The phrase “Economically Weaker Section” (EWS) is used to describe people or households that are experiencing financial difficulties. To solve the issues this disadvantaged group of society faces, it is essential to comprehend the EWS idea. Let’s move on from the broad notion and get into more detail about who is considered to be EWS. First off, it’s crucial to remember that eligibility requirements can differ between nations or areas. However, many countries, like India, utilise a set of income or asset thresholds to designate people or households that fall under the EWS category. Taking India as an example, the government established the EWS category in 2019 as part of the Right to Education Act. Families are classified as EWS if their yearly income is below a specified threshold, such as INR 8 lakhs. This transition makes it apparent how EWS is defined and makes it easier for readers to relate to situations from everyday life.
Introduction to EWS
Economically Weaker Section (EWS), also referred to as economically disadvantaged persons or households, designates a particular group of people who are vulnerable to financial hardship. Before moving on to a description of this category, it’s crucial to comprehend the standards and traits that apply to EWS.
The government in India, for instance, has set income requirements to assess EWS eligibility. The annual income of individuals or households is used to determine these thresholds, which brings us to our next topic.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that EWS status is not only determined by income but can also consider factors such as assets, social circumstances, or access to basic amenities.
Moving on to the significance of recognising EWS, it is essential for carrying out targeted policies and efforts. Governments can create welfare programmes that are especially suited to their needs, for instance, by identifying people or households that fall under the EWS category. Moving on to the next point, these efforts seek to improve the lives of the EWS community by giving them access to vital services like housing, healthcare, and education.
The experiences and difficulties faced by those in the EWS category might be further influenced by intersectional characteristics like gender, caste, or ethnicity. This change in tone emphasises the importance of attending to the various demands and conditions of economically disadvantaged populations.
Government Initiatives
Government programmes for members of the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) are intended to help and uplift this group of people. Transitional phrases might aid in providing a thorough summary of these endeavours.
Here are a few instances:
Programmes for Affordable Housing:
The government has put in place a number of initiatives, such as the “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana” in India, which offers EWS people choices for subsidised housing. These programmes, including low-interest loans or government subsidies for home building or acquisition.
Education and Skill Development Initiatives:
Initiatives for education and skill development are frequently given top priority by governments for people on the EWS. For instance, the “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan” in India aims to give free education and vocational training to kids from less affluent households. To draw attention to comparable programmes in other nations.
Financial Assistance Programs:
Governments may provide financial help to people on the EWS through programmes like direct cash transfers, scholarships, or grants. To emphasise the targeted nature of these programmes and guarantee that people in need receive financial assistance, can be employed.
Healthcare Initiatives:
To make healthcare services for people in the EWS more accessible and cheap, governments carry out healthcare initiatives. This can involve setting up primary healthcare facilities, offering free or heavily discounted medical care, and implementing health insurance programmes. To discuss other elements of these programmes, such as awareness campaigns or preventative healthcare measures.
Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Support:
Governments assist entrepreneurship and self-employment among EWS citizens by providing financial aid, skill development opportunities, and mentorship programmes. Use transitional words like “to promote” or “with the goal of” to emphasise the motivation behind these initiatives and how they contribute to the development of sustainable livelihoods.
Reservation Policies and Affirmative Action:
Governments may have reservation policies in place that offer reserved seats or quotas for EWS citizens in educational institutions, government positions, or public sector businesses. Use transitional words like “notably” or “significantly” to highlight how these measures have improved EWS folks’ access to opportunities.
Education and Scholarships
- EWS Scholarship Yojana: The Central Department of Social Justice and Empowerment offers the EWS Scholarship Yojana to post-matriculated students from economically underprivileged communities. The programme currently includes high academic achievement scholarships for students in grades 9 through 12.
- Rajasthan EWS Scholarship: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education awards this grant to deserving students from lower socioeconomic groups. This scholarship is open to economically disadvantaged students in the general category who earn a grade of at least 80% on their class X secondary exam.
- Top Class School for OBC, EBC, and DNT kids: The Central Government is offering this scholarship to OBC, EBC, and DNT kids who wish to enrol in Class IX through Class XII in prestigious schools. The grants will be given to cover tuition costs and other expenses as determined by the school, up to a maximum of Rs. 75,000 per year for students in grades 9 and 10 and Rs. 1,25,000 per year for students in grades 11 and 12.
- Eklavya Scholarship: The Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Maharashtra, offers this scholarship to EWS students who have graduated with honours in Science, Arts, Commerce, or Law and have enrolled in a PG programme.
Among the several scholarships offered to EWS students, these are just a handful. You can conduct an internet search or get in touch with your local government or educational institution to uncover more scholarships.
Healthcare and Sanitation
Some healthcare and sanitation issues faced by EWS:
- Access to healthcare: Financial limitations frequently make it difficult for EWS families to receive healthcare. They might not have the time to travel to a medical institution or they might not be able to afford the cost of medical care.
- Healthcare quality: Even when EWS households have access to medical care, they can not get the same level of treatment as people from other socioeconomic categories. This is due to the fact that facilities that treat EWS families are frequently overcrowded and understaffed.
- Sanitation: EWS households frequently reside in unhygienic settings that might promote the spread of disease. They might not have access to sanitary facilities, garbage disposal, or clean water.
Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment
Here is a table showing the entrepreneurship and self-employment of EWS in India:
Characteristic |
EWS |
General Category |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employment rate | 14.9% | 12.3% |
| Number of self-employed EWS | 10.2 million | 8.5 million |
| Share of EWS in self-employment | 31.3% | 25.7% |
| Share of EWS in total employment | 15.1% | 13.0% |
- As you can see, EWS have a greater self-employment rate than the general category. In other words, compared to the overall population, a higher percentage of EWS are self-employed. Additionally, a larger proportion of EWS participate in self-employment than in all forms of work. Accordingly, EWS are more likely to be self-employed than to work for a company.
- There are several causes for this. First of all, discrimination may make it difficult for EWS to get employment in the official economy. Second, they might not have the education or training necessary for positions in the formal economy. Lastly, entrepreneurship may be viewed as a tool for people to rise out of poverty and improve their financial situation.
- For EWS, going into business for themselves can help them rise out of poverty and better their financial situation. It’s crucial to remember that working for yourself is not always simple. Entrepreneurs in EWS may experience difficulties include a lack of access to knowledge, markets, and finance. Additionally, they could experience discrimination from clients and vendors.
- Despite these difficulties, self-employment is a possibility for EWS. Many government initiatives and programmes are available to support EWS business owners. These initiatives offer access to funding, education, and marketing support. They aid in establishing connections between EWS business owners and clients and suppliers.
Urban Slums and Rehabilitation
Urban slums are places where EWS people must endure difficult living circumstances, insufficient housing, and restricted access to necessities. The difficulty is that these slums frequently lack sufficient sanitary facilities, potable water and electricity. The difficulties experienced by people are further exacerbated by overpopulation and inadequate infrastructure.
Moving on to the significance of rehabilitation, it is essential to address these problems and improve the living circumstances of EWS people in urban slums. First, to emphasise the importance of rehabilitation efforts. Initiatives for rehabilitation initially concentrate on giving slum dwellers access to inexpensive housing options, upgrading infrastructure, and generally improving their quality of life.
The restoration process is greatly aided by government programmes. As we move from the subject of government interventions to the issue of urban slum issues, it is crucial to remember that governments adopt several initiatives and programmes. To highlight specific programmes like the “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana” in India, which aims to provide cheap housing for EWS residents and rehabilitate slum areas, for instance, transition words like “for example” or “specifically” might be used.
NGOs also aim to increase access to basic necessities, provide access to healthcare and educational opportunities, and give slum residents more agency through skill-building and livelihood initiatives.
Financial Inclusion and Microfinance
By giving people in the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) access to financial services and opportunities, financial inclusion and microfinance play critical roles in empowering EWS (Economically Weaker Section) individuals. Here’s a look at financial inclusion and microlending for the lower-income population.
The process of ensuring that people and households, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to a variety of inexpensive and suitable financial services is known as financial inclusion. Moving on to the significance of financial inclusion for those in the EWS, it can be claimed that it fosters social inclusion, poverty alleviation, and economic empowerment.
Beginning with conventional banking services like savings accounts, credit facilities, and insurance items, financial inclusion gives EWS people access to them. This change emphasises the crucial part that financial services play in giving EWS people a solid financial basis.
Additionally, microfinance organisations frequently use inclusive and innovative strategies that are targeted to the needs and conditions of EWS people, such as peer assistance or group financing. Furthermore, microfinance empowers people in the EWS by giving them money to launch or grow their small businesses, which can result in higher revenue production and financial independence.
Employment Opportunities
There are a number of employment opportunities available to EWS in India. Some of the most common sectors include:
- Information technology: One of India’s fastest-growing industries, IT presents a variety of prospects for EWS. IT businesses are constantly on the lookout for skilled and dedicated workers, and they frequently offer opportunities for training and professional development.
- Manufacturing: Offering a variety of occupations in many industries, the manufacturing industry is another significant employer in India. factories, warehouses, and other production enterprises are places where EWS can find work.
- Services: The largest industry in the Indian economy, the services sector provides a variety of job opportunities. Jobs in retail, hospitality, healthcare, and other service sectors are available to EWS members.
- Government: There are many employment available in the government’s various departments and agencies, making it another significant employer in India. EWS can find employment in the military, the armed forces, the civil service, and other branches of the government.
Here are some tips for EWS who are looking for employment:
Connect with individuals in your neighbourhood. Ask your loved ones, close friends, and neighbours if they are aware of any job openings.
Visit career fairs. A wonderful approach to network with potential employers and find out about employment openings is at job fairs.
Look through job boards online. Jobs in India are listed on a number of online job platforms.
Update your cover letter and resume. Make sure your cover letter and resume are current and emphasise your qualifications.
Develop your interviewing abilities. You will feel more at ease during a job interview the more you prepare.
Gender and EWS
Factor |
Women from EWS households |
Men from EWS households |
|---|---|---|
| Education | More likely to be illiterate or have lower levels of education | More likely to have higher levels of education |
| Employment | More likely to be engaged in low-paying, informal work | More likely to be engaged in high-paying, formal work |
| Discrimination | More likely to face discrimination in the workplace, including sexual harassment and unequal pay | Less likely to face discrimination in the workplace |
| Resources | May have limited access to resources, such as healthcare, childcare, and financial services | More likely to have access to resources |
| Challenges | Lack of education, discrimination, limited access to resources | Discrimination, limited access to resources |
| Opportunities | Access to education and training, start their own businesses, get involved in social entrepreneurship | Access to education and training, start their own businesses |
As you can see, gender and EWS have a variety of intersectional obstacles and opportunities. Women from EWS homes can succeed and overcome their obstacles if they have access to education, training, and resources.
Success Stories
There are many success stories of EWS who have overcome the challenges they face and achieved great things. Here are a few examples:
- Rachna Yadav : Rachna Yadav is a software engineer who was raised in a tiny village in Uttar Pradesh by EWS parents. Growing up, she dealt with a variety of difficulties, such as poverty, prejudice, and limited access to education. She was adamant about succeeding though, and she eventually graduated from a prestigious university with a degree in computer science. She currently works as a software programmer at a prestigious computer business, and many young people from EWS backgrounds look up to her as an inspiration.
- Akash Banerjee : Akash Banerjee is a social entrepreneur who established “Slum Soccer” to aid children in Mumbai from low-income families (EWS). Children have access to education, training, and soccer possibilities thanks to Slum Soccer. Since Banerjee grew up in a Mumbai slum, he is familiar with the difficulties that EWS kids must overcome. He is dedicated to assisting these kids in realising their full potential, and he has positively impacted the lives of numerous children.
- Smriti Irani : Smriti Irani was born into an EWS family in Delhi and is a politician. Growing up, she dealt with various difficulties, such as poverty and discrimination. Nevertheless, she was tenacious in her pursuit of success and eventually graduated from Delhi University with a degree in economics. Later, she pursued a lucrative career in television, and today she is a member of the Indian Parliament. Many young people from EWS backgrounds look up to Irani as an example of how to overcome obstacles like poverty and discrimination and achieve great things.
These are only a few of the numerous success tales of EWS. These people have triumphed over difficulties and accomplished great things. They serve as an example for many others and demonstrate that success is attainable regardless of one’s upbringing.
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