The West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes Development and Finance Corporation Bill was passed in the Assembly to merge two corporations for the SC, ST and the backward classes so that better services could be provided to all the three communities.
One of the main purposes of the move is to bring these corporations under a single-window system for better coordination.
The backward classes welfare minister Churamani Mahato said in the Assembly that setting up of a single corporation will help the government to provide better services to the people. All the three communities will be benefitted through the merger.
"A single window system will help in the smooth running of various social schemes initiated by the state government for the betterment of the people belonging to these communities. It will be more effective than the multiple systems in the delivery of services," Mahato said.
The West Bengal SC and ST and Finance Corporation and the West Bengal Backward Classes Development and Finance Corporation were formed under the Acts of 1976 and 1995 respectively. The objectives of these separate corporations were to carry out development works for the SC, ST and OBC communities.
State Tribal Development minister James Kujru during the discussion on the Bill told the House that the move will help in better utilisation of manpower and infrastructure. It will also cut down the expenses of the government.
The minister also said that the OBC offices in the districts had been lying defunct for years during the Left Front's regime. As a result of this, people belonging to the backward classes communities did not get loans and other benefits. The new legislation will help the government to cater to these people in a better way.
To facilitate the development works of the SC community, the West Bengal SC Advisory Council Bill has been passed in the Assembly. The council would advice the state government on how to address the problems the community has been facing while availing opportunities in education and employment.