In this post, you are going to read up about the events and factors which changed the tribal life with the advent of british in India. Summarising the developments under the major heads.
The territorial living
Over centuries, the Tribals have evolved an intricate custodial mode of living. Tribals belong to their territories, which are the essence of their existence. Back in history, the Tribals were in effect self-governing ‘first nations’. In general and in most parts of the pre-colonial period, they were part of the ‘unknown frontier’ where the rule of the reign in fact did not extend. Tribals governed themselves outside of the influence of the particular ruler.
The entry of Europeans and subsequent colonisation transformed the relationship between the mainstream communities and tribal communities.
Exploitation for business
They used forest produces for their business.
Trees were cut down for timber. Forestland was used for tea, rubber and coffee plantations.
Train lines and roads were built in forest areas. Routes from forest to sea coasts were built to transport goods.
Example 1: The early years of the expansion of the railway network, 1853 onwards, led to tremendous deforestation in peninsular India due to the railways’ requirements of fuel wood and construction timber.
Example 2: The Grand Trunk Road, which was built through tribal labour, helped in business, and there was an inflow of outsiders adding to the population. The so-called outsiders dominated the tribals in many ways. Most of the tribal families lost their agricultural lands and lived in a state of starvation. The tribals were also victims of a host of middlemen who operated between the new rulers and the tribals.
Private property
The introduction of the alien concept of private property began with the Permanent Settlement of the British in 1793 and the establishment of the “Zamindari” system.
It gave control over vast territories, including tribal territories, to feudal lords for the purpose of revenue collection by the British.
This started the forced restructuring of the relationship of Tribals to their territories as well as the power relationship between Tribals and ‘others’.
Missionaries
The missionaries, with the patronage of the government, spread Christianity among the tribals and helped them with health care and education.
Unlike Hinduism and Islam, Christianity spread widely in the tribal regions with the patronage of the British and established a firm footing.
The result was a feeling of discontent and unrest among the tribals.
At this stage, a number of movements took place. They raised protesting voices against the oppression and exploitation by landlords and British rulers who in general, stood by the side of the landlords.
Some notable movements are the Kherwar movement (1871 -80), the Birsa Munda Movement (1874-1901), the Bhil Rebellion (1879-80), the Sardari Movement (1881-95), the Bastar Uprising (1910-11), and the Tana Bhagat Movement (1920-35).
What happened in the North-East?
Historically the north-east was never a part of mainland India.
The colonial incorporation of north-east took place much later than the rest of the Indian subcontinent.
Assam came under British control in 1826, Bengal was annexed in 1765, Garo Hills in 1873, Naga Hills in 1879 and Mizoram in 1881-90.
Consequently, the struggles for self-determination took various forms as independence to greater autonomy.
Factors inherent in Indian system which did not work for Indian Tribals
#1. Caste based religious system:
The predominant caste-based religion sanctioned and practiced a rigid and highly discriminatory hierarchical system.
This became the natural basis for the altered perception of Tribals by the ‘others’ in determining the social, and hence, the economic and political space in the emerging larger society.
#2. Upper caste rule:
Relegating the Tribals to the lowest rung in the social ladder was but natural. And it formed the basis of social and political decision making by the largely upper caste controlled mainstream.
The ancient Indian scriptures, scripted by the upper castes, also further provided legitimacy to this.
This series is a part of How to crack the Tribal Issues for IAS Mains?. For a much detailed understanding, read up with all the post in this section as we develop this story in full.
Tribal Affairs/ Tribal Issues are one of those important subjects which have a healthy mix of static + dynamic portions across IAS Prelims and Mains.
#1. Syllabus
Prelims: History of India and Indian National Movement => includes all pre-independence movements, reasons etc
Mains:
Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country
Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country => tribal policy post-independence & other developments
Society Point of View: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
Effects of globalization on Indian society
Current events of national and international importance- This is a “nuclear bomb”, it can include anything from current affairs related to tribals and areas around it. In last few years, UPSC has even asked to match pairs of tribes and their location. So be careful not to miss it.
#2. Relevance / expected questions
IAS Prelims – Match the pairs of different tribal revolts, their leaders & reasons
IAS Mains – Reasons for revolts, reasons for failure of revolts etc
Examples –
The tribal (or peasant) revolts failed to achieve much. Analyse
Tribal revolts were not in the nature of freedom struggle but were localised and context specific. Comment.
#3. What is an aspirant exactly supposed to do?
First read it all and understand the context. This gives a clear idea of why it all happened?
Then revisit it frequently (but give less time) => this makes for faster revision and helps in memorisation.
So, focus here – Get the context and remember the facts
#4. Useful resources
India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra
India Since Independence by Bipin Chandra
CD’s existing stories on latest developments on Tribal affairs –
In this section, we will deal with the sector which seeks to empower the youth – Skills and Job Creation.
Take a look at basic statistics, which will give you a larger picture about govt.’s approach towards Education, Skills and Job Creation, where the emphasis is to make India a knowledge based and productive society:
1500 Multi-skill training institutes to be set up
Objective to skill 1 crore youth in the next 3 years under the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojna
National Skill Development Mission has imparted training to 76 lakh youth
Focus Areas
#1. Skill India Mission
The National Skill Development Mission has created an elaborate skilling eco-system and imparted training to 76 lakh youth. Govt. will set up 1500 multi-Skill training institutes across the country, to capitalise our demographic advantage.
Benefits: The emphasis on skill development will resonate with India’s youth seeking to improve their employability quotient.
Career Portal
Govt. had launched National Career Service in July, 2015, where 35 million jobs seekers have registered. Govt. will make 100 Model Career Centres operational by the end of 2016-17. It will also inter-link State Employment Exchanges with the National Career Service platform.
New Initiative
Certification
Govt. will set up a National Board for Skill Development Certification in partnership with the industry and academia.
Benefits: This will help formally skilled youth to be recognised for employment purposes in public & private sector.
Massive Open Online Courses
Entrepreneurship education and training will be provided in 2200 colleges, 300 schools, 500 govt ITIs and 50 vocational training centres through Massive Open Online Courses. Govt. will make efforts to connect aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those from remote parts of the country, to mentors and credit markets.
Job Creation
Govt of India will pay the Employee Pension Scheme contribution of 8.33% for all new employees drawing a salary of up to Rs.15,000 a month and enrolling in EPFO, for the first 3 years of their employment.
Govt. will amend Income Tax Act in order to broaden the scope of employment generation incentives.
Benefits: This will incentivize the employers to recruit unemployed persons and that too in the formal sector. It could also lead to migration of informal sector workers to the formal sector. Of the 470 million plus workforce in India, less than 10% are in the formal sector.
Retail Sector
In order to simplify the regulations for the retail sector, which is the largest service sector employer in the country, Govt will circulate a model Model Shops and Establishments Bill, which can be adopted by the State Govts on voluntary basis. The model bill seeks to allow small and medium shops to remain open all 7 days a week on voluntary basis. This will help in creation of new jobs in retail sector.
Challenge
In India, only about 2.2% of workforce had received formal vocational training. Even those who had received any form of vocational training, the majority had either acquired a hereditary skill or learned on the job
Without access to affordable and appropriate skills training, young people, particularly those leaving rural areas and small towns for big cities, will be stuck in low-wage, insecure jobs that will leave them in want or poverty
Job creation has not kept pace with India’s demographic momentum, and in the coming days, it will pose a problem for a skilled workforce
In this section, we will deal with the sector which will determine how well we use our demographic dividend – Education Sector.
Take a look at basic statistics, which will give you a larger picture about govt.’s approach towards Education, Skills and Job Creation, where the emphasis is to make India a knowledge based and productive society:
Allocation for education sector – Rs 68,968 cr
Higher Education Financing Agency to be set-up with initial capital base of Rs 1000 Crores
Digital Depository to be set-up for certificates, mark sheets, etc
Initiative to make world-class teaching and research institutions
Focus Areas
#1. School Education
Govt. will allocate increasing share for quality improvement under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. 62 new Navodaya Vidyalayas will be opened in the remaining uncovered districts over the next two years
#2. Higher Education
Govt. will ensure an enabling regulatory architecture to empower 10 public and 10 private institutions to emerge as world-class Teaching and Research Institutions. This will enhance affordable access to high quality education for ordinary Indians.
Benefits: Govt. seeks to stress on the importance of teaching along with recognising the role of private sector in the education sector – not all world-class institutions that emerge from India need to be publicly funded.
Govt. will setup a Higher Education Financing Agency with an initial capital base of Rs. 1,000 crores. It will be a not-for-profit organisation that will leverage funds from the market and supplement them with donations and CSR funds. These funds will be used to finance improvement in infrastructure in the top institutions.
According to ministry of corporate affairs, education and skill development attracted 23% of the CSR spending for FY15.
Benefits: Since Banks are finding it difficult to manage the NPAs from the education loans, a dedicated agency would give the much needed thrust.
Digital Depository
Govt. will establish a Digital Depository for School Leaving Certificates, College Degrees, Academic Awards and Mark sheets, on the pattern of a Securities Depository. This will help validate authenticity, safe storage and easy retrieval of these documents.
There is little to offer in terms of any concrete steps to improve the quality of elementary education
Teachers training does not figure in this year’s budget
The whole purpose of CSR is defeated if the govt lays down the agenda on what the priority areas for companies should be. It also shifts the accountability for CSR from the company to the govt
It seems that the Rs.1000 crore fund will be mostly used for redressal of the problems of students seeking educational loan. Also, the current outstanding educational loans are around Rs.50,000 crore, how a fund of Rs.1,000 crore will resolve the massive requirements of educational loans
Future
There is group of secretaries proposal to phase out Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as it currently exists and replace it with an outcome-based financing program that links 20% of the education budget to performance on outcomes
India has no concept of Dual citizenship.We have a madhyammarg approach of OCI.
Now,if we don’t recognize Dual Citizenship then how some foreign nationals,ethnically Indians are having citizenship of 2 countries like Ind and US,India and UK etc?
In JNU case,if central government involuntarily deprives some accusses of their citizenship of India on the basis that by speech they have shown himself disloyal towards constitution of India.
Then can we run sedition case on them thereafter?
We follow the standard pattern delineated in chapter one i.e. ‘quotable quotes’, statistics, major themes and recommended reading. Click on the hyperlinks in green to read and revise the topic hyperlinked.
Let’s get started
A market economy requires unrestricted entry of new firms, new ideas, and new technologies so that the forces of competition can guide capital and labour resources to their most productive and dynamic uses
But it also requires exit so that resources are forced or enticed away from inefficient and unsustainable uses
Joseph Schumpeter expounded the concept of “creative destruction,” the “process of industrial mutation that incessantly revolutionizes the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the old one, incessantly creating new ones”
Structural impediments to India’s progress-
Problems of entry i.e. “licence-quota-permit Raj”
It has been largely taken care of by-
liberalization(delicensing, end of permit quota system) , privatization (Divestment and end of public sector monopoly), Globalization (FDI and reduced tariff) reforms of 1991
New initiative of across the board FDI liberalization and Start up-Stand up programme aim to further liberalize the entry.
But exit (chakrvyuah) remains the major challenge-
What is this problem of exit and what’s it’s magnitude?
Inefficient and unsustainable firms are not allowed to wind down their operations and exit from the market
In a normal economy, old firms would be the ones that were efficient, only then could they survive for that long and hence should be much bigger in size than new firms
But in India avg 40 year old firm is just 1.5 times larger than a new firm (8 times in US
Worst part is that a decade back they were 2.5 times larger i.e. inefficient firms are not allowed to exit and they remain small
What are the costs of impeded exit?
#1. Fiscal cost
Of course, inefficient firms are supported by explicit (bailouts) or implicit (free power, reduced tariff, interest subvention etc) government subsidies
High subsidies # high borrowings # high fiscal deficit # high debt # high interest cost.
Add to this the tax revenue forgone, if efficient firms were allowed to take their place i.e. Double whammy of low tax and high subsidies
#2. Economic cost-
Market economy is supposed to allocate resources/ factors of production (capital and labour) in the most efficient way towards most profitable ventures
Lack of exit leads to misallocation of resources with enormous costs for a capital starved country such as India
Overhang of stressed assets on corporate and bank balance sheets reflect same problem (remember twin balance sheet challenges, 4Rs solution discussed in part one) of difficulty of apportioning costs of past mistakes
#3. Political costs
Anti poor, anti dalit, anti minority source-fabfilmz.in
Benefits of impeded exit follows to rich (firms are owned by richie rich naa) # govt charged as pro rich # No political constituency for reform measures (recall debate on land ordinance)
No action against willful defaulters # erosion of legitimacy of regulatory institutions such as RBI
Let’s take an example of fertilizer subsidies
Fiscal cost- .8% of GDP, much of which leaks abroad or to non-agricultural uses, or goes to inefficient producers, or to firms given the exclusive privilege to import.
But precisely for these reasons it has proved politically impossible to close the inefficient firms or eliminate the canalisation of imports. Rich farmers have internalised the benefits and prevent reforms
What causes an exit problem?
3 Is
#1. Interests – Power of vested interests which is aggravated by certain imbalances or asymmetry
Concentrated producer interests (a few losers stand to lose by lot) v/s diffused consumer interests (individual benefit small but aggregate benefit large)
Concentrated interests have more voice, backed by financial power and often democratic political systems tend to give disproportional influence to them (vocal minority v/s silent majority)
In the case of administrative schemes, vested interests often create a market of their own, planning their actions to benefit from it: put differently, this is a case of supply creating its own demand
Bureaucratic inertia perpetuates persistence
50 percent of schemes are 25 years old. extra vigilance is necessary to ensure that schemes remain relevant and useful over time. And vigilance should probably increase in proportion to the longevity. (for these reasons only concept of ZERO based budgeting was introduced)
Q. List down advantages/ disadvantages of zero based budgeting.
#2. Institutions– Paradoxical situation of both weak and strong institutions delaying exit
Weak institutions –
Inability to punish willful defaulters (legitimacy of institutions itself is questioned)
Judiciary- Tareekh pe Tareekh (time and cost overrun)
source-worldlistz.com
Eg. Debt recovery tribunal- share of settled cases is small and declining (4 lakh crore locked up)
Strong institutions so called referee or vigilance institutions– CBI, CVC, CAG, Judiciary combined with the asymmetric incentives for bureaucrats that favours abundant caution and hence the status quo.
Incentives are stacked against decisions to precipitate exit for fear of being seen as favouring corporate interests and hence susceptible to scrutiny, encouraging ever-greening of loans, postponing exit
#3. Ideas/ ideology
Very difficult to phase out entitlements especially in a country with sizable poverty and inequality and one that is a democracy
The objective is often laudable but once the policies and programs have been set in place, they are very difficult to reverse
For instance, minimum support prices (MSPs) were envisioned as an insurance mechanism for farmers, but have become price floors instead, favouring some crops in some regions at the expense of other
How to address the problem
#1. Avoid exit through liberal entry: promote competition via private sector entry rather than change ownership through privatization. Eg. BSNL, MTNL were not privatized but liberal entry to private telcos
Advantage- It bypasses opposition from managers as well as labour interests.
#2. Direct policy action- Frame better laws, align incentives with the objectives
Govt response– a new bankruptcy law (solves weak institution problem), amendment to prevention of corruption act (solves strong referee institution problem), reforms in PPP (Kelkar Committee Report)
#3. Technology and the JAM solution: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for targeting and protecting the poor while removing distortions
Brings down human discretion and the layers of intermediaries
Breaks the old shackles and old ways of doing business
#4. Transparency: Transparently reflect economic as well as social, environmental and health costs and benefits
Eg. Costs of producing cereals in Punjab and Haryana; declining water table, soil quality degradation, post harvest burning of stalks causing pollution, rich farmers getting benefits
v/s benefits from pulses; nitrogen fixation, lower import dependency etc.
#5. Exit as an opportunity- It’s not the business of govt to be in business. For eg. loss making Air India
Opposition from existing managers or employees’ interests; solution- earmark resources earned from privatization for compensation and retraining;
credibly ensure that reservation policies will be maintained in the privatized enterprise as well
convert part of land into land bank and develop industrial clusters or in dense urban areas nurture start ups
A few more points about strong referee institution problems
Prevention of corruption act (PCA) definition of corruption does not include words like ‘corruptly’ or ‘wrongfully’ i.e. no requirement of mens rea or guilty intent hence even a benefit conferred inadvertently is sufficient to be prosecuted
For example, suppose an honest public servant makes, in good faith, an error of judgment and undervalues an asset which is being disinvested. Obviously that undervaluation causes a pecuniary gain to the buyer of the asset and is not in public interest, he is in way benefited but can still be prosecuted.
Misaligned incentive structure– external monitoring in the public sector tends to be skewed towards bad decisions that were taken rather than good decisions that were not taken (i.e. opportunities that were missed).
This promotes a culture where avoidance of mistakes is more important than the pursuit of opportunities
Result –
The reluctance of government to accept responsibility for its own delays in projects
The penchant for departments to appeal even fair and reasonable arbitration awards or lower court judgments
The tendency to raise tax disputes based on audit objections even if the tax authority disagrees with the auditor
The reluctance of civil servants to sell land or divest public enterprises
Solution:
Source- telegraphindia.com
Amendment to prevention of Corruption act (prs bill summary) to prevent prosecution for mere administrative errors, differentiating cases of graft from those of genuine errors of decision-making
Providing investigative agencies with tools, skills and training to do a proper investigation of modern day financial crime and corruption so that culprits do not go scot free either
Reexamine the cost of elaborate but largely ineffective and counterproductive vigilance machinery
What you have to read for yourself
All the boxes from the chapter plus bankruptcy box from statistical appendix
Open all the hyperlinks. Learn, understand and revise.
Ask all your doubts in the comment section below or in doubts clearing forum . all your suggestions, criticism and feedback are most welcome.
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The food processing industry in India is increasingly seen as a potential source for driving the rural economy as it brings about synergy between the consumer, industry and the farmer. However, food processing activity is still at a nascent stage in India with low penetration.
Importance of Food Processing Industry
It holds the potential of reducing enormous wastage of agricultural produce in the absence of processing technologies and cold chain facility
It is labour-intensive industry, which has the potential to employ 13 million people directly and 35 million people indirectly
This will also lead to increase in farm income, generate employment opportunities, foster forward and backward linkage effects, contribute to exports and integrate Indian economy with the rest of world
What is the magnitude and size of this industry?
India is strategically located at the centre of the Middle-East and South-East with a long coastal line and easy sea connectivity as well as plenty of raw material for long period which can attract multi-national companies instead of food processing.
It is the 5th largest industry and has the highest rate of growth as well as a very high employment elasticity. Currently, it accounts for nearly 16% of total employment in the organized manufacturing sector and 32% in unorganized sector.
What are the factors which can drive this industry?
India’s demographic profile with 65% of population below 30 years of age
Fast changing consumption patterns
Increase in disposable incomes of the people
Fast increase in the number of working women, who prefer the packaged food
Growth of organised food retail in India
Nearly 55% of the total expenditure on an average is spent on food and grocery in rural areas and nearly 40% in urban areas and only 10% of what we grow is processed in India
What are the challenges faced by FPI?
Indifference of policy makers as very little outlays are allocated in Five Year Plans. In the XI FYP, an outlay of Rs. 4000 crore was earmarked out of which significant proportion was not spent
The legislation’s like APMC Acts, Essential Commodities Act, etc restricts free movement of commodities
Very poor infrastructure i.e. near absence of technologies, incubation facilities, pre-cooling chambers, irradiation facilities, etc < Food Irradiation is a technology that improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects>
High tariffs in the form of high excise duties as well as import duties
Non-tariff barriers in the form of stringest regulation of laboratory testing, grading, sampling and packaging
Lack of entrepreneurship, as 70% of the total value of food processing items manufactured in India is dominated by the unorganised sector
Lack of training facilities related to this industry
Very low Research & Development
Indian agriculture focuses on traditional crops rather than market-oriented agriculure with diversified commercial crops
What are the Govt efforts to promote this industry?
XI Five Year Plan: Govt. recognized the potential of this sector and launched Mega Food Park. It also adopted various measures such as modernization of Abattoir (Slaughter houses), modernization of meat shops, upgradation of street food, effective implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, technology upgradation, entrepreneurship development programme, setting up of training institutes, etc
Mega Food Park
These are the parks with state-of-art infrastructure related to all of the facilities required for food processing industry with their captive power plants, transportation and other hygienic facilities to attract food processing units to avail of this infrastructure for manufacturing food-processed items.
The target was to set up 30 Mega Food Parks, but only 9 came up.
XII Five Year Plan: There was significant shift in govt. policy towards this industry in XII FYP, as it allocation to the tune of 4-times as compared to XI FYP, with an outlay of Rs. 15000 crore. It also launched National Mission on Food Processing, in the background of the success of National Mission on Horticulture.
National Mission on Food Processing
The mission has two main principles: Decentralization and Outreach.
The mission is totally centrally sponsored and the responsibility of its implementation lies with the state govt., who will have to take initiative in organizing the unorganized food processors into SHGs (Self-Help Group) and provide them training and other facilities. State govt. will have to bring about synergy between agriculture and food processing industries.
Budget 2016-17
Govt. has decided to allow 100% FDI in multi-brand retail for food products produced and processed in India will play a catalytic role in leapfrogging Indian economy.
Future
It will be the endeavor of policy makers to ensure that food processing industry conform to global standards of health and hygiene and adopt CODEX standards (related to food safety) laid down by Food & Agriculture Organization and WHO, for the protection of consumer health.
Food processing needs a fillip in the form of better logistics, access to credit, technology indigenisation and implementation of food safety laws.
सामाजिक क्षेत्र: समाज के कमजोर वर्गों के विकास के मायने में सामाजिक क्षेत्र अहम हो जाता है।
आइये सबसे पहले बुनियादी आंकड़ों पर एक नजर डालते हैं क्योंकि आकंड़े इस बात का आईना होते हैं कि सरकार ने किस तरह से बड़ी आबादी के व्यापक हितों को योजनाओं के तहत साधा है।
शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य देखभाल सहित सामाजिक क्षेत्र के लिए 1,51,581 करोड़ रुपये का आबंटन।
भारत की जनसंख्या के एक तिहाई हिस्से को नई स्वास्थ्य बीमा योजना से जोड़ा गया।
3000 मेडिकल स्टोर्स को प्रधानमंत्री जन औषधि योजना के तहत खोले जाने का ऐलान।
सभी बीपीएल परिवारों को रसोई गैस कनेक्शन दिया जाना।
देशभर के जिला अस्पतालों में डायलिसिस सेवाएं प्रदान करने के लिए नेशनल डायलिसिस सर्विस शुरू करने की घोषणा।
मुख्य बिंदु
#1. जेनेरिक दवाएं
सरकार ने प्रधानमंत्री जन औषधि योजना के तहत वर्ष 2016-17 के दौरान 3,000 नए दवा स्टोर खोल उनके माध्यम से जेनेरिक दवाओं की आपूर्ति करना सुनिश्चित किया है। यानी लोगों को सस्ती कीमतों पर अच्छी दवाएं उपलब्ध होंगी। फार्मा सेक्टर का विकास इसी से जुड़ा पहलू है।
#2. अनुसूचित जाति, अनुसूचित जनजाति और महिलाएं
सरकार ने अनुसूचित जाति और अनुसूचित जनजाति और महिलाओं को उद्यमी बनाने की दिशा में कदम बढ़ाया है। सरकार ने इस वर्ग को सक्षम बनाने के लिए स्टैंडअप इंडिया योजना की पहल की है। इस योजना के चलते इस वर्ग के 2.5 लाख लोगों को सीधा फायदा पहुंचेगा साथ ही इन दोनों वर्ग के उद्यमियों को सहायता उपलब्ध कराने के लिए राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जाति/ जनजाति केंद्र स्थापित किया जाएगा। इस योजना से प्रत्येक श्रेणी के एक उद्यमी के लिए प्रति बैंक शाखा कम से कम ऐसी दो परियोजनाओं को मदद मिलेगी। इस योजना से कम से कम 2.5 लाख उद्यमियों को लाभ मिलेगा।
#2.उद्यमियता- एससी/एसटीऔर महिलाएं
सरकार का उद्योग संघों और सूक्ष्म, लघु और मध्यम उद्यम मंत्रालय की भागीदारी में राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जाति/जनजाति केन्द्र की स्थापना करने का प्रस्ताव है। यह केन्द्र अनुसूचित जाति/जनजाति के उद्यमियों को केन्द्र सरकार की खरीदारी नीति 2012 के अधीन अपनी जिम्मेदारी पूरी करने के लिए वैश्विक सर्वश्रेष्ठ कार्य विधि अपनाने और स्टैंड अप इंडिया पहल का लाभ उठाने के लिए पेशेवर मदद उपलब्ध कराएगा।
नए कदम
स्वास्थ्य बीमा देश में गरीबी की रेखा से नीचे जीवन यापन करने वाले लोग हर साल कई खतरनाक बीमारियों और आकस्मिक हादसों मे मारे हैं। एक नई स्वास्थ्य सुरक्षा योजना में परिवार प्रति 1 लाख रुपए के लिए स्वास्थ्य कवर प्रदान किया गया है। वरिष्ठ नागरिकों को 30,000 रुपये तक एक अतिरिक्त टॉप-अप पैकेज उपलब्ध कराया जाएगा।
स्वास्थ्य देखभाल
इस समय देश मेें कई सुदूरवर्ती इलाकों के लोग स्वास्थ केंद्रों पर पहुंचने से पहले ही दम तोड़ देते हैं। उनका डायलिसेस ही नहीं हो पाता है। गुर्दे खराब होने की स्थिति में रोगियों को नियमित जांच की जरूरत होती है। सरकार ने इस संबंध में पीपीपी मोड के माध्यम से राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य मिशन के तहत एक ‘राष्ट्रीय डायलिसिस सेवा कार्यक्रम’ का शुभारंभ किया है।
रसोई गैस
बीपीएल परिवारों को सरकार सब्सिडी देकर गैस कनेक्शन मुहैया कराएगी। इस घोषणा से 2016-17 में लगभग 1.5 करोड़ बीपीएल परिवारों को फायदा होगा। सरकार देश में रसोई गैस को पूरे देश में सर्व सुलभ कराने की हिमायती है। इससे काफी हद तक उन गरीब महिलाओं और बीपीएल परिवारों के लोगों को फायदा होगा जिनके परंपरागत चूल्हों खाने बनाने से सेहत पर खराब असर पड़ता है।
आलोचना
स्वास्थ्य नीति के लिए सरकार की समग्र सोच क्या है इस पर बजट में कोई रोशनी नहीं डाली गई है। हालांकि इसमें बीमा सेक्टर पर काफी बढ़चढ़कर बातें कही गई हैं लेकिन उसकी अपनी सीमाएं हैं। इसे सरकार की स्वास्थ्य नीति की ताकत नहीं कहा जा सकता।
नई बीमा योजना, नाम बदलकर महज राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य बीमा योजना का रूपांतरण लगता है।
