Govt disburses Rs 7,981 crore to over 75 lakh scheduled caste beneficiaries in FY26
New Delhi, April 24
A total of Rs 7,981.47 crore has been disbursed to over 75 lakh scheduled caste beneficiaries in FY26, the government informed on Friday.
The funds were disbursed as part of schemes run by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment focused on the educational empowerment of marginalised students belonging to Scheduled Castes, an official statement said.
Notable increases have been seen across key scholarship programs. Expenditure rose year‑on‑year, with a 21 per cent increase under the Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs and Others, an 11.23 per cent increase under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SCs, a rise of 13.5 per cent under Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC students.
Further, expenditure under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) Scheme for SCs saw a 16 per cent increase compared to FY25.
Further, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) disbursed Rs 223.47 crore of concessional finance to 29,448 beneficiaries in FY2025-26, nearly 97 per cent of whom were women, the statement noted.
The average loan size increased to Rs 77,000, a 16.67 per cent rise over the previous year. With an authorised share capital of Rs 785 crore and paid-up capital of Rs 720 crore, the Corporation has achieved cumulative loan disbursement of Rs 3340.67 crore, benefiting over 6.08 lakh individuals.
NSKFDC has been operational since October 1997, focusing on the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, waste pickers, manual scavengers, and their dependents through concessional finance and support interventions.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment oversees the implementation of various Acts and welfare schemes also aimed at the upliftment of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), senior citizens, victims of alcoholism and substance abuse, transgender persons, persons engaged in begging, Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), the statement noted.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Rs 7,981 crore is a massive amount. While I appreciate the intent, I wish there was more transparency in how these funds are tracked at the grassroots level. My cousin in a village says many SC students still struggle with application forms and documentation. The system needs to be more user-friendly.
The NSKFDC data is impressive - 97% women beneficiaries and average loan size up 16.67%. That's real empowerment for safai karamcharis. But I wonder about the repayment rates. Are these loans actually helping them start sustainable businesses or just adding to debt? 🤔
Finally some concrete numbers! The SHRESHTA scheme for residential education in high schools seeing 16% increase is great. But we need to remember that these are just numbers. The real test is whether these students complete their education and get good jobs. Let's hope the government also focuses on skill development alongside scholarships.
As someone who works with NGOs in rural India, I think these numbers are positive but we need to look at the bigger picture. The Rs 7,981 crore disbursed is about 0.03% of GDP. For true social justice, we need much more investment in quality schools, colleges, and job creation for SC communities. Every rupee counts, but let's not celebrate mediocrity.
It's good that the department also covers OBCs, senior citizens, transgender persons, and others. But I'm concerned about the implementation. Many of my friends from SC backgrounds still face discrimination in schools and workplaces. Scholarships alone won't solve deep-rooted social issues. We need stronger anti-discrimination laws and their enforcement.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.