Lok Sabha Question No. 1364 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Funds under SCSP
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1364 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2024

## FUNDS UNDER SCSP

## 1364. SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:

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

- (a) whether the Ministry of Finance has reallocated any unutilised funds from the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) to the Ministry of Social Justice during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the innovative programme were undertaken and total number of Scheduled Caste (SC) families benefited from these initiatives;
- (c) whether the discontinuation of the Special Central Assistance (SCA) to SCSP, which incentivised States and Union Territories (UTs) to allocate funds under SCSP, was due to specific reasons and what mechanism is in place to ensure that funds allocated for Scheduled Castes in States/UTs are proportionate to their population and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated specific programme for Scheduled Castes similar to those established under the PM-JANMAN for Scheduled Tribes and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a) & (b): Yes Sir, Ministry of Finance has reallocated unutilized funds of Rs.950 crore (pertaining to the financial year 2021-22) from the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment during 2022-23 as an additionality to already existing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY). It was named as Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes: Anusuchit Jati Abhyuday Yojana (DAPSC:AJAY); a Central Sector Scheme.

Under the Amrit Jaldhara component of this scheme (AJS), which envisaged providing subsidy @ 50% of unit cost or Rs.50,000/- per unit, whichever is less against loans extended to SC small marginal land holders for irrigation purpose; a total of 639 beneficiaries covering 7 States have been benefitted with total subsidy amount of Rs.298.82 lakh.

Under the Young Entrepreneurs component of this scheme (YES), which envisaged providing subsidy @ 50% of unit cost or Rs.60,000/- per unit, whichever is less against loans extended to eligible SC persons for logistics vehicles, warehouses, godowns, small business etc.; a total of 16,445 beneficiaries covering 22 States and one Union Territory have been benefitted with total subsidy amount of Rs.7928.27 lakh.

The Statement of State-wise subsidy released under AJS & YES is enclosed at Annexure.

(c): The erstwhile Scheme of "SCA to SCSP" was merged into one Scheme, namely Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), from 2021-22 for better convergence of public money and optimal utilization of resources. Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a Centrally sponsored Scheme which consist of three components namely Adarsh Gram (erstwhile Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana), Grantin-Aid (erstwhile Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub-plan) and Hostel (Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana). Under Grant-In-Aid component funds are allocated to State-governments/UT Administration on 2 criteria as follows:

(i) 50% of the available fund is notionally allocated in proportion of the Scheduled Caste population of the States/UTs.

(ii) The balance 50% of the funds is allocated notionally on the basis of percentage weighted SC population of the State, where the weightage is based on the ratio of allocation under special component plan of the State for SCs to the total allocation under Annual Plan of the State.

(d): The vision and objectives of PM-AJAY Scheme in regard to Scheduled Caste is similar to those established under the PM-JANMAN scheme for Scheduled Tribes.

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