December 8, 2014
D Bandyopadhyay speaks on the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Amendment Bill, 2014 | Transcript
Sir I rise to support the Bill. Persons belonging to scheduled caste have been victims of exploitation for generations. Putting them under a Schedule may give them some protection but it is not sufficient to compensate them for the deprivation of centuries. Hence what is required is a major plan for their comprehensive social, economic and educational rehabilitation.
I know the reply would be that there is a Scheduled Caste sub-plan. But in reality that sub-plan is an amalgamation of disjointed schemes relating to scheduled castes of different sectors. There is no overall planning taking into consideration history and ground realities of social, economic and educational situation of these people. The stigma upon them for centuries cannot be washed away by a few schemes of ministries.
I know the word planning is currently a dirty word but without a serious planning there would be no sucker to our brothers and sisters who we contemptuously call Scheduled Caste. I request the Government through you, Sir, let them come up with a comprehensive plan and not an amalgamation of some disjointed scheme and call it a scheduled caste plan. Thank you.
