Commonwealth Games scam: SC/ST fund diversion not isolated case

The Delhi government came in for severe criticism earlier this year for diverting Rs744.35 crore meant for a scheduled caste sub-plan to the Commonwealth Games (CWG). But now it turns out that such violations are routine.

“The Centre’s planned allocation for 2010-11 was Rs2,80,000 crore. If the norm of earmarking 16.2% for scheduled castes and 8.2% for scheduled tribes is to be strictly adhered to, at least Rs68,000 crore [45,000 + 23,000] has to be seen separately in budgetary figures. But there is no way to find out the precise amount spent under these heads,” planning commission member Narendra Jadhav said on Thursday.

Jadhav, who headed a task force that studied the matter, submitted a report to planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia suggesting revised guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability in allocation and use of SC/ST sub-plan funds.

“This is a problem arising out of a complex mindset. The diversion for CWG was not a one-off case. This happens routinely in all states, and we shall come up with a detailed report on this issue,” he said.

“This presents a very dismal picture, and reflects the continuation of injustice to a section of society,” he said.