Social-Cultural Issues

It was launched on 8^th March, 2010.

The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) in its Report to the Nation (2006-2009) made ten major recommendations on libraries. In pursuance of this, a High Level Committee to be called as National Mission on Libraries (NML) has been set up by the Government of India
The composition of the Committee, terms of reference, tenure, management support and method of operation have been elaborated in the Gazette of India (Part I Section I Number 20) issued by the Government on 4^th May, 2012. Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, will be the nodal agency for the National Mission on Libraries for administrative, logistics, planning and budgeting purposes.

The mandates of the mission include -

The SABLA scheme aims towards the empowerment and self-development of Adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18 years.

Ujjawala Scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Reintegration was launched by the Central Government  to prevent trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation through social mobilisation and involvement of local communities, awareness generation programmes, generate public discourse through workshops/seminars and such events and any other innovative activity and to facilitate rescue of victims from the place of their exploitation and place them in safe custody.

'Swadhar' has been designed with a flexible and innovative approach to cater to the requirement of various types of women in   distress in diverse situations under different conditions. The Swadhar Scheme purports to address the specific vulnerability of each of group of women in difficult circumstances through a Home-based holistic and integrated approach.

The scheme of FCCs was introduced by Central Social Welfare Board in 1983. Under the FCC scheme, counselling, referral and rehabilitative services to women victims who are in moral danger within the family or society at large including those affected by disputes, marital discord or maladjustment is provided free of charge.

The objective of the scheme is to increase education among Scheduled Tribes including PTGs. Ashram Schools provide education with residential facilities in an environment conducive to learning. The scheme is in operation since 1990-91. Salient features of the scheme are:

<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">a)    The scheme is operational in the Tribal Sub-Plan States/UT Administrations.
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">b)   Construction of Ashram schools for the primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary stages of education as well as upgradation of existing Ashram Schools for Scheduled Tribe boys and girls including PTGs.
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">c)   100% funding for establishment of Ashram Schools, i.e. school buildings, hostels, kitchen and staff quarters for girls in TSP areas. In addition, 100% funding for establishment of Ashram Schools for boys in only TSP areas of the naxal affected districts identified by Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time (list of naxal affected districts as specified by MHA annexed). All other Ashram Schools for boys in TSP states will, however, continue to be funded on 50:50 basis. 100% funding will be provided to UTs.
<span style="font-family:" arial;="" font-size:="" small;="">d)    Financial assistance on 50:50 basis will be given for other non-recurring items of expenditure, i.e. purchase of equipment, furniture and furnishing, purchase of few sets of books for a small library for use of inmates of the hostels, etc.

A new scheme titled "Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana", through NSTFDC, was launched for extending financial assistance up to Rs. 50,000 to the eligible scheduled tribe women at a more subsidised interest rate, a maximum up to 4 percent interest.

The Food and Nutrition Board is a pre-existing institution, which operates through a technical wing at the Centre and four regional offices. It was established in 1964 under the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Prime Minister's National Council for India's Nutritional Challenges met for the first time on 24^th November, 2010.

In the context of the trend of establishing quality residential schools for the promotion of education in all areas and habitations in the country, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for ST students take their place among the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and the Kendriya Vidyalayas. The structure of EMRS is as follows:

 It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women of 19 years of age or above for first two live births. It provides a partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare and to provide conditions for safe delivery, good nutrition and feeding practices. 

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) was established by the Government of India in the year 1987 as a Multi-State Cooperative Society by registration under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 (now the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002). It is a national level cooperative apex body.