Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

11. The population of the Scheduled Castes in Maharashtra is 98.62 lakhs
and comprises of 10.02% of the State's population. Of this, 60 % are in rural
areas, and 40% inhabit the urban areas. It is a matter of satisfaction that the
educational schemes with a provision of Rs. 470.40 crores that are implemented
by the Maharashtra's Social Justice Department for the S.Cs. has resulted
in an impressive increase in the literacy rate of the S.Cs. from 14.70 in
1971 to 27.80 in 1981; 56.40 in 1991 and has touched 71.90 in 2001. In
contrast, the general literacy rate in the State ranged from 33.80 in 1971 to
76.90 in 2001. The Social Justice Department implements 17 distinct education
oriented schemes which cover tuition fees and examination fees to B.C
Students, scholarships to B.C. Student in High Schools, the Central Scheme
of Post Matric Scholarship, Scholarships to B.C. girls in Stds. V to VII (Primary),
Scholarship to B.C. Girls in Stds. VIII to X (Secondary), Public School
Education for children of parents who are engaged in unclean occupations,
stipends to B.C. students studying in I.T.Is., Maintenance Allowance to B.C.
Students studying in Sainik Schools, Book Banks for B.C. Students in Medicine,
Engineering, Architecture, Veterinary, Polytechnics courses, payment of maintenance
allowance to B.C. Students studying in professional courses and staying in
the attached Hostels thereat, grant-in-aid to Hostels, Starting of Ashram Schools
for S.Cs., Setting up of Balwadis etc. The Budgetary outlay in respect of these 17
education oriented schemes in Maharashtra in this crucial sector during the current
year is Rs. 470.40 crores, out of a total outlay of Rs. 2232 crores, and compared
to Rs. 284.95 crores in 2003-04, which is an increase of 165%.
12. As per the 2001 Census, Scheduled Tribe population in Maharashtra is
85.77 lakhs and forms 8.85% of the State's total population of 968.79 lakhs.
Maharashtra is the second largest State in the Country after Madhya Pradesh
in terms of S.T. Population. The literacy rate among the tribals in Maharashtra
is 52.2% as against 76.9% of its general population. Further, the literacy rate
for tribal males is 67% and the female literacy rate is 43%, which is below the
general literacy level. The State Govt. has taken in hand a number of effective
measures to improve the educational status of S.Ts. in Maharashtra. For this
purpose, (among the other development oriented schemes for the tribals) the
Govt. has allocated Rs. 2250 crores, this year which is 9% of the State's
overall Rs. 25,000 crores budgeted outlay. The State Govt. had spent an
amount of Rs.199.54 crores for residential Ashram Schools and Hostels for
tribal boys and girls during 2007-08 which represented 11.10% of the total
allocated plan funds for education, in the Tribal Development Sector.
13. The State Government is running 1254 residential schools for Tribals with
a student capacity of 4,20,500. There are 235 primary schools 872 secondary
schools and 147 junior colleges in tribal areas. Boarding, lodging and teaching
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