Question : Welfare of Scheduled Castes

(a) whether a large number of people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) are living below the poverty line and do not possess any assets;

(b) if so, the percentage of such people out of the total population of the country;

(c) whether the number of such people has increased and if so, the details thereof and the Government’s reaction thereto; and

(d) the budgetary allocation made for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) during each of the last two years along with the utilisation of the said funds?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a) & (b): As per the estimates by the erstwhile Planning Commission (NITI Aayog), the percentage of Scheduled Caste population below poverty line during 2004-05 was 53.5% and 40.6% in rural and urban areas respectively whereas during 2011-12 was 31.5% and 21.7% in rural and urban areas respectively.
(c): The estimated number of Scheduled Castes below poverty line was 8.97 crore in 2004-05 whereas it was decreased to 5.83 crore in 2011-12.
(d): Details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred under Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (renamed as Allocation for the Welfare of Scheduled Caste) for Scheduled Castes is available in Statement 10-A of Expenditure Budget Volume-I. The copy of Statement 10-A is enclosed.