Tamil Nadu Govt Denies Diversion of SC Funds

Chennai: The State government sought to dispel doubts raised among the people over the alleged diversion of funds meant for the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) to the DMK government's ambitious Kalignar Women’s Rights Assistance Scheme (Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam) following a spurt in media reports based on a complaint filed with the National commission for Scheduled Castes.

While a letter from the national commission to the Chief Secretary and the Governor’s office sought details on the charge made by Era Anbuventhan that
Rs 1,560 crore meant for the SCSP had been siphoned off to fund the new State government scheme, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Monday that it was a blatant violation of social justice norms.

However, the government came out with the clarification that the charges were being made without proper understanding of the SCSP and the manner in which fund allocation was made for the scheme.

In all government schemes, including the Union government programmes, funds for SC and ST beneficiaries are allotted under a separate head and the funds under the could not be used for anybody else.

Of the total 7000 crore allotted for Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme in the 2023-24 budget, Rs 1,540 crore was meant only for SC beneficiaries and it could not be spent on anyone else, the press release from the Secretary of SC and ST welfare department said.

It listed the various Union Government schemes and also the State sponsored welfare schemes in which the same system was followed to ensure separate funds were earmarked for SC and ST beneficiaries in general schemes to ensure that they derived the benefits based on their population. In the case of exclusive schemes for SC and ST persons, the entire funding goes to the communities it is intended for.

Clearly stating that the DMK government stood for social justice and inclusive growth and gave emphasis for the economic growth of SCs and STs, through its various entrepreneurship development schemes, it said that it was wrong to say that the funds from SCSP were diverted. It pledged its commitment to the welfare and economic development of the SCs and STs.