NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED CASTE - POLITY
News: NCSC
notice to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya over Dalit student’s suicide
What's in the news?
● The
National Commission for Scheduled Castes has issued a notice to the
administrators of a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Madhya Pradesh, after a 14-year-old Dalit boy died by suicide
citing caste discrimination by one of his teachers.
National Commission for Scheduled Caste:
● NCSC
is a constitutional body that works
to safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes (SC) in India.
● Article 338
of the constitution of India deals with this commission - It provides for a
National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with duties
to investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for
them, to inquire into specific complaints and to participate and advise on the
planning process of their socio-economic development etc.
Backdrop:
● Special Officer:
Initially, the constitution provided for the appointment of a Special Officer
under Article 338. The special officer was designated as the Commissioner for
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
● 65th Amendment, 1990:
It replaced the one-member system with a multi-member National Commission for
Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
● 89th Amendment, 2003:
By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for SC and ST was replaced
by two separate Commissions from the year 2004 which were: National Commission
for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
- under Article 338-A.
Structure:
● It
consists of
■ Chairperson.
■ Vice-chairperson.
■ Three
other members.
● They
are appointed by the President by
warrant under his hand and seal.
Functions:
● Monitoring
and investigating all issues concerning the safeguards provided for the SCs
under the constitution.
● Enquiring
into complaints relating to the deprivation of the rights and safeguards of the
SCs.
● Taking
part in and advising the central or state governments with respect to the
planning of socio-economic development of the SCs.
● Regular
reporting to the President of the country on the implementation of these
safeguards.
● Recommending
steps to be taken to further the socio-economic development and other welfare
activities of the SCs.
● Any
other function with respect to the welfare, protection, development and
advancement of the SC community.
● The
Commission is also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the Anglo-Indian Community as it does with
respect to the SCs.
● Till
2018, the commission was also required to discharge similar functions with
regard to the other backward classes (OBCs).
It was relieved from this responsibility by the 102nd Amendment Act of 2018.