Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to pass Uttarakhand Scheduled Caste /Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan (Planning, allocation & Utilization) Bill 2013 to utilize total 21 percent funds for the welfare and development of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SC/ST) communities. In nut shell you can say that state Government’s each department will spend 21 percent of their budget for the welfare of SC/ST dominated areas. Uttarakhand has become second State after Andhra Pradesh that passed the bill in December 2012.
Interacting with the media persons, social welfare minister Surendra Rakesh said, “Approval by cabinet to pass the bill is a historical decision for several reasons. It will ensure utilization of total 21 per cent funds, including 18 percent for the SC and 3 per cent for the ST allocated for development and welfare of these sections. Thus it would help in development of SC/STs.”
According to minister, the bill increases role of Social Welfare Department in implementation of sub plan for the section since now onward it will work as nodal department. Simultaneously, it allows the department to create projects for development of the SC/ST and ensure their implementation.
The minister said, “A state level committee, which is to function under Social Welfare department, will also be set up. The committee will ensure implementation of the projects.” The committee would also review status of the projects annually and will suggest its ideas for speedy development.
The minister asserted that the decision would accelerate pace of implementation of the projects meant for the development of the SC/ST in different areas. Rakesh also claimed that the bill was sure to ensure transparency in implementation of the schemes.
The bill, the minister informed, allows creation of a separate cell, especially dedicated to have an account of various schemes meant for the SC/ST, in the finance department. Under the bill, a separate technical and administrative unit can be set up, if required.
“The bill also makes provision to honour the official doing their duty with efficiency and punishment for those failing delivering the same,” The minister said, adding that requirement of the bill was felt since the funds were remained unutilized.
He further added that the bill would ensure utilization of funds in development of the villages having 40 per cent SC/ST population. It would also help in development of the urban areas comprising large chunk of population of the section.
He thanked Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and his cabinet colleagues for giving approval to pass the bill. The minister credited himself for preparing the bill since he felt that there should be some law to ensure the complete utilization of funds allocated to development and welfare of the SC/ST under Sub Plan.