The Central Government has said that it is committed to the welfare of SCs and STs and this year an amount of ₹ 50,548 crore is proposed under the SC Plan and ₹ 32, 387 crore under TSP. The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley while presenting his maiden Budget, in the Lok Sabha today said that to provide credit enhancement facility for young start up entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes, who aspire to be part of the neo-middle class, a sum of ₹ 200 crore will be opertionalised through a scheme by IFCI. For the welfare of the tribals “Van Bandhu Kalyan yojana” is being launched with an initial allocation of ₹ 100 crore. Shri Jaitley has announced a sum of ₹ 100 crores for modernization of Madarsas.

Shri Jaitley said that NDA Government during its last term in office had introduced the Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY) as a pension scheme for senior citizens. Under the scheme a total no. of 3.16 lakh annuitants are being benefitted and the corpus amounts to ₹ 6,095 crore. The Finance Minister proposed to revive the scheme for a limited period from 15 August , 2014 to 14, August, 2015 for the benefit of citizens aged 60 years and above. He also proposed to set-up a committee to examine and recommend the use of unclaimed amounts with PPF, Post Office, saving schemes etc for the benefit of senior citizens.

Shri Jaitley said that the Government is fully committed to the social security and welfare of employees serving in the organized sector. It is notifying minimum pension of ₹ 1,000 per month to all subscriber members of EP Scheme and has made an initial provision of ₹ 250 crore in the current financial year to meet the expenditure. Further, increase in mandatory wage ceiling of subscription to EPS from ₹ 6,500 to ₹ 15,000 has been made and a provision of ₹ 250 crore has been provided in the current budget. For the convenience of the subscribers, EPFO will launch the “Uniform Account Number” Service for contributing members to facilitate portability of Provident Fund accounts.

The Finance Minister said that the Government will make all out efforts to create a more inclusive society for Persons with Disabilities to enable them to enjoy equal opportunity to lead an empowered life with dignity. He also proposed to establish National level institutes for Universal Inclusive Design and Mental Health Rehabilitation and also a Centre for Disability Sports.

Social welfare measures expand targeted benefits and institutional support for scheduled communities, senior citizens, employees, and persons with disabilities. Central Government reiterates welfare commitments with budget allocations under the SC Plan and Tribal Sub Plan, a credit enhancement scheme for young Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs, launch of Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana and funds for madrasa modernization. It revives the Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana for senior citizens and proposes a committee on unclaimed small savings amounts. For organized sector employees the Budget sets a minimum pension for EPS subscribers, raises the EPS wage ceiling and provides funds, and mandates a Uniform Account Number for PF portability. It proposes national institutes for disability inclusion and rehabilitation.