Budget 2016: Dalits, adivasis get raw deal

Dalit and Adivasi groups have expressed disappointment at the continued deficit in earmarking of funds for these two deprived communities in this year's Union Budget.

An analysis of budgetary allocation by the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights showed that, like in past years, instead of earmarking 16.6 per cent funds for Dalits, only 7 per cent has been earmarked. Similarly, only 4.36 per cent has been specifically kept aside for adivasis, instead of the required 8.6 per cent.

These earmarking policies called Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) were started in the late 1970s. They are meant to ensure that spending by various ministries and departments should have a specific component meant for Dalits and adivasis in proportion to their population shares, which are 16.6 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively. The Budget has separately given Rs 500 crore each for Dalits and adivasis under 'Start Up India'.

"We need to move beyond the optics. The first step is to allocate the money that is in proportion to the population," said N Paul Divakar of the NCDHR.

The finance ministry had grouped 292 schemes under SCSP and 303 under TSP. But an analysis done by NCDHR showed that only 26 schemes related to Dalits and 22 related to adivasis have direct relevance to the communities.

An example of schemes with no direct impact on Dalits is the allocation of Rs 897 crore for the UGC, shows the analysis. About 60 per cent of the allocation was for creating capital assets under the two sub plans and 30 per cent was grants in aid for institutions. Only 8 per cent was spent on fellowships, scholarships and hostels.

Divakar said that plans like Indira Awas Yojana for rural housing, matric scholarships or self-employment scheme for manual scavengers are beneficial because the targeted persons are accounted for individually.

While 86 per cent of funds allocated to Dalits and adivasis are for 'survival' related schemes only 27 per cent funds flow to real development related measures.

The Center for Budget and Governance Accountability says changes in fiscal policies like restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes, finance commission recommendations and the proposal to scrap the Plan/Non-Plan differentiation will have marked impact on these earmarking policies.