Question : SPECIAL CENTRAL ASSISTANCE TO SC FAMILIES

(a) The State -wise details of amount which are being paid as 25% of the Special Central Assistance (SCA) on the basis of percentage of SC families in the States covered by composite economic development programme to enable them to cross the poverty line;

(b) the number of families projected to cross the poverty line during the next three years:

(c) the number of families who have actually crossed the poverty line during the last three years and the current year; and

(d) the action taken by the Government in case of States which have not been able to achieve their targets in this regard;

(e) Whether any study has been conducted by the Government to assess the impact of the schemes on the projected beneficiaries;

(f) if so, State-wise details thereof;

(g) the details of the States which are lagging behind; and

(h) the corrective steps taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT(SMT. SLBBILAKSHMI JAGADEESAN)

(a) A statement showing State-wise details of the Special Central Assistance(SCA) to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP)released during 2007-08,on the basis of number of SC families covered under composite economic development programme,as reported by the State Governments/UT Administrations, is enclosed as Annexure-I.

(b) Physical coverage,in terms of number of beneficiaries to be assisted, will depend upon the outlay allocated for the scheme in respective Annual Plans.Based on the outlay allocated for the year 2008-09,5.75 lakh beneficiaries are projected to benefit.

(c) As per information received from State Governments/UT Administrations,16.4 lakh beneficiaries have been assisted under the scheme during 2005-06 to 2007-08.As per the latest available estimates of NSSO,the percentage of SC population living below the poverty line declined from 48.1% in rural areas and 49.5% in urban areas in 1993-94 to 36.8% and 39.9% respectively in 2004-05.

(d) State-wise physical targets are not fixed under the scheme.However,performance of State Governments/UT Administrations is monitored through Quarterly Progress Reports,and Annual Progress Report,received from them.Before release of further installment of SCA,utlisation of funds already released is considered.

(e) & (f) The Centre for Dalit Studies,Hyderabad conducted a study on SCA in the States of Andhra Pradesh.Orissa,Gujarat,Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in Oct,2006.Another evaluation study on SCA in Haryana was conducted by Shristi,New Delhi,in July 2006.Reports of both studies have been received in February,2008.

(g) and (h) Due to non-furnishing of necessary information, second instalment of SCA could not be released to Bihar,Goa,Jammu & Kashmir,Jharkhand, Kerala, Punjab, Manipur, and Delhi, during 2007-08.The Ministry regularly follows up with State Governments/UT Administrations, at various levels,to persuade them to avail benefits of the scheme.