In the budget of 2024-25, the Odisha government wants to implement a development work plan for scheduled castes and tribes!

The ongoing budget consultation for 2024-2025 by the government of Odisha must not be  a ritual to follow like their predecessors; rather it  must include the real concerns with the special allocations for the Dalit and Adivasi which represent  a considerable segments of Odisha’s  population. The concept of  a separate allocation in the budget for SCs and ST development has been mandated by the erstwhile Planning commission during the 5th five year plan.

Manas Jena

This is called the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) and Development action Plan for Scheduled Tribes(DAPST) in place of  scheduled caste sub plan and the tribal sub plan used earlier. Under this provision, funds are earmarked in annual budget by both union and state government for the welfare of SCs and STs. In the early eighties, the then Planning Commission observed that the annual budgetary spending  of different Ministry and departments did not equally benefit  all sections of people, especially the SCs and STs are remain outreached. As per 2011 census, the SCs and STs constitute about one- fourth of the population of our country but ironically, the development of this segment of population has been historically neglected for number of reasons.

So, in order to bridge the development gap between SC /ST and other advanced social groups and to  ensure their inclusion in the government’s planned developmental spending, a special component plan outlay  within the total state plan expenditure is made .The allocation percentage is decided on the basis of their population percentage. Unfortunately, such an important plan of the Govt. that is directly connected to the development of the marginalized groups has not been grounded effectively even after more than 40 years of its existence. There is no foolproof mechanism to track the fund allocation and its utilization by different departments. However, every year there are notional allocations only.

The replacement of the planning commission with NITI Aayog in 2015 has changed the business rules and the implementation process. In the new arrangement, the Ministry of finance, MSJE and MoTA have  to monitor these provisions  based on the overall framework developed by  NITI Aayog. From the budget year 2017-2018, the planned and non-planned expenditure has been merged in case of this special provision. In the new arrangement a total of 39 ministry/ departments for SCs and 42 departments for STs have been allocating funds under  different schemes ,about 250 schemes, exclusively for their inclusion. The statement 10 A – allocation for welfare of SCs and 10 B-allocation for welfare of STs of the expenditure profile of the union budget has made a list of such allocations.

The total budget allocation of the schemes and programs under different ministries and departments where DAPSC allocation have been made during the year 2022-2023 is Rs9.04,541 crore out of which Rs 1,42,342 crore have been allocated for the welfare of SCs which is 15.74 percent of the total allocation under the identified schemes. Similarly, 42 ministries have allocated Rs87,584 crore out of total Rs12,28,361 in the year 2022-2023 under different central schemes and central supported schemes for welfare of STs which is 7.13 percent of the total budget.

The NITI Aayog has issued guidelines for earmarking of funds but mostly these are  advisory  in the absence of legislative backing to fix accountability.   There has been a demand for many to introduce a suitable central legislation to make the provision meaningful, but, things are getting delayed in the absence of the political will.

The states, such as Karnataka, AP and Telengana, have enacted legislation in their states for better monitoring of these Subplan funds. The AP SCSP and TSP (planning, allocation and utilization of financial resources Act 2012 and the Karnataka SCSP and TSP (Planning ,allocation and utilization of financial resources )Act 2013 are seen as  the right step to ensure its effective implementation in spite of limitations.

What is the government of Odisha doing on this matter?

In this context, the 17thLoksabha parliamentary committee on the welfare of SCs and STs, comprising of 30 MPs from both houses, in their report, noticed a number of anomalies in the implementation of the plan. While examining the schemes under allocation for the welfare of SCs and  STs  under different centrally-sponsored schemes and central sector schemes, the committee headed by its chairperson, Dr. KiritPremi Bhai Solanki, MP, has recommended that all state Govt. should be instructed to submit annual reports giving details of sector-wise and scheme-wise financial and physical targets achieved for better transparency and accountability. They also observed that many of the schemes have failed to deliver desirable results due to lack of effective management among Ministries, NITI Aaayog and state Govt. The committee has taken note of non-allocation of funds  in proportion to the population by many states , such as Assam and Jharakhand. Referring to a report of CAG,   it is observed that funds earmarked for this intent have been diverted for other purposes. Though finance ministry has instructed to all concern that the appropriation   of funds from SC and STs heads to other head is barred. The funds in some cases have diverted to such institutions which are no way related to the development of SCs and STs. The most shocking part of it was the non utilization of funds within the financial year and its return. The committee has also observed that there have been notional allocations to the  budget, but the real spending is much less. There were also delays in release of funds affecting timely implementation of schemes and funds remain largely not being utilized. It is denial of  development to socially marginalised sections by denying them of their due share in the budget. It has a bearing on the livelihood and living standards of these  people. In recent times, the Govt. of India has started an online e-utthaan under Public finance management system to track the spending but this is more as generating data without addressing the real issues. Therefore, the advisory, guide line and executive instructions which are not being followed by ministry and states in true spirit must be replaced by  legislation to mitigate the issues of non-implementation and the violation of provisions.Along with legislation, the government must encourage social audit and involve people at each stage, from planning to impact assessment.

(manasbbsr15@gmail.com,Mob-9437060797)