Social Justice Ministry allocated Rs 6,114.12 cr for 2013-14

NEW DELHI: Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has been allocated Rs 6,114.12 crore for the year 2013-14, out of which Rs 6,065 crore will be spent under the "Plan" category for upliftment of socially backward classes and strengthening their social defence mechanism.

Out of the money allocated under the Plan category, Rs 4,665 crore has been earmarked for Scheduled Class category, while Other Backward Classes (OBC) will get a sum of 1,225 crore for the next fiscal, a report on the Outcome Budget of SJ&E Ministry said here today.

The report was tabled in the Parliament today. Rs 173 crore has been allocated for Social Defence purpose and Rs 2 crore sanctioned to meet the finances of the Secretariat.

Under the "Non-Plan" category, Rs 15.68 crore has been allocated for SC, with OBCs getting Rs 3.30 crore, followed by Rs 1.35 crore for Social Defence.

To meet the Secretariat functions, Rs 28.79 crore has been allocated from the Non-Plan head.

"Allocated plan funds would be released to State Governments/Union Territories administrations, voluntary organisations, National Level Institute and Financial Development Corporations etc for implementing the schemes for which they are responsible," the report said.

The report also highlighted the performance of various organisations and schemes under the Ministry and the money allocated for their functioning in the next fiscal.

"To abolish the practice of untouchability and curb the incidence of crimes and atrocities against SC, efforts are made for effective implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act (PCR) and the SC/ST Act with the help of 22 Special Courts under PCR Act and 170 Exclusive Special Courts under the SC/ST Act," it said.

During 2012-13, Central assistance of Rs 62.66 crore has been released against the allocation of Rs 100 crore.

Minimum scale of relief to atrocity victim have been enhanced by 150 per cent in December 2011.

On performance of State Level Scheduled Castes Development Corporation, the report said, "There are 27 such State Level Corporation which are working for the economic development of SC. As on Dec 2012, an amount of Rs 1.78 crore has been released to SCDC."

Department of Disability Affairs under the SJ&E Ministry has been allocated a total budget of Rs 611.2 crore for the next fiscal out of which Rs 560 crore has been provided to it under the "Plan" category.

Rs 107 crore will be utilised by the Department for funding the programmes under various state governments and Union Territories.

Rs 236.85 crore has been used to finance the programmes run by the NGOs, followed by Rs 35 crore for Finance and Development Corporations.

The report highlighted that the Department of Disability Affairs shall be the nodal department for the overall policy, planning and coordination of programs for Persons with Disabilities.

"However, overall management and monitoring of the sectoral programmes in respect of this group shall be the responsibility of the concerned central ministries, state governments and Union Territories," it said.