WEAKER SECTIONS YOUTH WOMEN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND

WEAKER SECTIONS, YOUTH & WOMEN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT WELCOME PARTICIPANTS By Dr. D. ILANGOVAN, M. Com. , Ph. D. Professor, Department of Commerce, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002 E. Mail: dil 2691@yahoo. co. in Mob: 09443738926 Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 1

Concepts Introduction Weaker Section refers to those people who do not have required minimum for their livelihood in whatever means of employment through which they could earn their income and standard of living. n Eg. Landless Agricultural Labour, Artisans, Unemployed Rural Women, Craftsmen, Underemployed Rural Youth and others n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 2

Concepts Introduction n Youth refers to a section of population who belong to the age group of 15 to 35, men or women, urban or rural, who do not have adequate means of living, under-employed and exposed to all sorts of socio-economic exploitation leading to unscrupulous practices by which spoiling themselves and others Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 3

Concepts Introduction n Women refers to those ladies, married or unmarried, employed or unemployed, rural or urban who do not have any normal means of income for their own socio-economic livelihood and obviously exploited by or exposed to unusual and improper methods or activities which not only spoil their life but also that of those surrounded by these women Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 4

Concepts Introduction Social Justice refers to the existence of (i) Constitutional or legal arrangements for the social and economic equality for men and women without any form of discrimination by caste, colour, creed, race or religion and (ii) Presence of timely protection against any unlawful activities by anti-social elements supported by any sections of the society or country whatsoever n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 5

Empowerment Triangle Education & Awareness Social Freedom According to Oxford Dictionary ‘Empowerment’ Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU is an authority or power to do something by oneself 20 -04 -2020 6

Issues of Social Justice Lack of basic Education n Absence of Democratic Rights n Inequality of Social Status n Inadequate Transport Facilities n Inaccessible Judicial Services n Denial of Equal Rights n Unsociability or Untouchables and n Unemployment or Underemployment n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 7

Budget Provisions in TN Elections to Local Bodies & Cooperatives n Slum Area Development n Tsunami Rehabilitation & Reconstruction n Rural Development Projects n Women Welfare Programmes n Women SHGs n Welfare of the Disables, Destitutes & Old n Nutritious Meals Programme n Social Reforms n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 8

Budget Provisions in TN Welfare of Fishermen n Welfare of Minorities n Welfare of Transgendered n Welfare of SC & STs n Welfare of BC, MBC & DCs n Welfare of Unemployed Youth n Welfare of Unorganized Labourers n Welfare of Weavers n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 9

Some Case Studies in TN n n n 12 million people still live in poverty in TN Vazhnthu Kattuvom Project was launched in the year 2005 to empower the rural poor and improve their livelihoods by focusing on women and other disadvantaged groups in some 2, 500 villages in the state In the first two years of the program, about 87 per cent of target households— 159, 000 households—increased their incomes by 60 to 80 percent above the baseline. About 182, 900 ultrapoor and tribal households have formed into some 17, 266 self-help groups. Village governance improved considerably. Of the total project cost of US$159 million, IDA contributed US$120 million. The state government of Tamil Nadu provided US$27 million and local communities provided another US$12 million The IDA-financed Empowerment and Poverty Reduction substantially benefited from this experience Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 10 20 -04 -2020

Specific Results of VK Project n n n - Access to credit opened, with self-help groups obtaining more than US$9 million in micro-loans during the first two years of the program. - Indebtedness decreased, particularly to moneylenders, declining from 44 percent in 2005 to less than 13 percent by the end of 2008. - Civic engagement and governance improved. Participation in community governance meetings, including by women and the poorest, has risen from 5 percent in 2005 to 75 percent by year’s end 2008. The quality of the agenda and discussion in these meetings has also significantly improved. - “Peer-to-peer” training proved to be a cost-effective and innovative way to scale up the program. Over 8, 000 community members served as trainers in neighboring project villages. - Youth gained experience and jobs, with more than 37, 000 young people receiving skills training, of which 85 percent found gainful employment. - Accountability was ensured as community participation created checks and balances that helped cultivate greater transparency and improve village governance. An independent external audit Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 11 showed that all project communities are using funds for intended 20 -04 -2020 purposes.

The Other Side of the Story n n Liquor consumption has become an alarming menace in Tamil Nadu, especially among the poor backward people. During the past year , following shocking facts have been revealed at numerous Liquor Prohibition Conferences : (a) Tamil Nadu topped the States in the number of liquor consumers; (b) A study has stated that within five years Tamil Nadu would become a state where there would not be any youngster who does not drink; (c) The cases of women becoming widows at a young age and suicides by women on account of alcohol addiction of male members of families were increasing, especially among the poor; Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 12 20 -04 -2020

The Other Side of the Story n n n (d) Women who spoke at the conferences narrated their tale of woe of their becoming widows at a young age because of their husbands meeting with fatal accidents while driving under the influence of alcohol; (e) Crimes such as murders for gain and robberies had also increased in the State. (f) A whopping nearly Rs. 10, 000 crores revenue was getting generated from sale of IMFL marketed by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC); In 2007 -08 the sale of IMFL had gone up to 306. 24 lakh cases and beer to 196. 36 lakh cases from 156. 61 lakh cases and beer 86. 35 cases in 2003 -04, all distributed through the 6, 699 government-run retail vending liquor outlets!!! (g) Just for earning money, the government had opened the shops that had almost destroyed the health of people. (h) Going by the deaths caused by liquor in Tamil Nadu, one wonders whether the Tamil Nadu government is protecting its people. The distribution of ‘flood relief’ in villages were collected back through the TASMARK sales from the same villages Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 13 20 -04 -2020

Empowerment Triangle n n The Empowerment Triangle could be further detailed out as follows. Economic freedom would mean provision for adequate employment, choice of work and reasonable level of income with ultimate relief from accumulated and inherited economic debts. Social freedom would include equal treatment and recognition between and before the cross sections of the society and through avoidance of unsociability and suppression on account of caste differences within and among religions. Similarly political freedom would mean complete liberty in the choice of siding social groups and places of living along with equal opportunity to be made available by the recognized legitimate political wings in the state. All the above will be attainable on the basis of level of basic awareness and educational status found in an individual Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 14 20 -04 -2020

The Case of Unemployment n n n According to 2001 census the total labour population stood at 399 million 291. 27 million live in rural areas-73 per cent 59 per cent of total labour - 174 million is engaged in agriculture directly/indirectly They contribute 25 per cent of national GDP OECD countries have 10 million farming families; India has 110 million such families Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 15

EMPLOYMENT IN TAMIL NADU Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 16

Employment Programmes NREGP n Million Wells Scheme n Swarna Jayanthi Programme n Vazhnthu Kattuvom Programme n Namakku Name Programme n Anna Renaissance Programme n Other Programmes n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 17

Poverty Estimates & Eradication n “In the last 12 years India’s economy has grown at an average annual rate of about 7 per cent and reducing poverty by 10 per cent. However 40 per cent of world’s poor still live in India and 28 per cent of the country’s population continues to live below poverty line; the position of Tamil Nadu stood at 21. 12 per cent of its total population” Family monthly income was just Rs. 65 in 198384 and it is Rs. 653 in 2004 -05 in the State of Tamil Nadu Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 18

TAMIL NADU: POVERTY ESTIMATES Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 19

Anti-Poverty Programmes n n Distribution of 2 acres of waste land to the families of landless agricultural labour, Reduction of interest rate for crop loan from 9 to 7 per cent along with waiver of co-operative loans over Rs. 7, 000 Cr. , Implementation of all Village Anna Renaissance Scheme in all 12, 618 village panchayats in the state with an allocation of Rs. 2, 500 Cr. , and Distribution of rice at Rs. 2 per Kg. , free colour television and gas stoves for rural households Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 20

Self Help Groups for Men & Women Empowerment With a strength of 65, 72, 000 members, the 4, 12, 104 Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Tamil Nadu have become a great movement as on today – 18 -11 -09 n 96, 668 new SHGs had been formed since 2006 [93 % by Women & 7 % by Men] n Rs. 201 crore had been given as revolving fund since 2006 n Likewise, bank loans to the tune of Rs. 4, 716 crore was given to the SHGs n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 21

PER CAPITA PLAN PERFORMANCE IN TAMIL NADU DURING VARIOUS PLAN PERIODS Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 22

TENTH PLAN (2002 -07) -- SECTORAL OUTLAYS IN TN AND IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO SOCIAL SERVICES Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 23

PLAN PERFORMANCE IN TAMIL NADU SINCE 1995 -96 TO 2003 -04 Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 24

Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited n n Established in the year 1983 with the prime objective of socio-economic development and empowerment of rural women. The success of the IFAD Project paved way for the now popularly called “Mahalir Thittam” project, which was launched during 1997 -98 with State Government funding and was progressively extended to all the 30 districts and formed many SHGs Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 25

Activities of TNCDW Ltd. n n n n Formation of Self Help Groups Systematic Training to enhance capacities for members and leaders Encourage Thrift and savings among members EDP and Skill training to start Income generation activities Linkage with banks for income generation activities and starting micro-enterprises Convergence with other Govt. Dept for harnessing schemes benefiting women Marketing support for SHG products Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 26

Impact of TNCDW Ltd in TN n n n n n Increased self-confidence and communication skills among SHG women. Greater awareness and participation of poor women in various welfare schemes of the Government. SHG women undertake multifarious economic activities leading to economic empowerment. Women have united together breaking the social barriers of caste, creed and religion. Participation in Gram Sabha and Panchayati Raj activities. More than 8161 women SHG members elected to Local Bodies in 2006. Easy access to credit and improved credit worthiness of women SHGs. The problem of “kandhu vatti” (usurious interest) system has been solved. Formation of youth groups encouraged by success of women SHGs Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 27 20 -04 -2020

Empowerment Achieved Empowerment is not away, but it is achieved today n Social Awakening is Felt by Every Section of the Society n Fight for Right is all around with the Right to Information Practiced everywhere n Tamil Nadu Government stands first among all states in India and set a role model for the entire world. n Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 28

THANK YOU ALL Prof. D. Ilangovan HD Commerce AU 20 -04 -2020 29