Upliftment of Scheduled Castes Vital for Building a Harmonious Society: NCSC Chairman Kishor Makwana

State Government’s efforts for Scheduled Caste welfare praised; Commission reviews schemes, stresses on effective implementation

Jaipur, Aug 2025 :Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), Mr. Kishor Makwana, on Tuesday emphasized that the upliftment of Scheduled Castes is essential to building a harmonious and empowered society. He said that the combined efforts of the Central Government, the State Government, and the Commission are directed towards ensuring justice for the most marginalized sections of society.

Speaking at a state-level review meeting held at the Secretariat’s Conference Hall, Mr. Makwana lauded the Rajasthan government’s initiatives, calling them exemplary in advancing the welfare of Scheduled Castes. Commission members Mr. Vaddepalli Ramchandar and Mr. Lavkush Kumar were also present at the meeting.

The review meeting examined various welfare schemes being implemented for Scheduled Castes by different departments. Officials were given specific directions for improving delivery and ensuring that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mr. Avinash Gehlot welcomed the Commission members and highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, multiple schemes are being implemented to support the Scheduled Caste community. He noted that, as per the 2011 Census, 17.08 percent of Rajasthan’s population—around 1.22 crore people—belong to Scheduled Castes. He assured the Commission that state efforts will be further accelerated to maximize the impact of these welfare programs.

Additional Chief Secretary Mrs. Aparna Arora presented a detailed PPT report covering budget allocations, expenditures, scholarships, hostels, and compensation under the Atrocities Act, among other matters.

Commission Secretary Mr. G. Srinivas, Joint Secretary Mr. H. Kam Suanthang, DIG (Police) Mrs. Sanmeet Kaur, and Director Mr. Kaushal Kumar sought further details from officials and gave suggestions for better implementation. They stressed greater focus on education, drinking water, health, revenue, SC scholarships, and hostel facilities.

The meeting saw participation from senior officials across multiple departments, including Education, Medical and Health, Women and Child Development, Public Health Engineering, Rural Development, Police, Justice, Agriculture, Urban Development, and the State-Level Bankers Committee. Each department presented details of schemes and beneficiary data through presentations.

The Commission underlined the importance of effective implementation and accountability, ensuring that welfare measures truly empower Scheduled Castes and contribute to creating an inclusive and equitable society.