Ninth Plan Focus On Sc Fund Use

Addressing a meeting of members of Parliament belonging to scheduled castes and tribes yesterday, Dandavate said the ninth plan will focus on fuller utilisation of funds allotted to schemes for SCs and STs by different ministries and effective monitoring of the special component plan for the communities.

Speaking on the occasion, minister of state for planning & programme implementation Yoginder Alagh said the concept of self-help co-operatives should be encouraged in small industry and handicraft sectors. Of the 135 MPs belonging to scheduled castes & tribes, only 50 attended the consultation organised by the plan panel as part of its ninth plan formulation efforts. The MPs demanded an increase in the budgetary support for the welfare of SCs and STs, signalling support to a section in the government which has been advocating an increase in the plan outlay to enhance spending on social sectors.

 

Among the other demands and suggestions made by the assembled MPs were:

nA national policy for tribals with special focus on those displaced by development and industrial projects.

Implementations of recommendations of the Bhuria committee.

Setting up special courts in backward and remote areas to ensure speedier justice

Home ministrys active involvement to check atrocities on tribals and scheduled castes

Focusing expenditure on welfare schemes to the really needy to ensure that public funds did not flow to the small sections among these castes who have been able to improve their lot.