India 2018

Welfare 555
education for ST children through scholarships. This is intended to be achieved
through convergence of schemes of line ministries along with simplification of
process for availing scholarships and also through technological aids in
improving learning activities. As needs vary from state to state, the proposed
new scheme is expected to give flexibility to each state/UT. In the proposed
Umbrella Scheme, the following schemes have been merged: (a) Establishing
and strengthening of ashram schools; (b) establishing and strengthening of
hostels; (c) vocational training in tribal areas; (d) post-matric scholarship; and
(e) pre-matric scholarship.
Overseas Scholarships
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has approved the revised Scheme of National
Overseas Scholarships (NOS) for ST students. The scheme is providing
scholarship to students selected for pursuing higher studies abroad for Post-
Graduation, Ph. D and Post-Doctoral research programmes. The Ministry has
revised some of its provisions to make it more beneficial for ST students.
To expand the scope of field of study, the number of awards has been
increased from existing 15 to 20. In order to make the scheme more inclusive,
out of total 20 awards, 3 have been earmarked for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups (PVTGs) and 30 per cent awards have been earmarked for girl
candidates. Now with the inclusion of more subjects into the scheme and
reorganizing field of study by grouping various subjects under broadbased
fields, more ST students would be benefited as the number of subjects has
increased from 35 to 52.
Forest Rights Act, 2006
By 2016, about 16.82 lakh individual titles were granted over an area of 55.47
lakh acres of forest land with an average of 3.30 acres of average land per title.
Similarly, 48,192 community titles have been distributed over an area of about
47 lakh acres of forest land. Odisha has the distinction of issuing highest number
of titles which is 4,05,509 (3,99,996 individual titles and 5,513 community titles).
Madhya Pradesh has the distinction of having highest forest area over which
titles have been issued under this Act. The total forest area over which titles
have been issued in Madhya Pradesh is 21,10,991.87 acres.
Welfar
elfare e of Other Backward Classes
The Second Backward Classes Commission (commonly known as Mandal
Commission), constituted under Article 340, submitted its Report in 1980. In
the light of this report, the Government of India provided 27 per cent reservation
in central government posts for persons belonging to the socially and
economically backward classes, (also referred to as "Other Backward Classes"
or OBCs). The Government of India in 1993 reserved 27 per cent of vacancies in
civil posts and services under the Central Government, to be filled through
direct recruitment in favour of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). With the
amendment of Article 15 of the Constitution in January, 2006 and the enactment