Par panel asks Plan Com to make immediate allocations for OBCs

Tabling its report in Parliament today, the Committee said, "Since reduced allocation will deprive the eligible OBC students from getting scholarship, the Committee would demand that the Planning Commission may make additional allocations as requested by (Social Justice) Ministry without any delay."

The committee also noted with displeasure that despite the Ministry taking up the matter with the plan panel, there is no positive response from the latter.

"The Committee are constrained to note that despite the matter regarding higher allocation for OBC sector having been taken up by the Ministry with the Planning Commission at Minister's level, there is no positive response of the Planning Commission on the request of the Ministry," the report said.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry was allocated a budgetary outlay of Rs 5,915 crore for 2012-13 by the Planning Commission against a demand of Rs 12,500 crore made by the Ministry.

"... Which (reduced outlay) resulted in slashing of funds for many schemes specially for schemes for OBC development wherein Rs 900 crore was allocated against a demand of Rs 3,525 crore," it said.

The Committee also highlighted that SJ&E Ministry has written a letter to the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, requesting him to allocate additional funds worth Rs 1400 crore and Rs 1950 crore for post-matric and pre-matric scholarship schemes.

It also expressed its "dismay" that new schemes have not been approved by the government, even though money was allocated for them. (More)