The District Welfare Officer for Scheduled Castes represents this department at the district level and Backward Classes Who is assisted by Tehsil Welfare Officers, one in each Tehsil. The administrative control at the state level is vested with the Director, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Haryana, Chandigarh.

          The main functions of the District Welfare Officer for scheduled castes and backward classes include creating public opinion against untouchability and to adopt measures for the welfare and uplift of the scheduled caste, vimukta jatis and other backward classes. He also guards the interests of these classes against their victimization untouchability and ejectment.

 The different professions adopted by these classes include agricultural labour, sweeping and  scavenging, leather tanning, shoe, making, basket and rope making, pigs and sheep rearing, hair cutting, iron smithy and dyeing etc.

           The 1991 census recorded 1,89,813 persons (102741 males and 87072 females) belonging to the scheduled castes. Out of them 1,67205 persons lived in rural areas and 22608 persons in towns.

          The Department of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes has adopted certain measures for the benefit of these classes in pursuance of the directive principle embodied in the constitution of India.

ADVANCE OF LOANS (MISCELLANEOUS) -

                   An interest free loan to the tune of Rs. 800/- to each post-matric and Rs. 2000/- to each post- graduate scheduled castes student is advanced for the purchase of books and stationery articles. It is recoverable in 20 half yearly installments of its disbursement. It is governed by the backward classes (grant of loans) act, 1957 and the rules framed there under. The Haryana Harijan Kalyan Nigam, Chandigarh, also provides financial assistance to harijans for their socio-economic and educational uplift. The loans are advanced at moderate rate of interest recoverable in easy instalments, for various trades and profession. The loan is advanced for higher studies in which case the interest is further reduced.

WIDOW DAUGHTER MARRIAGE SCHEME -

                                This scheme was started in 1988 with the aim of providing financial assistance for the marriage of daughters of widows and destitute women belonging to scheduled caste/notified/ tapariwas community for meeting the marriage expenses of the daughter. A sum of Rs. 42,500/- was disbursed in the year 1988 which in 1999-2000 rose to Rs. 2,70,000/- and no. of beneficiaries were 27.

KANYA DAN  SCHEME -

                                This scheme has been started w.e.f. 1.11.1999 with the aim of providing financial help on the occasion of the marriage of SC/ST girls. The grant will be available to only these SC/ST families, which are living below the poverty line. A sum of Rs. 3,41,700/-was disbursed to 67 beneficiaries during the year 1999-2000.

POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP TO SC -

                                The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the SC/ST student studying at Post matriculation or Post Secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. During the year 1999-2000 a sum of Rs. 12469/- was disbursed to student belonging to SC Community.

MERITORIOUS INCENTIVE TO SC STUDENTS WHO SECURE  Ist DIVISION -

This scheme was started in the year 1997 with the aim of providing incentive to schedule caste students who secure Ist division in the Ist attempt from post matric to post graduate including medical, engineering, agricultural and veterinary classes to promote higher education among students of Haryana belonging to SC category in Govt. as well as in recognized affiliated college/institution. A sum of Rs. 12000/- was disbursed to the SC studying during the year 1997 which in 1999-2000 went upto Rs. 20,500 and number of student was 19.

OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES -

Subsidy for construction of new house

 In order to provide shelter to the homeless members of scheduled castes and vimukat jatis, subsidies are granted for the construction of new house. A subsidy of Rs. 2000/- for the construction of a house was given to a person who had no house of his own. The subsidy amount of Rs. 2000/-was raised to Rs. 5000/- in each case from the year 1988-89. The proprietary rights of the house remain vested in the Government for 20 years after which the house becomes the property of the beneficiary. The latter, of course has the free use of the house during this period.

Industrial Training

 In 1999-2000 a sum of Rs. 4,40,000/-was spent on providing facilities for industrial training. To improve the economic condition of the member of the scheduled castes, their young men are trained as skilled workers by giving them training on an apprenticeship basis in various trades in different industrial training institutions. Twenty percent of the seats are reserved for scheduled castes & two percent for other backward Classes. During the course of training, which varies from one year to two years, a monthly stipend of Rs. 100/- is granted to a trainee belonging to the scheduled castes. No stipend under this scheme is admissible to a trainee of other backward classes. This particular scheme is calculated to improve the status not only of the individuals concerned but also of the families to which they belong.