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New backward panel will have more powers, says Thaawarchand Gehlot

Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot has said that the new National Commission for Backward Classes will be constituted under Article 338B and will commence functioning as a constitutional authority.

It would also function in the same manner as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes under Article 338 and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes under Article 338A, the minister said, while interacting with mediapersons on three year's achievements of his ministry.

"The new commission would exercise the function of hearing the complaints/grievances of socially and educationally backward classes. It will have the powers of a Civil Court for this purpose and have the duty of advising the socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes. It would evaluate the progress of their development, unlike the present commission which does not have this role," Gehlot said.

The minister further added that the ministry has released scholarships to 3.45 crore students through direct benefit transfer (DBT) providing direct benefit to the students and in the last three years, an amount of Rs 18,000 crore has been released. On the occasion, MoS Social Justice Ramdas Athawale and Secretary G Latha Krishna Rao were also present.

Gehlot also informed that scheme for prevention of alcoholism and substance (drugs) abuse is helping in creating awareness and educating people about the ill-effects of alcoholism and substance abuse on the individual, the family. The ministry is running, 431 drug-de-addiction centres with the active participation of NGOs.
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