Welfare of SCs/STs/OBCs

SC/ST Cell

In accordance with the policy of the Government of India, a SC/ST cell is functioning in the Department of Commerce. A Liaison Officer is nominated in the Department and in each of the organizations under the Department. So far as services and posts in the Department and organizations under its administrative control are concerned, none of the posts has been exempted from the purview of the reservation orders. The Liaison Officer examines and rectifies, wherever necessary, the roster maintained by the various organizations for ensuring representation to SCs/STs/OBCs. The Liaison Officer also provides relevant guidelines to the officers in the Department of Commerce, its attached and subordinate offices and the Public Sector Undertakings, in accordance with the instructions issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOP&T) from time to time. The Cell is also looking after the work regarding implementation of the Government Orders in respect of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to the extent of 27 per cent in direct recruitment. As per the guidelines of the DOP&T, a fresh Special Recruitment Drive for filling up the backlog reserved vacancies of SCs, STs and OBCs have been launched in the Department and all its attached and subordinate offices, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies. An officer holding the post of Joint Secretary has been nominated as officer-in-charge of the Special Recruitment Drive to monitor and coordinate the special recruitment efforts.

A statement showing the total number of Government employees and the number of SCs/STs/OBCs as on 31.12.2008 in the Department of Commerce, its subordinate offices, Public Sector Undertakings, autonomous bodies etc. under its administrative control is attached at Annexure 14.1.

The Commodity Boards and Public Sector Undertakings under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce have certain specific schemes under the special tribal plans, which are operated with a view to supplementing the efforts of the Government in improving the socio-economic conditions of the SC/ST in the non-traditional areas.

The welfare activities undertaken by different organizations attached to this Department are given below: -

Rubber Board, Kottayam

The various schemes operated by the Rubber Board for the welfare of SC/ST category of growers during the year 2008-09 are as under:

• The various schemes operated by the Rubber Board for the welfare of SC/ST category of growers during the year 2008-09 are as under:

• An amount of Rs. 8.74 lakh was disbursed to 90 SC/ST tappers employed in the unorganized sector under the housing and sanitary assistance scheme.

• Cash Assistance was given under Rubber Plantation Development Scheme. In the traditional areas, the cash assistance was disbursed to 349 beneficiaries amounting to Rs. 2 lakh. A total amount of Rs 270.5 lakh was disbursed to 5119 beneficiaries in non-traditional area and North-Eastern region.

• A total amount of Rs. 50.24 lakh was disbursed to 5119 beneficiaries as reimbursement of cost for high yielding planting material.

• Assistance of Rs 37.5 lakh was provided to 1517 beneficiaries for boundary protection fencing material for rubber plantation.

• 234 persons were given fee concession for training in rubber cultivation, tapping, processing and manufacturing.

• Total area of 2279.53 hectare benefitting 6698 persons was planted under Tribal Development Project in traditional areas for the benefit of tribal communities with active participation of concerned State Governments.

Coffee  Board 

In Traditional Area, the benefits/financial incentives available under various schemes are extended to the growers including small number of SC/STs. However, most of the benefits/incentives of the coffee development programmes operated in Non-Traditional Area (Andhra Pradesh & Orissa) and North East Region are mainly aimed at welfare of the Schedules Tribes.

Spices Board

A SC/ST Cell headed by a Liaison Officer is being constituted in the Board. A statement showing the details of SC/ST/OBC employees in the Board as on 31.3.2009 is given in the Annexure. The Board is also maintaining a reservation roster for persons with disabilities.

Tobacco Board Guntur

Tobacco Board is following the Rules/Guidelines issued by the Government of India from time to time for the welfare of SCs/STs/OBCs. The Welfare of SC/ST receives priority in the implementation of Plan Scheme in the tobacco sector.

Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

The schemes operated by APEDA for the welfare of SC/ST category during 2008-09 are:

• Group A and B officers of SC/ST categories were sent for various promotional schemes abroad for gaining higher expertise in their field.

• Group C incumbents of SC/ST categories were as far as possible sent for training in the course conducted by Institute of Secretariat Training Management (ISTM).

Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)

A Liaison Officer has been appointed to look into the welfare of SCs/ STs. Any representations made by the SCs/STs are duly considered. SCs/STs are also being encouraged to appear in the competitive examinations and meritorious candidates belonging to SCs/STs categories are also considered against the unreserved vacancies.

Projects and Equipment Corporation (PEC) Limited

Government Directives/instructions with regards to SCs/STs/OBCs are duly compiled with in PEC Ltd. There is a welfare scheme in PEC under which merit scholarship is given to the wards of the employees on securing certain percentage of marks in the annual examination. A 5% relaxation is given to the ward of SC/ST employees for availing merit scholarship.

In PEC, there exists a Time Scale Promotion Scheme for staff cadre. Qualifying period for promotion for employees belonging to SC & ST categories is relaxed by one year in each stage of promotion.

As on 31st March 2009, 47 employees are SCs and 6 employees are STs out of a total of 196 employees.

State Trading Corporation of India (STC) Limited

The Corporation is scrupulously following all the directives/guidelines issued by the Govt. of India on reservation for SCs/STs/OBCs in Government service. The measures undertaken by the Corporation for the welfare of weaker sections are given in the Box 14.1.

MMTC Limited

An SC/ST Cell is functioning in Corporate Office comprising of a Deputy General Manager, Manager, Deputy Manager, Senior Office Manager (PS) and Senior Office Manager. A Chief Liaison Officer of the level of Chief General Manager has been appointed to supervise the implementation of the Reservation Policies.

Liaison Officers have been appointed in each of the Regional Offices of the Company. Training is imparted to Liaison Officers and office bearers of MMTC SC/ST Employees Welfare Associations and its Federation from time to time for updating them of the developments taking place, imparting knowledge about the Reservation Policy of the Government of India and method of implementation of the same by way of maintaining reservation rosters.

The following steps are being taken for the welfare of SCs/STs:

• To improve the skill level of employees belonging to reserved category, they are nominated for in-company training apart from nominating them for training conducted by outside agencies. During the year, out of a total of 960 employees nominated for training, 154 employees belonging to SC and 66 to ST, were sponsored by the company.

• To improve the chances of inducting reserved category candidates for appointment, relaxation in age is provided as per laid down provisions. Eligibility standard where marks in educational qualification are prescribed, 5 percent relaxation in marks is provided to SC/ST.

• Under the MMTC Employees’ Welfare Scheme, wards of employees are eligible for merit scholarship provided, they secure minimum 50 percent marks in the aggregate. In case of SC and ST employees, this limit has been relaxed by 5 percent.

• A member belonging to SC/ST is nominated in the Selection Committees and Departmental Promotion Committees to protect the interests of these categories.

• Reservation in quarter allotment is provided to SC and ST employees to the extent of 10 percent for B type accommodation and 5 percent in respect of C & D accommodation.

• The company has in place scheme of “Structured Meetings” in which the Management meets various representative bodies of employees periodically in order to discuss and resolve issues. Periodical meetings with MMTC SC/ST Welfare Associations in all offices of the Company and the Federation of MMTC SC/ST Welfare Associations are convened.

Export Inspection Council of India

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

The Institute follows Government of India’s instructions relating to reservation issued from time to time. During 2008-09, one faculty member belonging to OBC category was nominated to present a paper at the 6th ASAE International Conference in Manila. In order to upgrade his knowledge/skill, one SC employee was sponsored to learn Hindi Typing. Relaxation of 5% marks in written tests for appointment/promotion is allowed to candidates belonging to reserved categories.

DGFT, New Delhi

As regards measures undertaken by the office for the welfare of SCs/STs/OBCs, none of the posts has got exempted from the purview of the reservation orders. The Office takes due care in the administration and compliance of the reservation orders. DGFT (Hqrs) examines and rectifies, wherever necessary, the roster maintained by the four Zonal offices for ensuring representation to SC/ST/OBC categories. The office also provides relevant guidelines to the Zonal offices of DGFT in accordance with the instructions issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOP&T) from time to time.

India Trade Promotion Organization, New Delhi

Guidelines on reservation were complied with by ITPO. Liaison Officers have been nominated to look after the interest of SCs, STs and OBCs. In every Departmental Promotion/Selection Committee meeting an officer of appropriate level belonging to SC/ST category was associated to look after the interest of the candidates belonging to these categories.

Welfare of Women

Women Cell

An independent Women Cell has been set up in Department of Commerce with the following broad functions:

• Prevention and redressal of sexual harassment at workplace, constitution of Complaints Committee in the Department of Commerce, its attached and subordinate offices, PSUs, autonomous bodies etc., monitoring their performance and providing necessary help and guidance.

• Coordination with the Department of Women & Child Development, National Commission for Women and other concerned agencies in respect of the matters connected with welfare and economic empowerment of women and other related issues.

• Review of the various programmes of Department of Commerce to ensure that various aspects of women welfare, development and empowerment are promoted through the programmes and schemes of the Department.

• Preparation of Action Plan pertaining to the Department of Commerce for the overall development of women in line with the National Policy for empowerment of women.

• Other incidental matters pertaining to the subject.

• The Women Cell actively participated in the various workshops / seminars on gender issues organized by National Commission for Women etc.

Gender Budget Cell

Gender Budget Cell has been set up in the Department to ensure that the budget allocations made in the various schemes implemented by the Department benefitted the women folk. Most of the schemes under the Commodity Boards such as Tea, Rubber, Coffee, Spices etc. as well as agencies like Indian Instituting of Packaging, Marine Products Export Development Authority, Footwear Design & Development Institute etc. have programmes targeting women beneficiaries. Though funds are not specifically earmarked for this group, yet all the aforementioned schemes subsume the targeted category.

Spices Board

At present there are 114 women employees in the Board in Group A, B, C and D categories. A woman officer of the Board has been nominated as “Women Welfare Officer” to sort out the difficulties/problems.

Women in Public Sector (WIPS)

WIPS in MMTC aims at keeping contacts with Executive Committees its Members and acts as a catalyst within the organization while developing an information center/network for wide dissemination of information. Women employees from different organizations participate in the regional meet and national meet for discussing on the various developments. A Committee headed by a senior female officer of the rank of CGM duly assisted by two other senior female officers of GM and DGM level is in force at Corporate Office to handle grievances and cases of sexual harassment of women at work. These kinds of committees are functioning at various Regional Offices also.