Welfare schemes for scheduled castes in Punjab: An overview

The welfare of Scheduled Castes has been placed in the State List.¹ Therefore, it becomes the constitutional responsibility of the State Governments to promote and protect the interests of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes within the broad policy framework laid down by the Union Government and NITIAYOG. Article 46 of the Indian Constitution states that the State shall promote with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections and in particular of the Scheduled Cates and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.²