Navsarjan Trust activist Kirit Rathod, in association with Vasudev Charupa of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), revealed, on the basis of budget analysis, that the Gujarat government failed to spend Rs 10,008.89 crore since 2001-02 for the welfare of the state’s scheduled caste (SC) population. This was calculated on the basis of (1) refusal to budget funds for the Dalits in proportion to the SC population, as required by Planning Commission, and (2) failure to spend even the allocated funds under the SC sub-plan of the budget.

The activists told a media conference that between 2001-02 and 2013-14, a total of Rs 11,115.6 crore was spent under the SC sub-plan as against the budgeted allocation for SCs of Rs 14,805.3 crore, which means that Rs 3,689.69 crore “remained idle.” Giving year-wise details, they added, the worst spending was in the last financial year (2013-14), when Rs 1,389.05 crore remained unspent as against the allocation of Rs 2,637.41 crore.

Media links on the subject:

1. http://www.counterview.net/2014/04/refusing-to-make-it-mandatory-gujarat.html

2. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Modi-government-didnt-utilize-Rs-3689-crore-for-dalit-uplift/articleshow/34214644.cms