NCSC Submits Annual Report 2023–24 to President Droupadi Murmu, Recommends Stronger Safeguards for Scheduled Castes
In a major constitutional development concerning the rights and welfare of India’s marginalized communities, the #NationalCommissionForScheduledCastes (NCSC) submitted its Annual Report for the year 2023–24 to #PresidentDroupadiMurmu at #RashtrapatiBhawan, New Delhi, on Tuesday.
The report, which reflects a year-long assessment of the condition of #ScheduledCastes (SCs) in India, was formally handed over by an NCSC delegation led by Chairman Kishor Makwana.
He was accompanied by Commission Members #LoveKushKumar and #VaddepalliRamchander, and Secretary Gudey Srinivas (IAS).
Constitutional Mandate Under Article 338
This annual submission is part of the Commission’s constitutional duty under #Article338 of the Indian Constitution. As per this mandate, the #NCSC is required to present a detailed report to the President each year, outlining:
-
The status of Constitutional safeguards and their implementation,
-
The socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes,
-
The efficacy of welfare schemes,
-
And the functioning of institutions and legal frameworks is meant to protect SC interests.
The President may then lay the report before #Parliament, along with a memorandum of action taken or proposed by the # Government.
Key Focus Areas of the 2023–24 Report
This year’s report offers an in-depth review of the status of Scheduled Caste communities across states and Union Territories, with a major focus on:
-
Crimes and atrocities against SCs
-
Discrimination in access to education, employment, and public services
-
Implementation of protective laws like the #SCSTPreventionOfAtrocitiesAct
-
Field visits and on-ground investigations by the Commission
-
Performance analysis of state-level SC welfare departments
-
Consultations held with #centralministries and #stategovernments
The findings point to several areas where constitutional safeguards are either poorly enforced or need urgent strengthening.
Recommendations to Enhance Social Justice
As part of its role as a constitutional watchdog, the NCSC has submitted a series of comprehensive # policy recommendations aimed at improving:
-
Institutional accountability in addressing caste-based injustice
-
Monitoring mechanisms at the district and state levels
-
Justice delivery in cases of atrocities
-
Representation of SCs in public employment and governance
-
Education, skill development, and entrepreneurship support tailored for SC youth