Budget 2013: Social Justice Ministry gets Rs 6,725.32 crore

NEW DELHI: The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry was allocated Rs 6,725.32 crore in the Union Budget for 2013-14, marking an increase of 11.93 per cent over the previous fiscal.

Last year, the Ministry had received Rs 6,0008.30 crore. While a total sum of Rs 5,430.98 crore has been earmarked for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Rs 523.25 crore was allotted for running development oriented schemes for the handicapped.

The public enterprises being run by the Ministry such as the State Scheduled Caste Development Corporation, National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation and National Finance and Development Corporation for Weaker Section were allocated Rs 288 crore for the next fiscal.

A sum of Rs 161.40 crore has been sanctioned for construction of old age homes for senior citizens and running other programs.

The budget sanctioned for welfare of the handicapped will also cater to the needs of organisations that are involved in the welfare of the handicapped.

It will also be used for running several schemes for employment, skill development and scholarship of the handicapped.

The Ministry will also construct hostels for students and will establish machinery for protection of civil rights and prevention of atrocities against SC and ST population.