(a) the targets set for various social welfare schemes being implemented presently in various States including in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh;
(b) whether it is a fact that various social welfare schemes meant for the welfare of the poor people are far away from their targets and their implementation is poor;
(c) if so, the reasons for the poor performance of these schemes; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the benefits of these schemes reach to the targeted people?
MINISTER OF THE STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a): Social welfare schemes are meant for welfare and development of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, Persons with Disabilities and other disadvantage groups. These schemes are being implemented through Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Minority Affairs and by the
respective State /UT Governments. The Planning Commission does not fix the targets for these social welfare schemes.
(b)&(c): In case of some of these schemes which come under the Twenty Point Programme, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation monitor their progress against targets fixed by the concerned Ministry. As per the progress
report for period April, 2011- January, 2012, the only indicator against which information is available is “SC families
assistedâ€. The State-wise break-up is annexed.
(d): To ensure effective implementation and to ensure that the benefits of these schemes reach the target people, Planning Commission reviews the schemes at the time of Annual Plan discussions with the State/UTs and Central Ministries concerned
at the time to finalize their Plan proposals.