Only 87 % of funds released for the welfare of backward classes in five years: RTI reply

The government has allocated Rs 4,356.82 crore for the welfare of backward classes (BC) this fiscal.

In an RTI reply to Society for Safety of Public and Good Governance, it has been revealed that of the Rs 11,798.94 crore allocated for 13 different programmes and schemes between 2014 and 2019, the government has released Rs 10,275.1 crore.

It has also been revealed that for 13 different programmes and schemes, the departments have spent only 68.2 per cent of released money in five years which is Rs 7017.81 crore.

The government has allotted the highest of Rs 4346.68 crores for reimbursing the Tuition Fee of BC students in five years. However, only Rs 4049.95 crores were released and Rs 2.695.54 crores was spent under this scheme.

For the reimbursement of Tuition Fee to Economically Backward Classes (EBC), the government allotted Rs 1,448.06 crores. However, it released Rs 1,273.2 crores and spent only Rs 964.67 crores.

The government allotted Rs 609.78 crores for the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Telangana BC Residential School scheme. It is a very popular programme which attracts various sections of society,

But in five years the government only released Rs 382.36 crores for this programme. The expenditure incurred by the residential school is only Rs 266.05 crores.

For the pre and post metric hostel scheme, the government allotted Rs 1,685.84 crores. However, it released Rs 1346.85 crores for the scheme. Only 50 percent of the funds were spent on the scheme.

For the post-matric scholarship to BC students, the government allotted Rs 1934.11 crores. It however released Rs 1687.2 crores and spent only Rs 1,152.17 crores.

The government also provides the incentive for the Inter Caste Married Couple. The government allotted Rs 3.55 crores for this scheme. But it released Rs 2.25 cores and spent only Rs 1.177 cores in five years.

In 2016-17, the government launched Kalyana Lakshmi Pathakam. Under the scheme, the government decided to provide one-time financial assistance of Rs. 1,00,116 for the brides of SC/ST and minorities at the time of marriage.

The BC department allotted Rs 1,400 crores for the scheme. However, only Rs 1286.04 crores were released and around Rs 964.67 crores spent.

In the same year, they also launched a Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Overseas Vidhya Nidhi. Under the scheme, the government provides financial assistance to poor BC & EBC students for higher education in foreign universities. The government allotted a budget of Rs 160 crores. It however released Rs 130 crores and spent only Rs 54.95 crores in three years.

The other programmes and schemes for which the government allotted money include BC study circle, Subsidy to BC advocates, Pre-Matric scholarship to BC students, and others.

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