The Economic Survey for 2008-09 tabled in Parliament today states that the Government is committed towards social and economic uplift of the weaker sections of society. As regards the Scheduled Castes a number of schemes are being implemented to encourage Scheduled Caste students for continuing their education from school level to higher education. The earlier Centrally-sponsored scheme of hostels for SC boys and girls was revised and renamed as “Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatravas Yojana’ w.e.f. January 1,2008. As part of this revision, Central assistance for construction of girls’ hostels was raised from 50 per cent. During 2008-09, the physical target under the scheme was to construct 64 hostels for 4,938 girls and 45 hostels for 3,138 boys. An amount of Rs. 84.26 crore was released under the scheme during the year. As regards Scheduled Tribes their economic empowerment continued through extension of financial support through National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC). The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was notified for operation with effect from December 31, 2007. The responsibility for implementing the Act vests with the State/UT Governments. As per information collected from States till March 31, 2009 more than 20.50 lakh claims have been filed. More than 1,52 lakh titles have been distributed and another 1.93 lakh are ready for distribution. As regards minorities, the corpus of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) has been enhanced from Rs. 100 crore in 2005-06 to Rs. 310 crore in 2008-09 for expanding its activities for implementation of educational schemes for educationally backward minorities. The authorized share capital of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has been raised from Rs. 650 crore in 2006-07 to Rs. 850 crore in 2008-09 for expanding its loan and micro-finance operations to promote self-employment and other economic ventures among backward sections of the minority communities. Under the Aam Admi Bima Yojana, upto December 31, 60.32 lakh people have been covered. Another major Governmental scheme for social protection, the Rashtriya Swastha Bima Yojana was extended to 22 states and Union Territories upto May 6, 2009. Through this scheme, health insurance cover has been given to more than 2.09 crore persons
