Vasundhara Raje may announce welfare schemes for economically backward general category

Jaipur: Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje may roll out some welfare schemes aimed at economically backward class, to placate the dissent brewing among the general class over the restoration of original SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act. The move is also likely to soothe the nerves of general category, who has been demanding quota in jobs for economically weaker sections.

Rajasthan social justice and empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi said the department has reviewed welfare schemes for Economically Backward Class (EBCs) before submitting a report to the chief minister. “We have discussed how to expand the base and add more schemes for the welfare of EBCs,” he said.

Sources in the department said the government is planning to roll out skill development linked schemes, which can directly benefit the economically backward upper castes before the elections.


“We are exploring each and every aspect of existing schemes, their efficacy and possibilities of new schemes which can have immediate impact,” the source said.

The government has already launched a scheme for EBC this year in which 50,000 families from upper caste can get a loan of Rs 50,000 each at 4 per cent interest rate for self employment. It has also implemented free scooty scheme for 200 girls, who secure 85% in class 10 and 12 board examination, and scholarship scheme of .`273.50 crore for pre and post metric students from EBC among few others. The ruling BJP is facing a tough task to retain its traditional upper caste vote bank after the parliament passed the Bill to restore the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.