About

As per Census 2011, Scheduled Castes constitutes 16.6% of the total population. The people belonging to Scheduled Caste communities are spread all over the country while majority of them i.e. 76.4 % reside in rural areas. The socio-economic development and protection of SCs from discrimination and exploitation has been a high priority from the very start of the planning process (Government of India, 2019).

The consolidated guidelines on SCSP issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (www.socialjustice.nic.in), Government of India highlights that the  Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged approach for the socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes: social empowerment through educational development; economic empowerment through income and employment enhancing avenues and integrated development of SC majority villages; protection through 2 effective implementation of protective legislations and eradication of occupations such as manual scavenging; and holistic development through earmarking of funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes.

In order to support the States/UTs’ Scheduled Caste Sub Plan, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is also implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of "Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP)" since 1980 for the development of Scheduled Caste (SCs) who form the major chunk of the country's population living below the poverty line. Under the scheme grant is given to the State Governments/UTs Administrations as an additive to their Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) for the benefits of the Scheduled Caste persons.

Objectives of the Scheme

• The main objective of the scheme is to increase the income of the target population by way of various income generating schemes, skill development and infrastructure development.
• To reduce the poverty among the target population and bring them above the poverty lines.

Components of the Scheme

• Income Generating Schemes
• Skill Development Programmes
• Infrastructure Development
• Monitoring and Evaluation

ICAR-CIFT has taken keen interest in implementation of Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) programme. 

Activity profile of programmes in CIFT during 2022-23 at CIFT, Kochi

• Long-term development through education/ skill development of students of Scheduled Caste
• Training and capacity development of SC community
• Ensuring access to inputs 
• Infrastructure development 
• Facilitating marketing

Training programmes under SCSP 

Input Distributed

Activity Profile 2021-22