Noting that the allocation for Tribal Affairs Ministry for 2013-14 is "less than half of the projected requirement", a Parliamentary Committee has made a strong recommendation to "substantially" augment its budget for effective implementation of welfare schemes.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment in its report has stated the Tribal Affairs Ministry had requested Rs 8,909.91 crore for 2013-14 but it was allocated only Rs 4,279 crore by the Planning Commission.
"The Committee strongly recommend that the budgetary allocation of the ministry be augmented substantially at the revised estimate stage for effective implementation of welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribes," stated the report tabled in the Parliament today.
It also observed that the ministry has assured to make all efforts to get budgetary allocation enhanced by Planning Commission at the revised estimate stage and this view may be brought to the notice of the Finance Ministry and the Commission.
"The Committee would also review the utilisation of funds after three months of the presentation of this report," it said.
The panel also expressed "strong disapproval" over the "drastic" reduction in Tribal Ministry's budgetary allocation for the year 2012-13 and urged the government to reinstate the cut in its funds.
"The committee is dismayed to note that the budgetary allocation for 2012-13 was drastically reduced from Rs 4,090 crore to Rs 3,100 crore in the revised estimate by the Finance Ministry," the report said.
It also said the reduction was made despite Tribal Affairs Ministry having met the prescribed expenditure norms and taking up the matter with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.
