The State government's allocation under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan has hit an all-time high of Rs.6,108.60 crore, constituting 21.82 per cent of the annual plan outlay of the Budget, but the debate over full utilisation of this sum for the development of the Adi Dravidar community is continuing.
Stating that the government gives special priority for the welfare of Adi Dravidar and tribal communities, the Budget paper promises to ensure that funds meant for the Adi Dravidar reach the target group.
This year, Finance Department officials say, almost the entire allocation under this plan (usually referred to as Special Component Plan - SCP) will reach the target group — the SC population comprises about 19 per cent of the State's population — as the funds will be allotted under the ‘divisible' component wherein individual beneficiaries can be clearly identified.
According to the officials, plan schemes fall into two categories – divisible and indivisible.
The divisible component is targeted at individuals where money is spent on schemes such as old age pension and student scholarships. The indivisible component includes roads, bridges and flyovers and other infrastructure projects that benefit the community at large.
The main charge of the Opposition legislators in the past has been that the funds meant for the SCs are often diverted for projects such as bridges and roads, which will also benefit other communities. And most often, the Finance Department comes under fire.
While in the past there has been more allocation under the indivisible category, the introduction of freebies in recent years has ensured more funds allotted under the SCP amount reach the target group as they are targeted at individuals.
This year, almost all the money under the SCP will reach and benefit the target group, officials involved in planning and allocation say. In fact, the government has issued orders that a sizable percentage, with the upper mark at 30 per cent, of the new welfare schemes introduced by the present government should benefit SCs.
Under the SCP, this year's Budget has allocated Rs.331.31 crore for pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for SC/ST students; Rs.83.40 crore for infrastructure upgradation in 1,080 hostels; Rs.76.76 crore for feeding charges of students in Adi Dravidar hostels and Rs.82 crore Special Central Assistance for eradication of poverty and unemployment.
“This year, Rs.750 crore has been earmarked for Metro Rail. About Rs.30 crore could have been included under the SCP but the government has not done so. There is no boosting up,” says a Finance Department official.
“Free laptop schemes for students in government colleges and schools will benefit a sizable percentage of SC students. Similarly, the SCs will be beneficiaries of other major freebie schemes,” he notes.
Another senior officer involved in the drafting of the Budget a few times before, says the freebies have become the face of development and the laptop scheme for students perfectly falls under the SCP.
Two ex-MLAs, both from the Dalit community, who vehemently sought proper allocation under the SCP during the last Assembly session differ. Congress leader Namakkal K. Jayakumar opines that freebies will not fall under the SCP and any such allocation will be a violation of norms.
“It is solely to be spent for creating social and educational infrastructure of the community.”
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi general secretary D. Ravikumar says the Union Planning Commission has given clear guidelines on allocation under the SCP. “It has to be primarily for educational purposes, for building institutional infrastructure such as schools, colleges, polytechnics and help entrepreneurs from the community set up industries to ensure economic independence. At a broader level, it also aims at asset creation.”
“The Finance Department can only allocate funds for plans. It can't make plans. It is for the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department to formulate plans,” says an IAS officer who was deputy secretary (budget) earlier.
