.56 |
5362 | 9232 | |
| (as on 30-06-2006) | ||||
Note: - No funds for the Annual Plan 2005-06 and 2006-07.