People's Democracy

CPI(M) Delegation Meets Finance Minister on SCSP

A delegation led by K Varadha Rajan, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) and comprising Basudeb Acharia, CPI(M) floor leader in  Lok Sabha, V Srinivasa Rao, Central Secretariat member, Vijoo Krishnan and G Mamatha, CPI(M) members met Pranab Mukherjee, finance minister, government of India in New Delhi on January 27, 2012 regarding the budget allocations for the Scheduled Castes as per the ratio of their population and the implementation of SC sub plan (special component plan) and submitted a memorandum to him. The following is the text of the memorandum:

WE would like to bring to your notice the abysmal condition of the Scheduled Caste people and the ineffective manner in which the SC Sub Plan (Special Component Plan) is being implemented over the years. 

Even after 64 years of independence, the condition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes continues to be appalling, both socially and economically. They lag behind even the minimum parameters in all aspects of human development. The discrimination both economic and social continues. Despite all the promises made and schemes announced, not much progress has been made and most of these promises have not been implemented properly. One such Scheme that could have made a significant impact on the living conditions of Dalits is the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (Special Component Plan).

SC SUB PLAN (SCP)

AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION:

The Sixth Plan had identified that the lack of economic support was the main cause for the extremely slow pace of development of the Scheduled Castes during the earlier plans. It came up with a new strategy to address this concern. The objective was to reduce the gap between the dalits and the non-dalits. Special emphasis was laid on the implementation of the newly launched Scheduled Caste Special Component Plan (SCP), later it was converted into SC Sub-Plan (SCSP) facilitating easy convergence and pooling of resources from all the other developmental sectors in proportion to the population of SCs and monitoring of various developmental programmes for the benefit of dalits. The Special Component Plan was meant to be a mechanism for the economic empowerment of dalits and envisaged as a policy instrument to ensure fulfillment of constitutional guarantees and entitlements enjoined for the dalit community. However, the track record of the implementation of the SC Sub Plan has been dismal and the aspirations of the dalit community have not been fulfilled.

As per the Special Component Plan, the amount of expenditure of planned central government budget for dalits should be according to their population but this rule has been flagrantly violated by many states as well as central government departments ever since the SCP or the SCSP came into existence. In 2006-07, the total plan allocation was Rs 1,65,499 crores, but only 4.25 per cent or Rs 7,031.86 crores were earmarked for dalits.  In 2007-08, the total plan budget was Rs 2,05,100 crores and the allocation to dalits was only Rs 12,535.75 crores (6.1 per cent) whereas it should have been Rs 32,816 crores. Thus there is a shortfall of nearly Rs 20,280 crores. In 2008-09 the total budget allocation under Plan outlay was Rs 2,43,385.5 crores and although the government was liable to allocate Rs 40,090.90 crores exclusively for dalits, it had allocated only Rs 11,715.07 crores or merely 29 per cent of the total due under the SCSP for the welfare of dalits. This implies that the dalit community has been deprived of 71 per cent of the amount or Rs 28,375.9 crores meant for their development. In 2010-11 of the total plan outlay of Rs 2,84,284 crores only Rs 23,795 crores or 8.4 per cent of the plan was allocated for the development of dalits. In 2011-12 of the total plan outlay of Rs 3,40,255 crores only Rs 30,551 crores were allocated under the SCP thereby depriving the dalit community of Rs 24,570 crores that was meant for their development. During the Ninth Plan period out of the 62 central ministries or departments only 11 had formulated an SCP. In 2011-12 only 24 departments have allocated for dalits. The actual spending on SCSP and TSP is much lower than even the meager allocation made in the plan outlays.

Many states have not implemented the SCSP and a few have introduced the concept only recently. In different states, rampant diversion of the SCSP funds is going on. Under-utilisation and lapse of funds as well as misuse is also a common practice. A glaring instance has been the diversion of funds from the SCSP to the tune of Rs 744.354 crores during 2006-07 to 2010-11 to meet the Commonwealth Games related expenses. Some ministries and departments are giving the ruse that the non-implementation of the SCSP, TSP is because of non-divisible component. They argue that quantification is made only from divisible component, scheme wise. The principal adviser to the Planning Commission, in his report in 2006 mentioned, “As a result of this the actual earmarking of the SCSP and TSP from the total state plan becomes much lesser than what should have been as per the population of SCs and STs to the total population of the state.” The task force appointed by the Planning Commission in its report in 2010 November revealed that departments/ministries which are under no obligation category needs to be relooked. The government of India introduced a new scheme for development of dalit areas where their population is high, called Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY). They selected some villages in some states. The 2010-11 budget allotted Rs 400 crores for this purpose and later it was revised to Rs 98 crores. Similarly, allotment as a whole to the social welfare sector was reduced by Rs 200 crore in the revised budget. This is the state of affairs of allotment of funds. This has led to a scenario of deprivation and denial of equal opportunities for the dalits. In this situation, it is the responsibility of the government of India to ensure the allotment of funds in proportion of the population.

CONTINUING CASTE OPPRESSION,

UNTOUCHABILITY & INEQUALITY

The diluted manner of the implementation of the SC Sub Plan (Special Component Plan) has had a disastrous impact on the life and living conditions of the dalit community. The non-implementation of the SC Sub Plan in an effective manner has led to a situation wherein the condition of dalits is continuing to remain extremely backward. They continue to be deprived of the very basic essentials for a decent living and even the basic dignity of life. Their living areas are still lacking basic amenities like drinking water, drainage facilities, toilets, electricity, street lights and roads. Access to education, health and employment is limited. The targets set by the government of India and the equality envisaged by the Indian constitution is far from achieved.

In 2000, about two-thirds of SC rural households were landless or near-landless, compared with one-third amongst the non-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe communities; less than one-third of SC households had acquired access to capital assets (like land, housing etc) compared with 60 per cent among non-SC/ST households; and about 60 per cent of SC households still had to depend on wage labour, compared with one-fourth among non-SC/ST households.

The percentage of agricultural labourers is 51.4 per cent for Scheduled Castes and for others it is 19 per cent (data for 1999- 2000). Literacy rate of dalits is 54.69 per cent as per 2001 Census.  But dalit enrollment in graduate education is merely 8.37 per cent as against 91.63 per cent for others. 

Disparities of a similar magnitude exist in their health status. The incidence of anaemia among SC women and the mortality rate among SC children are high compared with those among their non-SC/ST counterparts. Discrimination in various market and non-market transactions, including access to social services such as education, health, housing, and in political participation is also common. 

The cumulative impact of these disparities is reflected in the high levels of poverty in the dalit community. Although there may have been a slight improvement in material conditions of small sections of the dalit community due to reservations and resultant jobs, it is far below desired levels. The discrimination against dalit women is much worse. 

ENSURE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE SC SUB PLAN

To overcome the dismal record as far as ensuring a dignified life for the dalits, there is an urgent need to ensure effective implementation of the SC Sub Plan (Special Component Plan). However, there is no law that would compel state governments, central ministries and departments to stop them from diverting allocations. The Planning Commission has been issuing guidelines from time to time. But these are not being followed. There is a Central Tripartite Committee to monitor the schemes under SCSP/TSP but it is also not functioning properly. The prime minister himself made a speech on June 27, 2005, saying that the SCSP and TSP should be an integral part of annual as well as Five Year Plans and called for making provisions non-divertible and non-lapsable. The National Advisory Council with Sonia Gandhi as the chairperson also made some recommendations, recently, in this regard. Many of the reports accept the non-implementation of these schemes and guidelines. But still the problem continues. That is why a comprehensive law is required to curtail diversion/under utilisation of SCSP and TSP allocations and suitable mechanisms should be put in place to monitor this on a regular basis at all levels. Specific guidelines exist that debar states, central ministries/departments who do not properly implement the schemes/guidelines from getting further approval of Plan outlays. If these guidelines had been implemented properly, the situation could have improved. Administrative measures alone cannot ensure implementation of the schemes. Beneficiaries/stakeholders particularly those at the lower level should be involved in the implementation process. Information relating to the schemes should be available in public domain and there should be a grievance redressal mechanism. Like in the case of the MGNREGA, social audit can ensure transparency and arrest the misuse/diversion of funds to an extent. All these loopholes should be rectified in the Approach Paper to the Twelfth Five Year Plan.

STEPS FOR REDRESSAL

OF THE PROBLEM

We strongly believe that the gap between dalits and non-dalits can be reduced only by strengthening and expanding the policy of empowerment and equal opportunity. In this direction we demand that the government implement the following measures on an urgent basis:

1.                 Enact suitable central legislation to enforce allotment to SCSP and TSP and proper utilisation as per the proportion of the population of dalits and tribals.

2.                  Make SCSP and TSP integral part of Annual as well as Five Year Plans and make provisions non-divertible and non-lapsable. Make suitable amendments in the guidelines so that the allotted amount reaches the concerned sections.  The targeted schemes should reach SC/ST individuals, households and localities.

3.                  A White Paper on the status of dalits and implementation of the SCSP and TSP should be released by the government.

4.                 A special session of parliament should be convened to discuss the issues relating to SCs/STs.

5.                 Distribution of land to all landless, a large majority of whom are dalits and adivasis.

6.                 Separate budget heads should be earmarked in every department/ministry’s plan outlay. SC/ST Special Component Plan should be extended to panchayat and municipal budgets.

7.                 A nodal agency to coordinate and monitor all departments must be set up.

8.                 Effective monitoring of the SCSP including special officer at district level with powers at par with magistrate should be ensured.

9.                 Social auditing should be done every year. A grievance redressal cell for time-bound redressal of complaints within three months should be set up.

10.             Social Justice Division should be set up under the Planning Commission.

11.             Dalit women should be equally treated and special schemes should be designed in all the schemes implemented under Special Component Plan. Abolish the devadasi system and rehabilitate them with proper care.

12.             More residential schools for SC/ST children should be started.

13.             The term `Special Component Plan’ should be resumed in the place of `Sub Plan’.

We hope that you will take serious note of the situation and the problems in the implementation of the SC Sub Plan (Special Component Plan) and take immediate steps to rectify the problems. The forthcoming budget should give priority for the allotment of funds for the upliftment of dalits and ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (Special Component Plan).