The Hollowness of a Hallowed Policy: Emptiness of the Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes

Abstract

To be concerned with the welfare of the citizen is the universal vowed policy of any democratic state. However, despite serious commitment, government welfare measure often falls short in achieving the expected goals or promises made. In such circumstances it is not unusual for these target groups to demand for a way or a policy such that the promises made are fulfilled through. The policies of such kind are also often found failing to secure the declared welfare, instead they have been used as channels to accomplish undeclared political purposes. The Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes is one of such cases. Hence, the present article is aimed at analysing and decoding the ineffectiveness of the three and half decade old SCP in achieving the declared empowerment of Scheduled Castes in India.

This paper critically evaluates the much hyped development of scheduled castes in the country through the Special Component Plan that has been implemented for more than three decades. It deals with the circumstances under which, the welfare policy for scheduled castes was initiated and the manner in which the policy has been implemented. In the course of analysis, the paper identifies the gaps therein particularly the unenforceable aspect that is inbuilt in the policy itself that weakened the entire plan. It notes that no corrective measures were ever been attempted, perhaps with diabolic attitude towards the scheduled castes.