National Commission for Scheduled Castes is an Indian constitutional body established with a view to provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes to promote and protect their social, educational, economic and cultural interests, special provisions were made in the Constitution.

Highlights

1. The first National Commission for Scheduled Castes was constituted on 2004 with Suraj Bhan as the Chairperson.
2. The Second National Commission for Scheduled Castes in series was constituted on May 2007 with Buta Singh as the Chairperson.
3. The Third National Commission for Scheduled Castes has been constituted on October 2010 with P.L.Punia as the Chairperson.

Must Know

P. L. Punia, is an Indian  politician and Member of Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh since 2014. He was member of the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014 and represented Barabanki. He is a Dalit leader of the Indian National Congress  party and Chairperson of NCSC

Functions

1. To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
2. To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes;
3. To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
4. To present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
5. To make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes;
6. To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Castes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.

Interesting Facts

1. K. R. Narayan was the first – and, so far, only – member of the Dalit community, to hold the Presidential post.
2. B R Ambedkar tried to uplift the untouchables in order to educate and  promote education and socio-economic improvement, as well as the welfare of “Outcaste”, at the time referred to as depressed classes
3. Kanshi Ram (15 March 1934 – 9 October 2006) was an Indian politician and social reformer who worked for the Upliftment and political mobilisation of the Dalits, the Untouchable groups.
4. Kanshi Ram founded Dalit Shoshit Sangharsh Samiti (DS 4), the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees’ Federation (BAMCEF) in 1971 and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984