The allocation of Rs 489 crore for minorities welfare announced in the state budget on Friday has disappointed Muslims yet again. The various groups that had been making representations for a higher allocation this year said what the government doled out was unjust and unsubstantial.
The discontent stems from the fact that despite the hike, the budgetary allocation works out to just 1% of the total state outlay plan of Rs 48,935 crore, noted AIMIM. In a statement issued, MIM says that the budgetary allocation for minorities is misleading because it is barely 0.34% of the total budgetary expenditure of Rs 1,45,854 crore.
Also, the allocation for SCs has been increased by 14%; for tribal welfare 26%; for backward classes 43%. The allocation for these groups in the year 2011-12 was already quite high, he noted.
Experts also said that the minorities welfare minister and the minorities welfare department had proposed two different figures, that of Rs 730 crore and Rs 535 crore respectively. They also said that a bulk of the budgetary allocation would go towards scholarship and fee reimbursement schemes.
While several groups had pitched in a demand of a whopping Rs 3,000 crore, the AIMIM’s proposal of Rs 600 crore too has been swept aside by the government.
Professor Kancha Ilaiah, director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Manuu, said, “The Congress government thinks that the Muslims are their vote bank and will elect it come what may. The allocation is unjust because it will only help in scholarships. Hardly Rs 320 crore will be given to the Muslims.”
Another expert too echoed Ilaiah’s views but added that health programmes and schemes for the protection of livelihood on the lines of Setwin and bankable schemes should have been given priority. He also said that loans given at low interest rates would indeed benefit members of minorities.
Courtesy: TOI