By Shruti Tomar
Madhya Pradesh is diverting some of the funds meant for welfare of scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) under a fully centrally funded sub-plan, for developing religious sites, museums and for funding cow welfare, this year, according to documents reviewed by HT and government officials familiar with the matter.
A state finance department official said that while this is exceptional, the fact is that people from SC and ST communities will also benefit from the spend. State finance minister Jagdish Devda declined to comment on the diversion.
According to documents reviewed by HT, of ₹252 crore meant for cow welfare (Gau Samvardhan and Pashi Samvardhan), ₹95.76 crore has been allocated from SC/ST sub-plan. The cow welfare fund has increased from about ₹90 crore last year.
For redevelopment of six religious sites, almost half of the money allocated for the current financial years is from the SC/ST sub-plan. The government in the budget presented in July announced ₹109 crore for developing Shri Devi Mahalok, Salkanpur in Sehore, Saint Shri Ravidas Mahalok, Sagar, Shri Ram Raja Mahalok Orchha, Shri Ramchandra Vanvasi-Mahalok, Chitrakut and for a memorial of former prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee in Gwalior.
Madhya Pradesh is the second state after Karnataka to divert funds from the SC/ST sub-plan for other schemes. Karnataka decided to take ₹14,000 crore from the sub-plan for funding its welfare scheme, following which the National Commission for Scheduled Castes had issued a show cause notice to the state chief secretary seeking an explanation.
This story was originally published in hindustantimes.com. Read the full story here.