Lok Sabha Question No. 5753 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-03
Subject: Discretionary Fund
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5753 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2018

## DISCRETIONARY FUND

## 5753. SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there are any funds for financial assistance under the discretion of the Minister;
- (b) if the details thereof; SO,
- (c) the criteria adopted for providing assistance under this scheme; and being
- under this scheme the last three during years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI KRISHAN PAL GURJAR)

- (a): Yes, Sir:
- (b) & (c): Details and criteria adopted for providing assistance may be seen at Annexure-I.
- (d): Details of total funds earmarked, the number of beneficiaries assisted and amount released under this scheme during the last three years are at Annexure-II.

Annexure as referred to in Part (b) & (c) of Answer of Lok Sabha Unstarred Ques. No. 5753 for Answer on 03.04.2018 regarding "Discretionary Fund"\_

## Justice and Empowerment (HMSJELs Discretionary Fund

1. Grants be sanctioned out of Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Minister (HMSJEJ s Discretionary fund for providing financial assistance to the following: may
2. (i) Individuals/Institutions engaged in promotion of welfare of SCs, OBCs, Rehabilitation of the Physically Handicapped Persons, victims of Abuse and Alcoholism, Old-age persons, De-notified and Nomadic Tribes, Transgender and beggars and any other welfare activity falling within the purview of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: Drug
3. (iii) Individuals/   families   belonging to SCs, OBCS, De-notified and Nomadic Tribes, Transgender, Handicapped Persons, Victims of Abuse and Alcoholism, Old age persons and Physically Handicapped Persons for their medical treatment or for the purpose of their rehabilitation by providing assistance in starting their business venture so as to enable them to earn livelihood on their own where income of such of the individuals/ families does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/- per year. Drug
4. (ii) Children belonging to SCs/ OBCs, DNT, Transgender, physically handicapped persons and having (i.e. 2 60%) in the preceding examination in respect of education (technical or non-technical) and whose parents are no more or whose parent' s income does not exceed Rs.1,00,000/per year, further   applicant has to give sufficient and satisfactory proof about how he/she proposes to arrange for additional/total funds required to complete the course (for\_the purpose of (an undertaking for the same has to be furnished as mentioned in the application form):
- ii. Construction of house;
6. i Marriage/Re-marriage of self/relative;
- iii. Meeting daily needs;
- iv. Payment of Bank Loans;
9. V Court Cases;
- vii. Disbursement of funds to private individuals as charity.
- vi. Acquiring assets wholly or substantially;
12. 2 All grants shall be made at the discretion of the Hon'ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment under orders given personally in writing: Further; Hon'ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment may relax one or more conditions and purpose, stipulated under the guidelines for sanction of grants and may sanction fund to the applicant in deserving case.
13. 3 The amount of grant given to an individual shall not ordinarily exceed Rs. 20,000/- during any one financial year. In special circumstances, larger amounts may be given for reasons considered adequate by the HMSJE, but limited to the multiples of Rs. 5,000/-, subject however, to a maximum of Rs. 40,000/- during one financial year.

Note The assistance from this fund willnot be provided for

## 4. General Conditions:-

- (i) AIl grants made shall be of non-recurring nature and no recurring liability shall be undertaken
- (ii) Grant will be available only once in a financial year and the subsequent requests in a financial year will not be entertained:
- (iii) Grant will be available only for one member of the family for a maximum of two times.
- (iv) It is the sole discretion of the HMSJE to grant or reject any application received for financial assistance out of the Discretionary Fund of the HMSJE.

5 Grants will not ordinarily be given to individuals/ institutions where grants or aids for the same purpose or  object have been made or refused by any of the following authorities:-

- i) Vice President of India;
2. ii) Governments of Union Territories;
3. iii) Cabinet Secretary to the Govt: of India;
4. iv) Ministries/Departments of the Central Government/State Government /Union Territories; and
- V) other authority under the Central Government/ State Government/ Union Territories Any

The applicant is required to furnish an undertaking to this effect as prescribed in application form (Annexure):

- 6 Procedure for disbursement of fund:
- The payment shall be made by NEFT to the beneficiary s bank account
- (ii) The Head of Department shall be Controlling Officer of the Discretionary Fund of HMSJE.
- (iii) The Section  responsible for issue of the sanction, shall maintain a statement of sanctions in Form-I, annexed to these Rules, in which all the disbursements sanctioned by the HMSJE out of his Discretionary Fund shall be serially entered into and the balance shown from time to time:
- (iv) The DDO shall maintain 3 of all transactions as soon as the Payment is made register
- (v) The Controlling Officer shall periodically inspect the register of sanctions:
- 7 All applicants are required to furnish the following  requisite documents essentially: -
- (i) self-attested copies of BPL Card or income proof;
- (iii) proof of identity;
- (ii) proof of residence address;
- DNTs/ disability certificate or certificate from rehabilitation centre for victims of drug abuse or alcoholism;
- (vi) Estimate for medical treatment from a recognized   hospital/ health institute (in case financial assistance is required for medical treatment),
- (v) Proof of age (in case applying for financial assistance for old age persons)

(vii) copies of the documents in support of the purpose for which the request for financial assistance may be sought etc:

List of documents has been mentioned in the application form itself and applicants may be requested to tick the documents enclosed with the application. In addition to the above, furnishing of ECS mandate form (enclosed with the application form) after getting it duly verified by the authorities of the bank in which the applicant holds his bank account, is mandatory:

If applicant submits the application without necessary documents, his/ her application may be on hold and may be requested to furnish the requisite documents with the approval of the controlling officer of Discretionary Fund of HMSJE: put

Note: All documents required to be attached with the application form should be either in English or Hindi. If any document issued in any regional language, the same may be translated into Hindi or English: The translated version is to be attested by the BDO/ SDM/ any Gazetted officer/ School Principal of the concerned area or any other competent authority to do SO\_ In such cases, both the self-certified of the original documents and of translated version need to be attached. copies

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## Annexure-II

## Annexure as referred to in Part(d) of Answer of Lok Sabha Unstarred Ques. No 5753 for Answer on 03.04.2018 regarding Discretionary Fund

| Year    | Budget Allocation (in Rs. _   | Amount Released   | No, of Beneficiaries   |
|---------|-------------------------------|-------------------|------------------------|
| 2014-15 | Nil                           | Nil               | Nil                    |
| 2015-16 | 4,00,000/                     | 3,92,400/ -       | 33                     |
| 2016-17 | 4,00,000/-                    |                   | 24                     |
| 2017-18 | 4,00,000/ -                   | 4,00,000/-        | 33                     |

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