March 23, 2017
Pratima Mandal speaks on The Constitution (Schedules Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Thank you, Deputy Speaker Sir, for giving me the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Sir, it is nearly 70 years since the country got its freedom and almost 70 years since our Constitution came into effect. However, it is a matter of regret that even after 70 years, our policy on reservation had little impact on the lives of ‘Scheduled Caste’ and ‘Scheduled Tribe’ people. They live a precarious life, unable to bear their necessities of life. The caste system is mainly responsible for the prevailing inequality in the country. It has largely contributed in keeping a large of India’s population backwards.
Caste and creed based division still dominate in service, marriage, education, employment and general social interaction in our country. We should. therefore. make all the effort to fight back so that we live in a society that encourages only liberty, equality and fraternity, irrespective of our caste, which our Constitution promises. Although our Constitution has provisions for reservation for these socially-deprived people, they have benefited from reservation only in a limited way. We need to put effort to make these people a part of the mainstream society. We should attempt to help the weak grow strong; not let the weak become weaker and give them a level playing ground with all members of the society. To echo what Dr BR Ambedkar said, our efforts must be aimed to “break the chains” for once and forever.
The Bill under discussion aims to strengthen efforts by including in Part 13, Entry 79 of the Bill, the castes Sabakhia, Sualgiri, Swalgiri as Scheduled Caste in the State of Odisha. It is a commendable step forward. The Bill also aims to replace Pondicherry with Puducherry at two places where it occurs in the Bill.
However, in the Financial Memorandum, the Bill brings out, due to non availability of casewise data, a precise estimate of expenditure of which would have to be incurred is not possible. I would like to draw the attention of the House that it is evident that with inclusion of more castes under the Scheduled Caste category the government will require more funds to make sure that every such member is enabled to access all opportunities and facilities. So I would like to request the Hon. Minister, through you Sir, that the government may consider it beneficial to revise the fund allocation towards the welfare of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people.
Our Hon. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has introduced a unique team Shikshashree to encourage the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students towards their education and as well as their social upliftment. Government of West Bengal have already issued more than 11 lakh caste certificates and online procedure has also been introduced to expedite the process.
Sir the time has come to provide quality education to our children from the nursery level, so that our children can make a good educational future. With these words I would like to conclude my speech. On behalf of my party, All India Trinamool Congress, I wholeheartedly support this Bill.
