Sub: Definition of Priority Area
Sanjeev Goyal
PRSEC/E/2025/0068257,
Sub: Definition of Priority Area
Concerned Department: NITI Aayog.
In many government schemes, for reporting purses, the “priority area” is defined as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, or minority communities. This raises an important question: after excluding these groups, who remains? Largely, only the general male category. As a result, the clause appears less inclusive than intended and seems designed to exclude only one specific segment of citizens.
This approach does not align well with the broader theme of inclusivity promoted by the Government. When the definition of “vulnerable sections” becomes so broad that it covers nearly 90% of the population, the concept of a focus area is diluted. What meaningful targets can be achieved if the general male category is consistently sidelined? Excluding this group may limit the overall effectiveness of welfare interventions. Neither constitution would support such a hypothesis.
Welfare schemes fundamentally involve the allocation of scarce social resources. Therefore, it is reasonable to question why an individual from a minority, SC, or ST community should automatically receive priority even if he is economically well-off. Economic disadvantage—rather than social category—should be the primary basis for prioritization under any welfare programme. Among the economically weaker sections, families with smaller household sizes could be given additional preference.
