New Delhi: Despite favouring several options including reservation for welfare of Dalits, the government itself lags behind in implementing various schemes meant for SC/STs and OBCs.

Out of 51 ministries or government departments, only seven have reported formulation of Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) in their annual plan, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has said.

The ministries/departments, which reported formulation of such a plan are the Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Agriculture and Cooperation among others.

The Committee also observed that during the last year, some states with sizable SC population have not allocated funds for their SCSP as per the percentage of their population.

Andhra Pradesh, which has a SC population of 16.20 per cent has an allocation of only 7.63 per cent, Himachal Pradesh with SC population of 24.70 per cent has an allocation of 11 per cent and Punjab with a SC population of 28.90 per cent has an outlay of 26.02 per cent.

Keeping in view the fact that the allocations under Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan in proportion to the percentage of SC population in the state is the main criteria for release of grants by the Centre under the scheme, the Committee expressed its displeasure at the non-adherence to the norms by some states.
Source : PTI