01-03-2008, 02:43 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>UPA dips into SC, OBC funds to pay for 'Muslims first' policy </b>
Poneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
In a blatant discrimination, the Centre has reduced the fund allocation for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes by Rs 3,000 crore in the 11th Five-Year Plan, but trebled the allocation for the minorities to Rs 1,400 crore per annum against Rs 500 crore.
Government sources said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJ&E) had sought Rs 16,100 crore for the 11th Plan to carry out welfare schemes for SCs and OBCs, out of which Rs 11,185 crore was to be spent on socio-economic development of SCs between 2007 and 2012. The share of OBCs was Rs 2,250 crore.
"Since the Centre has drastically reduced the allocation for the Plan period by almost Rs 3,000 crore, the Ministry was left with no option but to adjust internal funds disbursement accordingly. The Ministry would now only have Rs 9,097 crore to be spent on various welfare schemes meant for SCs during the Plan period, while the OBCs would get only Rs 1,588 crore," sources said.
OBCs are going to be the worst hit by the Centre's move to reduce the quantum of funds for disadvantaged groups of the society. "Earlier, the Ministry planned to earmark 14 per cent of total funds to be spent on the development of OBCs, and now only 12 per cent would be available for them, while 70 per cent would go to the welfare schemes for SCs," they added.
<b>The Centre has kept minorities, particularly Muslims, in good humour by allocating Rs 7,000 crore for 11th Plan. It increases the annual allocation to the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MMA) from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,400 crore. Incidentally, the Ministry had sought only Rs 1,100 crore as annual allocation.</b>
"<b>It is a win-win situation for the Muslims in particular. Apart from the minority schemes, they would continue to avail the benefits of other schemes as well in the capacity of being OBCs. Over 90 per cent Muslims are already included in the State and Central lists of OBCs."</b>
The MMA officials justified the increase in funds, stating that the "effectiveness of welfare schemes would be minimised if the Government does not make funds available as per the requirements".
<b>"What kind of multi-sectoral development programmes could be launched in the minorities concentration districts with over Rs 120 crore? There are over 90 such districts in the country,"</b> they argued.
"We had asked for around Rs 12,000 crore for initiating several welfare and developmental programmes for minority communities during 11th Plan. But the Centre has approved only Rs 7,000 crore. We hope the Centre would further increase the allocation," a Ministry official said.
<b>Blatant discrimination
SC, OBC welfare funds reduced by Rs 3,000 crore
Minorities' share hiked from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,400 crore a year
Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry sought Rs 1,600 cr for 11th Plan
But the Ministry would now have only Rs 9,097 crore
Ministry of Minority Affairs asked for Rs 1,100 cr but Govt allocates Rs 1,400 crore
Centre earmarks total of Rs 7,000 crore for minorities for 11th Plan </b>
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Poneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
In a blatant discrimination, the Centre has reduced the fund allocation for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes by Rs 3,000 crore in the 11th Five-Year Plan, but trebled the allocation for the minorities to Rs 1,400 crore per annum against Rs 500 crore.
Government sources said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJ&E) had sought Rs 16,100 crore for the 11th Plan to carry out welfare schemes for SCs and OBCs, out of which Rs 11,185 crore was to be spent on socio-economic development of SCs between 2007 and 2012. The share of OBCs was Rs 2,250 crore.
"Since the Centre has drastically reduced the allocation for the Plan period by almost Rs 3,000 crore, the Ministry was left with no option but to adjust internal funds disbursement accordingly. The Ministry would now only have Rs 9,097 crore to be spent on various welfare schemes meant for SCs during the Plan period, while the OBCs would get only Rs 1,588 crore," sources said.
OBCs are going to be the worst hit by the Centre's move to reduce the quantum of funds for disadvantaged groups of the society. "Earlier, the Ministry planned to earmark 14 per cent of total funds to be spent on the development of OBCs, and now only 12 per cent would be available for them, while 70 per cent would go to the welfare schemes for SCs," they added.
<b>The Centre has kept minorities, particularly Muslims, in good humour by allocating Rs 7,000 crore for 11th Plan. It increases the annual allocation to the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MMA) from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,400 crore. Incidentally, the Ministry had sought only Rs 1,100 crore as annual allocation.</b>
"<b>It is a win-win situation for the Muslims in particular. Apart from the minority schemes, they would continue to avail the benefits of other schemes as well in the capacity of being OBCs. Over 90 per cent Muslims are already included in the State and Central lists of OBCs."</b>
The MMA officials justified the increase in funds, stating that the "effectiveness of welfare schemes would be minimised if the Government does not make funds available as per the requirements".
<b>"What kind of multi-sectoral development programmes could be launched in the minorities concentration districts with over Rs 120 crore? There are over 90 such districts in the country,"</b> they argued.
"We had asked for around Rs 12,000 crore for initiating several welfare and developmental programmes for minority communities during 11th Plan. But the Centre has approved only Rs 7,000 crore. We hope the Centre would further increase the allocation," a Ministry official said.
<b>Blatant discrimination
SC, OBC welfare funds reduced by Rs 3,000 crore
Minorities' share hiked from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,400 crore a year
Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry sought Rs 1,600 cr for 11th Plan
But the Ministry would now have only Rs 9,097 crore
Ministry of Minority Affairs asked for Rs 1,100 cr but Govt allocates Rs 1,400 crore
Centre earmarks total of Rs 7,000 crore for minorities for 11th Plan </b>
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