Incentives for Inter-Caste Marriage.

   Central assistance is provided to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, under this Ministry`s Centrally Sponsored Scheme of implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Central assistance, inter-alia, includes, a component of incentive for inter-caste marriages, in which one spouse belongs to a Scheduled Caste. The amount of Central assistance released to States/Union Territories, under the aforesaid Scheme, which, inter-alia  includes provision for incentive for inter-caste marriages, during 2009-10, 2010-2011, 2011-12 and 2012-13 (upto 12.12.2012), is mentioned, asr:-

Eligibility Condition for Disability Pension.

   Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) is a component of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). Under IGNDPS, central assistance of Rs. 300 p.m. per beneficiary is provided to persons with severe or multiple disabilities in the age group of 18-79 years and belonging to a household living below poverty line (BPL) as per criteria prescribed by Government of India.

   Working Group on "Empowerment of persons with Disabilities" for the formulation of XIIth Five Year Plan suggested coverage of all persons with disabilities under IGNDPS and grant of pension @ Rs. 500 p.m. to person with disability and Rs. 1000 p.m. to person with severe and multiple disability.

Rajya Sabha Passes Constitutional Amendment Bill.

   The Government of India has always been concerned about the welfare of downtrodden especially Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As a part of the affirmative action, reservation in promotion had been available to the SCs and STs since 1955. However, some decisions of the Supreme Court like in Indra Sawhney, Veer Pal Singh Chauhan and S. Vinod Kumar cases had caused certain effects on the scheme of reservation in promotion for SCs and STs. To overcome these effects, the Government had brought four Constitutional amendments, namely, 77th, 81st , 82nd and 85th amendments.

   The latest of such judgments was in M. Nagaraj case in which the Supreme Court has laid down some pre-requisite conditions for providing reservation in promotion. These conditions are, namely, assessing the quantum of representation of SCs, STs, there backwardness and effect on efficiency.