Rs 30,400 cr unutilised Dalit welfare fund highlights need for compliance Act: Madurai MP Su Venkatesan

CHENNAI: CPM Madurai MP Su Venkatesan has flagged serious inconsistencies between allocation for Scheduled Caste (SC) development programmes in 2025-26 and the actual spending, citing a gap of around Rs 30,400 crore.

The Union government allocation of Rs 1,68,482 crore is only on paper, as ministers have reported reduced spending of only Rs 1,38,068.85 crore, he said.

The minister said the total plan allocation of the 38 ministries was Rs 11,61,830 crore, of which Rs 1,68,482 crore, or 14.5%, was earmarked for SC development. The revised estimate stood at Rs 1,61,201.98 crore.

Venkatesan, however, questioned the basis for arriving at the 14.5% figure, saying it was calculated against the ministries' Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) plan expenditure rather than the overall plan expenditure.

He also pointed to the Rs 7,280 crore difference between the allocation and the revised estimate, as well as the nearly Rs 30,400 crore gap between the allocation and reported expenditure.

Venkatesan said the figures highlighted the need for a separate law to ensure statutory compliance with DAPSC norms, a demand raised by Left parties, social justice groups and Dalit organisations.

He said the sub-plan, introduced five decades ago to bridge development gaps, could not achieve its objective unless its allocation and spending norms were strictly enforced.

DAPSC was earlier identified as the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP). According to the reply of Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, 38 ministries and departments implemented 239 DAPSC schemes during the financial year.

Venkatesan had sought details on whether allocations were made in proportion to the SC population, the shortfall, utilisation of funds and the extent to which funds reached targeted schemes.

Athawale said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment monitored DAPSC allocations and utilisation in accordance with NITI Aayog's 2017 guidelines. Periodic review meetings were held on April 29, 2025, August 25, 2025 and April 16, 2026. All 38 implementing ministries and departments had also nominated nodal officers for financial and physical monitoring.