CAG finds fault in SC, ST education schemes

NEW DELHI: While the government is building pressure on the corporate sector to pitch in for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), its own efforts are drastically wanting.

Despite having higher allocation of funds for welfare and educational development schemes for SCs and STs, the gap between them and general students is widening, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out in its latest audit report.

In the performance audit report on "Educational Development of SCs and STs" the CAG has flayed Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs for poor financial management resulting in ambitious schemes for education of SCs and ST not delivering the desired results.

"The two indicators of educational development - Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and Gross Drop-out Ratio (GDR) - displayed an adverse trend in respect to SC and ST boys and girls. The gap in GDR between general and SC and ST candidates, which was 6.7 per cent and 15.1 per cent in 2001-02, deteriorated to 10.4 per cent and  16.6 per cent in 2003-04, respectively," the report said.

The CAG has pointed out underutilisation of funds, delayed or short release and diversion of funds, unspent balances lying with states and inadequate publicity resulting in poor awareness of schemes as the reason for the gap.

During the audit process for year 2005-06, large number of cases of short delivery and non-delivery of benefits in schemes like coaching classes, awards etc were noticed so were great delays in disbursement of scholarships, establishment of book banks and construction of ashram schools and hostels.

On the other hand, the auditors found that the money released from the Centre was not reaching the targeted population and a lot of ineligible beneficiaries, including those whose parents' income exceeded the prescribed limit were receiving scholarships.

The available hostels lacked basic facilities like drinking water, toilets, furniture and power supply indicating that these students are not getting proper atmosphere and facilities to for academics.

In fact, schemes operated through NGOs, too, had problems with inadequate facilities due to poor monitoring mechanism. Despite this, the states have failed to recover funds from the blacklisted NGOs. 

The ministries have passed the buck on states saying the problem is mainly due to underutilisation of funds.