Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday asked the Congress Government to issue ‘white paper’ to explain Scheduled Caste sub-plan (SCSP) expenditures.
“A state with the highest percentage of SC population still stumbles on the issues of development and providing economic stability to its 31.94 percent of the populace,” alleged AAP’s state vice-president Paramjit Singh Kainth.
He alleged that out of a total outlay of Rs 21,888.1 crore, Rs 16846.07 crore have been spent so far till the last fiscal year, from 2012-13 to 2015-16.
“A total of Rs 5042.03 crore was left unused and it’s worth noting the fact that the unutilized money of SCSP cannot be transferred or lapsed. No transparency or statement has been offered by the State Government over this unused amount over the years. It’s high time that we create a transparent and efficient system to utilize the valuable funds for the development of the SC community and areas dominated by them,” he said.
Kainth said: “It has been a year-wise trend where the state government has been unable to utilize the SCSP funds and never released any white paper or document explaining the unused amount left over from the total outlay. SCSP was implemented with a view to provide education, financial and social security and doing all what is necessary to tackle and eradicate the atrocities against the Scheduled Castes”.
He alleged that the Post Matric Scholarship, a Centrally-sponsored scheme which is the only hope for more than four lakh SC students, is still not utilized and implemented properly. Rs 370 crore under this scheme is still pending, he added.
Kainth demanded that the Congress government release a white paper for the funds which were left unused in the 12th five-year plan for the SCSP.
At the same time, he also asked for a special cell to be formed under the observation of Chief Minister’s office which shall supervise and monitor the schemes and funds allocated for the SC community.
“A commission should also be formed to inquire into the funds misused during the last 10 years of SAD-BJP combine government and also inquire the Post Matric Scholarship scam during the past five years against the Universities and Colleges which made fake ID’s in the name of SC students to receive crores of rupees in funds,” he added.