TWO DAY NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHAIRPERSONS OF COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT AND STATE LEGISLATURES ON THE WELFARE OF SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES CONCLUDES

Bhubaneswar:30/8/25:Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Birla today stressed that both central and state governments must work in tandem to ensure that welfare schemes reach the last citizen, especially those from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Only through such coordinated effort, he said, can the true benefits of development and progress be delivered. He also underscored the urgent need for every State Assembly to constitute dedicated Committees on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, so that focused and sustained attention can be given to issues concerning these communities. Shri Birla made these remarks at the Valedictory Session of the two-day National Conference of Chairpersons of Committees of Parliament and State Legislatures on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Bhubaneswar today.

He observed that while Parliament already has such Committees actively monitoring welfare measures, the absence of similar institutional mechanisms in some States limits the effectiveness of oversight at the grassroots. Such Committees, Shri Birla stressed, would not only facilitate regular review of implementation of policies and schemes but also ensure that the concerns of SC/ST communities are addressed in a time-bound manner. He called upon State Legislatures to take the lead in constituting these Committees, thereby strengthening the accountability framework and bringing welfare initiatives closer to the people.

He said that India has undertaken wide-ranging reforms to strengthen the rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and to ensure that they are in tune with present-day aspirations. Committees, he said, play a crucial role in this process by examining budgetary provisions in minute detail, reviewing the performance of welfare schemes, and suggesting improvements. This detailed scrutiny not only enhances transparency in governance but also ensures accountability of the government to the people.

Importantly, their constructive recommendations often guide governments in re-evaluating rights, designing tailor-made schemes, and streamlining policies so that they better reflect the needs of disadvantaged communities. He underlined that through intensive discussions during the Conference, participants debated how best the benefits of constitutional provisions, budgetary allocations, and welfare schemes could reach members of SC and ST communities, making them truly empowered and Atmanirbhar.

Shri Birla observed that such a roadmap must encompass all facets of development—social, educational, economic, and political—so that by the year 2047, India can truly realize the vision of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar: an equitable, just, and inclusive society. He said that this was not merely an aspiration but a national responsibility and hoped that the Committees at both the state and national levels would remain central to this mission.

He reiterated that the recommendations emerging from these Committees should be seen as constructive guidance for course correction, not as criticism. When governments and committees work together in this spirit, the results are always more enduring and effective, he added. Further noting that education and technology are drivers of empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, he called for using these tools to empower the communities and the nation.

Shri Birla expressed confidence that the “Bhubaneswar Agenda 2025”, will act as a framework for action, guiding the work of Parliament and State Legislatures in the years to come. With the blessings of Lord Jagannath and the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar, he said, India will march confidently towards building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, where every member of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will live with dignity, equality, and justice.

Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati; Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Odisha, Smt. Pravati Parida; Speaker, Odisha Legislative Assembly, Smt. Surama Padhy, Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, and Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh also addressed the distinguished gathering on this occasion.

Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of Odisha delivered the Welcome Address, and Shri Bhaskar Madhei, Chairperson, Committee on Welfare of SC and ST, Odisha Legislative Assembly, delivered the Vote of Thanks.