The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has objected to the contours of the newly conceived flagship mission – PM Social Inclusion Mission for Welfare of SCs and STs (PMSIM) – which will implement targeted schemes for the socially and economically backward Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The NCST has objected to the clubbing of two major programmes – Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) and Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) – of the Centre under the new mission. So far, the two programmes were separate and required 41 Central ministries and departments to allocate at least population proportion of Budget outlay – which is 16.6% for Scheduled Castes and 8.6% for Scheduled Tribes – for targeted schemes. The new mission has put the two initiatives under one umbrella.

According to sources, the NCST has conveyed to the government that the problems of SCs and STs are “distinctly different in nature and require separate strategies for identification of gaps and prevailing disparities as well as providing administrative arrangements and solutions thereof are also likely to be different for both categories”. It recommended that separate guidelines and strategies be adopted for STs.

Under the new mission, the government has proposed to exempt the coal ministry, department of consumer affairs, ministry of mines and social justice and empowerment ministry from earmarking any budget for ST welfare schemes. The NCST has objected to the exemption and has sought justification for this.