January - March 2013 - National Institute of Rural Development

56 Shyam SinghTable 6 reflects the responses from theSC community as well as all the respondents.One important point to be observed here isthat people from marginalised groups realisethat certain policies are being implementedfor them. In this study, out of 90 respondents49 belong to SC community. All SCrespondents feel that they are getting benefitsbecause they belong to SC community.Implication of this result is that there is a senseof realisation among the marginalised sectionsthat they get space in the policy domains andthere is an exclusive attention being paid bythe government for their upliftment. But, onthe issue whether these policies have reallydelivered the changes that would leadmarginalised groups to the empowerment,responses from marginalised people put aquestion on the feasibility of these policiesand programmes. While responding to thequestion whether people from marginalisedsections who have taken benefits of varioussocial welfare schemes feel that Sarvajanpolicy has resulted in any positive changes inthe relations between SCs and upper castes,92 per cent respondents answered negatively.It shows that these policies have not deliveredsocial change. It means that marginalisedsections, even though they are receivingvarious benefits, are discriminated socially, andtherefore, economic inequalities are likely toexist.Table 6 : People’s Response Over Impact of Policies and ProgrammesYes % No % Don’t % Total %knowDo you think that you are 48 97.9 - - 1 2.0 49 100getting benefits becauseyou belong to the SC community?Do you feel that Sarvajan 1 1.1 83 92.2 6 6.6 90 100policy has resulted in anypositive change in relationsbetween SCs and upper castes?Source: Primary Survey.Discussion and ConclusionResults presented in previous sectionshow that policies and programmes that aimto empower marginalised sections have notbeen successful in achieving their goals.Problems that come on the way to achievethis goal are occurring at three levels. One,policies do not address human developmentproblems fully. Many human developmentaspects are untouched by the existing policyinitiatives. Second, the implementation of suchpolicies is affected by administrativemalpractices and attracts involvement of localpolitics which has a cost for real beneficiaries.Third, benefits that are being delivered lacksufficiency and sustainability. Let us discussone by one.As discussed in the fist section, schemesand programmes aiming at humandevelopment do not reflect upon the realsituations. Both Central and State governmentsare implementing various policies andmissions which are inadequate to addresshuman development challenges that exist onthe ground. An appropriate question emergesas to why it is happening. There are two issuesJournal of Rural Development, Vol. 32, No. 1, January - March : 2013JRD 2 (1)