Agency for providing financial help to SC, ST, OBC, minorities failed to conduct survey of target groups: CAG

The Delhi government's agency, responsible for providing financial help to members of SC, ST, OBC and minority communities and handicapped people for facilitating and promoting economic activities, has "failed" to conduct any survey of the target groups, the CAG said in its report.

The report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which was tabled in the Delhi Assembly today, stated that the agency had received sufficient funds from apex corporations to provide credits to target groups, however, it "failed to perform its responsibilities".

"Delhi Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Handicapped Financial and Development Corporation Limited neither conducted any survey for identification of targeted groups nor maintained any database of intended beneficiaries," the report said adding, there were "deficiencies" in extending financial assistance.

"There was shortfall in achievement of annual financial and physical targets. Total funds drawn from the all apex corporations during 2012-17 was Rs 37.48 crore against which the company could disburse only Rs 13.13 crore during the same period.

"The disbursement of loan which was 45.41 per cent of total available funds in 2012-13 declined to 12.90 per cent in 2016-17," it said.

The company, instead of adopting an outreach policy of finding eligible beneficiaries to disburse the concessional loans, kept the funds "idle" in the banks and interest, thus earned, was used to meet its establishment expenditure, to the "detriment" of the interests of the target groups.