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Lok Sabha
As per estimates of poverty made available by the Planning Commission, 36.25 per cent of the SC population in the rural areas and 38.47 per cent in Urban areas were living below poverty line in 1999-2000. The percentage of Scheduled Castes living blow the poverty line reduced from 48.11 per cent in 1993-94 to 36.25 per cent in 1999-2000 in rural areas. In urban areas this percentage has reduced from 49.48 per cent to 38.47 per cent during the same period.
Under the Special Component Plan (SCP), the States are required to channelise flow of funds and associated benefits from their Plan budgets for the benefit of Scheduled Castes. Central Government provides Special Central Assistance as an additive to Special Component Plan for implementing Family Oriented Income Generating Schemes to enable SC beneficiaries to cross poverty line. Concessional credit facilities for taking up viable self-employment projects are provided through National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation, National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation and Scheduled Castes Development Corporations.
The poverty data about OBCs is not separately available. Concessional Credit facilities to OBCs is provided through National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporations.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Smt. Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
MLD:LK:sje-35(sc population)(4.8)
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