Tuesday, May 23 2006 13:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi : The Government is working towards allocating 25 per cent of total funds under the Annual Plan for states and Five Year Plans for uplift of SCs and STs proportionate to their population (which is around 23 per cent).

"We are tightening the system. We have already sent the guidelines to the states that they should earmark funds in their Plans in accordance to the population of SCs and STs and inform us about it. In case they do not do it, their Plans will not be approved," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters after a three-hour-long meeting with the Parliamentary Forum of SC/ST MPs.

Ahluwalia said the principle of planning is based on the formula that funds should be allocated for SCs and STs comensurate to their population but "traditionally this was not being adhered to. We hope the states will do it now".

Barring three states the guidelines have been approved by all the other states, an official source said.

The provision which has been there since 1970s was not being implemented properly.

According to official figures, during 8th Five Year Plan Rs 1,283 crore has been allocated to SCs which is 3.36 per cent of the total Plan money while Rs 2,420 crore wasallocated for STs, 11.21 per cent of the Plan. In the 9th Plan Rs 1646 crore was earmarked for SCs, 10.63 per cent of the entire Plan funds and Rs 4538 crore, 11.22 per cent for STs.

However, the MPs had different figures to present. According to them during the 8th Plan a mere 0.45 per cent was allocated for SCs and 0.42 per cent for STs and in the 9th Plan it was 1.09 per cent for SCs and 0.85 per cent for STs.