The Plan fund allocation and utilization by the Ministry of Minority Affairs have significantly gone up during the 11th Five Year Plan as may be seen from the table below.
Year | Allocation (Rs. in crore) | Expenditure (Rs. in crore) | % of utilization with reference to | ||
Budget Estimates | Revised Estimates | Budget Estimates | Revised Estimates | ||
2007-08 | 500.00 | 350.00 | 196.65 | 39.33 | 56.19 |
2008-09 | 1,000.00 | 650.00 | 619.02 | 61.90 | 95.23 |
2009-10 | 1,740.00 | 1,740.00 | 1,709.42 | 98.24 | 98.24 |
2010-11 | 2,600.00 | 2,500.00 | 2,008.86 | 77.26 | 80.35 |
2011-12 | 2,850.00 | 2,750.00 | 2,292.27 | 80.43 | 83.36 |
Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Vincent H. Pala, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, said that the main reasons/bottlenecks in full utilization of funds are as follows:
(i) Implementation of the major schemes of the Ministry, such as, pre-matric, and Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) for selected Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) could commence in 2008-09 only; (ii) Non-submission of complete and adequate proposals by the State Governments for MsDPand delay in the submission of Utilization Certificate; (iii) Promulgation of model code of conduct due to elections in several States which delayed sanction of funds; (iv) Insufficient proposals received from States and UTs especially from North Eastern States for Scholarship schemes. As a result, the unutilized funds for North Eastern States had to be surrendered as per existing provision; (v) Non-receipt of ‘in-principle’ approval by competent authority for the implementation of 4 proposed new Schemes.
Shri Pala further informed the House that his Ministry has taken steps to give wide publicity of the welfare schemes for the minority communities to generate awareness for these schemes through the print and electronic media. Uploading of the data on minority welfare schemes implemented by various Ministries and State Governments/UTs Administrations has been made mandatory. Activity wise time-lines have been laid down and communicated to the States/UTs under the Scholarship Schemes. Online Scholarship Management System (OSMS) has been developed and launched for the on-line application for the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship scheme which is being extended for the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme also. Regular review meetings with the officials fothe State government are held to expedite the implementation of the programmes. In addition, the officials of the Ministry visit States/UTs to review and inspect the implementation of projects under various schemes/programmes.
