Mumbai: Despite the State government’s claim of increasing provision of money for the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan and the Tribal Sub-Plan in the 2017-18 budget, the 2016-17 State Economic Survey shows that a large percentage of money allotted in these sections was unspent for three consecutive years.
State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, in his budget speech on Saturday, had announced a total of ₹7,231 crore for various special component schemes. Out of the total amount, ₹2,700 crore will be implemented at district level. Additionally, ₹6,754 crore is being provided under tribal component schemes. The total amount (₹13,985 crore) is more than the sum allotted in the previous fiscal year (₹12,083.37 crore). However, the problem lies in the actual expenditure on developmental schemes.
In 2014-15, ₹6,044.26 crore was allotted for the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP), out of which only ₹3,583.29 crore was spent. In 2015-16, out of ₹6,490 crore, only ₹3,856.32 crore was spent on State and district level schemes for SCs. The trend continued in 2016-17 as well. Out of ₹6,725.65 crore, only ₹2,566.02 crore was spent till December.
Tribal Sub-Plans
A similar trend can be seen in case of allotments for Tribal Sub-Plans. In 2014-15, ₹4,032.68 crore was spent out of ₹4,814.92 crore, and in 2015-16, ₹4,562.55 crore was spent out of ₹5,170 crore. In the present fiscal year, only ₹1,701.45 crore was spent till December out of ₹5,357.72 crore.
On an average, for 2015-16 and 2014-15, the government has spent only 72% and 70.13% for both the sections.
At the press conference last week, after the State Economic Survey was tabled in the legislature, Mr. Mungantiwar had brushed aside concerns about less expenditure than the money allotted for 2016-17. “Money has been spent on necessary schemes and has reached the needy. It is the matter of issuing bills, which usually happens in the month of March.”
Deliberate delay
Activists, however, do not agree with the argument. Priyadarshi Telang, convener, Dalit Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, said, “The government does not disburse the required amount under the schemes meant for SCs and STs.”
He added, “In addition, it does not fulfil the liability to the Centre by releasing money. There have been deliberate delays in expenditure of money meant for these sections. It has been going on for many years now.”
