Demand for SC-ST sub-plan law as budgetary allocation "not utilized" for marginalized communities

By A Representative
Congress legislator from Dasada Naushad Solanki, in a letter to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, has demanded that the state government should come up with a special law to ensure that budget allocation for the scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) is equal to the proportion of their population in Gujarat — around 7% and 14%.
Pointing out that he has been seeking to have such a law, called SC Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan Act, ever since new BJP government took, Solanki said, another MLA, Dr Anil Joshiara, too have has supported his move.
The letter, whose copy has also been sent for endorsement of all SC and ST MLAs as also Congress leader of the opposition Paresh Dhanani, says that such a bill should be introduced and supported rising above party affiliations. “In Gujarat, between 2002 and 2018, just about 2% of budgeted amount was used for SCs, while for STs it was 7%”, letter says, wondering what is point in using up huge funds for the statue of Sardar Patel, or the film on Vadnagar, or the propaganda on national good governance.

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