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ABOUT THE
DEPARTMENT
The State of Orissa occupies an important place in the country
having a high concentration of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste
population. In terms of ST population, it is the second biggest in
the country. Both Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste constitute
nearly 38.66% of the total State Population (S.Ts 22.13% and S.Cs
16.53% as per 2001 Census). The population of the members of the
Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, as per 2001 Census is as
follows :
TOTAL POPULATION OF THE
STATE |
36804660 |
SCHEDULED TRIBES (S.T.)
POPULATION |
8145081 |
SCHEDULED CASTE (S.C.)
POPULATION |
6082063 |
|
PERCENTAGE OF S.T. POPULATION TO TOTAL POPULATION |
22.13 |
PERCENTAGE OF S.C.
POPULATION TO TOTAL POPULATION |
16.53 |
S.T. COMMUNITIES |
62 |
S.C. COMMUNITIES |
93 |
SCHEDULED AREAS IN ORISSA
In exercise of
powers conferred by sub-paragraph 6 of the Fifth Schedule to the
Constitution of India, the revised Presidential Order titled " The
Scheduled Areas (states of Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh & Orissa)
Order 1977" has declared the full districts viz. Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh,
Koraput (which now includes the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri,
Nabarangapur and Rayagada) , Kuchinda tahasil of Sambalpur district,
Keonjhar, Telkoi, Champua, Barbil tahasils of Keonjhar district,
Khondamal, Balliguda and G.Udayagiri tahasil of Khondamal district,
R.Udaygiri tahasil, Gumma and Rayagada block of Parlekhemundi tahasil in
Parlakhemundi Sub-division and Suruda tahasil (excluding Gazalbadi and
Gochha Gram Panchayats), of Ghumsur sub-division in Ganjam district,
Thuamul Rampur and Lanjigarh blocks of Kalahandi district and Nilagiri
block of Balasore district as Scheduled Areas of the state. After
reorganisation of districts in the state, 7 districts fully and 6
districts partly are covered under the Scheduled Areas of the state.
ORIGIN OF THE
DEPARTMENT
To look after the
welfare of Backward Classes, a small unit named Backward Classes Welfare
Section was formed in the erstwhile Planning and Reconstruction
Department in the year 1946-47. In order to provide concerted efforts to
the problem of Scheduled Tribe, Schedule Caste and OBC, the Backward
Classes Welfare Department was formed in 1948. In the year 1949 the
subject ‘Village Welfare’ was entrusted to the Department and was
renamed as "Rural Welfare Department".
Soon after the adoption of the Constitution of India in 1950, the name
of the Department was changed and renamed as Tribal and Rural Welfare
Department. This name continued for quite a long period after which the
Department was renamed as Scheduled Castes & Tribal Welfare Department.
Subsequently, the Department was bifurcated into Scheduled Castes
Welfare & Tribal Welfare which again was merged to be named as Welfare
Department. Welfare Department was rechristened as Scheduled Tribe and
Scheduled Caste Development Department since 22nd February
1999 and continues as such.
MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Constitution
has imposed responsibilities on the Governments for the all round
Development of the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. The policies,
Programmes and schemes of the Department have been designed in
consonance with the overall goals and objectives as enshrined in
Articles 46 (Part IV), 16, 17, 19, 164, 244, 275, 330,
332,335,338,339,341, 342 and 366 of the Constitution of India and aim at
improving the quality of life of S.T. & S.C. communities.
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