Scheduled Caste Development: Lapse of Rs 71,686 crore central funds in 5 years

NEW DELHI: In a written reply to V Sivadasan in the Rajya Sabha, it was stated that Rs 71,686 crore of the central government, set aside for SC development in the last five years has lapsed without spending.

9818.24 crores (2018-19), 11042.26 crores (2019-20), 19922.35 crores (2020-21), 16942.04 crores (2021-22) and 13961.54 crores (2022-23) have lapsed without being spent. Shivdasan MP said that crores of rupees were lost at a time when even the National Scheduled Caste Fellowship was cut on the grounds of lack of funds.

Union Minister of State for Public Supply Sadhvi Jyoti Niranjan did not give a definite answer to Anto Antony's question whether Kerala should be paid dues on the rice procured under the National Food Security Act. He also informed that from 2013-14 to 2022-23, the central government has given Rs 8835.65 crore to Kerala as subsidy.