Question : DIVERSION OF FUNDS

(a) whether the Government has taken note of diversion of funds allocated by the Central Government for development and empowerment of people belonging to SC/ST categories;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the action/steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that the funds earmarked for development of people belonging to SC/ST category are not diverted?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (Shri Namo Narain Meena)

(a) to (c) Government had taken initiative to make separate allocation for the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plan as part of the Plan allocations from the financial year 2011-12 and the same are also indicated clearly in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Planning Commission and the concerned Ministry/Department. Instructions have also been issued to the Ministries/Departments for which such allocations are made by the Planning Commission as part of the Plan Agreement in their Budget to ensure that the provisions are accurately reflected in the concerned Minor Head “Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes” (Code ‘789’) and “Tribal Sub Plan” (Code No.‘796’) below the functional major/sub-major heads wherever necessary, in terms of the instruction under Para 3.8 of the General Directions to the List of Major and Minor Heads of Accounts. The provisions made under these Minor Head are not allowed to be re-appropriated, except to the same Minor heads in other schemes under “Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes” (Code ‘789’) and “Tribal Sub Plan” (Code No. ‘796’) thereby preventing any possibility of any diversion.