As laid down in the Constitution, it shall be the duty of National Commissioner for Scheduled Castes under Constitution and reports to the President upon the working of those safeguards at such intervals as the President may direct, and the President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament. The Commissioner is at present performing the following functions:
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(i) Evaluation the progress of the welfare schemes undertaken by State Governments and non-official organisations with grants-aid received from Government of India.
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(ii) Giving advice on schemes received for grants-in-aid from the State Governments and non-official agencies for the amelioration of the condition of backward classes.
(iii) Serving as a nominee of the Central Government on the Managing Committees of the non-official organisations receiving grants direct from the Centre; and
(iv) Examination of accounts of the non official organisations receiving grants direct form the Centre.
The Commissioner is assisted in his work by eleven Assistant Commissioners. The duties of the Assistant Commissioners are:
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(a) To investigate cases which may be referred to him by the Commissioner or which may be brought to his notice by the local residents;
(b) to establish close contacts with the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward Classes, with a view to gaining first hand knowledge of the disabilities under which they live and to educate them about the measures that they should adopt.
(c) To submit to the Commissioner periodical reports, showing the various facilities available for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in his region and the disabilities under which they live;
(d) To report on the progress of expenditure and of the achievement of the prescribed physical targets from time to time and to investigate and advise on how best the collection of statistical data can be improved;
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(e) To report on the adequacy of the resources and personnel employed on the various schemes by State Government in whom the responsibility for the implementation of sanctioned schemes in backwards classes sector is vested;
(f) to help the State Governments to remove the bottlenecks as may be noticed in the actual implementation of the sanctioned schemes and undertaking schemes, wherever necessary, in the light of local needs; and
(g) To ensure that co-operation is forthcoming in an adequate measure from public where the scheme involve public co-operation.
In the opinion of a Study Team on Social Welfare and Backward Classes, the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, has shown marked independence in the matter of expression of his views, reporting on the finding and evaluation of the working of schemes.
The teams have further stated that the record of work so far done by him would bear testimony to the fact that he has been able to achieve the purpose of his appointment ably and successfully.