12.1 % increase in budget for Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : There is an increase of 12.10 % in the budget allocation for Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment in the Union Budget 2018-19 over 2017-18. In 2017-18, it was Rs 6,908 crore which has now been increased to Rs 7,750 crore in 2018-19. Also there is an increase of 11.57% in the budget allocation for schemes in 2018-19 over 2017-18. In addition, there is an increase of 41.03% in the budget allocation for the welfare of OBC in 2018-19 over 2017-18.

A new scheme Venture Capital Fund for OBCs on similar lines as Venture Capital Fund for SCs is to be launched with an initial corpus of Rs 200 crore and Rs 140 crore has been provided for it in 2018-19. The Skill Development Training has been given to 13,587 manual scavengers and their dependents while 809 manual scavengers and their dependents have been provided bank loans, according to a PIB release.

For the first time, a National Survey will identify victims of drug abuse.  The survey covers 185 districts, 1.5 lakh households and 6 lakh individuals.  The survey is already underway and expected to be completed by March-April, 2018. For the first time, Rs 200 crore has been provided for rehabilitation of victims of drugs abuse and 15 pilot districts across the country would be taken up for intensive activities. Under the scheme of rehabilitation of drug victims, outpatient facilities will be provided at all the centres supported by this Department.  Instead of de-addiction centres, they will be renamed as Treatment Clinics.  Such treatment clinics will be set up in major prisons, juvenile homes and major Government hospitals in the States.

For the Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBC, the income eligibility has been increased from Rs 44,500/ per annum to Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum. For Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC, the income eligibility has been raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.  Stipend for day scholars has been raised from Rs 150 to Rs 225 and for hostelers it has been raised from Rs 350 to Rs 525. Top Class Education for Scheduled Castes has been raised from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per annum. For Free coaching for SC and OBC students, the income eligibility has been raised from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.