The Union Budget 2023-2024 has neglected the urgent and specific needs of Dalit and Adivasi communities in India, alleged National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR).
“Despite the pressing need for targeted public welfare schemes to address the systemic injustices and disparities faced by these marginalized groups, it appears that a significant portion of the allocated funds has been directed towards irrelevant and general schemes, neglecting the urgent and specific needs of these communities,” the group said.
Read the full statement on Union Budget 2023-2024 by NCDHR:
With much fanfare, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget and time and again referred to Amrit Kal signifying a new tomorrow of development and great things to come. Inflation is at an all-time high and unemployment has also risen in the last few years however this budget is far from addressing some of the people-centric issues. The total Union Budget 2023-24 is Rs. 49,90,842.73 crore and the total allocation for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste is Rs. 1,59,126.22 crore and for the Scheduled Tribes is Rs. 1,19,509.87 crore. Out of this the targeted funds that will go directly to the Dalits is Rs. 30,475 crore and to the Tribals Rs. 24,384 crore.
Dalit organizations have been demanding 10,000 crores for the Post Matric Scholarship for a long time now, although the total allocation is lesser than the demand, it’s encouraging to see that there is an increase in PMS where Rs. 6359.14 crore is allocated for the SCs and Rs.1970 crore for STs. Under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the total allocation for the umbrella schemes called Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Shakti is Rs. 20,554 crore, a total of Rs 5038 crore is allocated under the welfare for Scheduled Caste women, and Rs. 2166 crore is allocated under the welfare of the Scheduled Tribe women. However, when one examines the schemes in the outcome budget, there are no physical targets for these and hence it is not specific to the community.
Despite the pressing need for targeted public welfare schemes to address the systemic injustices and disparities faced by these marginalized groups, it appears that a significant portion of the allocated funds has been directed towards irrelevant and general schemes, neglecting the urgent and specific needs of these communities.
According to NCRB data for 2021, there is a total of about 50,000 crimes and more than 8000 crimes of violence against Dalit Adivasi women. However, just Rs. 150 crore of the budget is set aside to combat atrocities against Dalit women out of the total Rs. 500 crore allocated for the implementation of PoA and PCR Act.
As usual, the majority of the plans are just rhetorical and offer no tangible advantages to the communities. Amrit kal should signify development of the SCs and STs, however this is not the case.
It is quite regrettable that manual scavenging continues to be one of the most demeaning jobs notwithstanding The Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act. A total of 58,089 manual scavengers had been discovered nationwide, according to the information provided by the MSJE. It is disappointing to see that the scheme called the self employment scheme for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers has been removed in this fiscal year and there is zero allocation for it. The scholarship of those children whose parents are involved in hazardous and unclean occupation sadly has no separate funding either. A new scheme has been introduced called NAMASTE with an allocation of Rs. 97 crore to look at the mechanization of sanitation work. It is a welcome move to form a PVTG Mission and an allocation of Rs. 256 crore for the development of PVTGs. Focus on Eklavya model residential schools is critical to the development of SCs and has got an increase in allocation, a total of Rs. 5943 crore.
While the budget should have had more people-centric programs, on the contrary, there is more focus on infrastructure and less on development plans for SCs and STs. We call upon the relevant authorities to take immediate action to rectify this situation and ensure that the allocated funds are utilized in a transparent and accountable manner for the betterment of the Dalit and Adivasi communities. This must include measures to ensure that the funds are directed towards the implementation of specific public welfare schemes that address the specific needs and challenges faced by these communities.
Key recommendations and suggestions:
1. Out of the total Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, there are approximately 50% of the Schemes numbering around 46 Schemes which are general with no physical targets for SCs or STs. It is recommended that the Finance Ministry and NITI Ayog direct the concerned ministries to design clear physical targets and transparent processes for SCs and STs to access these schemes.
2. There are about 50,000 crore that are completely obsolete schemes which is considered a total diversion from the SC and ST welfare and development. These funds should be returned to the ministries for MOTA and MSJE for relevant schemes.
3. All obligatory ministries should allocate population proportionate funds for Dalits and Adivasis as per the NITI Ayog guidelines of April 2018.
4. Allocation to direct benefit schemes like Post-Matric Scholarships, hostels, skill development schemes should be increased and timely transfer of funds should be ensured to the beneficiaries at all cost. A higher allocation for the National Overseas scheme should be implemented.
5. Allocation of 50% for Dalit women and a special component plan for Dalit women should be established with strong mechanisms to monitor and ensure effective implementation.
6. Schemes for the rehabilitation of the women engaged in manual scavenging should be reintroduced and an adequate allocation to eliminate the practice should be in place. They have however introduced a new scheme called Namaste for mechanization of sanitation, it should be ensured that this should be given to women.
7. All schools and hostels must be made disabled-friendly keeping in mind the needs of people with disabilities funds should provide to ensure this happens.
8. Lack of legislative framework for implementation of SC & ST schemes has led to lack of implementation of most schemes. There is therefore an urgent need for passing of SCP/TSP legislation.
9. The following recommendations are being made to urge the Government to recognize distinct climate vulnerabilities and differential impacts on the SCs and STs and provision along the principle of equity embedded in the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities framework to protect them from adverse impacts and build resilience to climate change;
a. Institute the National Climate Budget with earmarking for adaptation and mitigation by mainstreaming climate actions across the central sector and centrally sponsored programmes/schemes
b. Enhance the budget for climate actions under the AWSC and AWST proportionate to SC and ST population taking into consideration regional and socio-economic vulnerabilities and exposure to climate risks.
c. Mandate clear SC/ST targets and reporting for ministries earmarking for climate adaptation and mitigation schemes under AWSC and AWST
d. Adopt a matrix-based allocation and utilization of budgets for adaptation and mitigation disaggregated by caste and tribal status, gender, age and disability.
e. Specify the coverage targets for SCs and STs across climate adaptation and mitigation budgets under the AWSC and AWST
f. Converge the Climate Adaptation budget with the existing Gender budget, Child budget, and SC & ST welfare and development budgets
g. Introduce measures to include the landless, homeless and sharecroppers under existing and new schemes/programmes for land allocation and alternative local and stable livelihood and income generation for climate resilience
h. Accelerate the recommendations of the 15th FC Report in particular the methodology for determining allocations, vis. a combination of capacity, risk exposure (area and population with caste, tribe, age, disability and gender-disaggregated data) and hazard and vulnerability for determining state-wise allocation for disaster management.
I. Obligate AWSC and AWST allocations under the National Disaster Response Fund schemes to extend immediate assistance for the losses and damages of informal workers, landless and homesteadless to enable immediate recovery after disasters.
J. Obligate AWSC and AWST allocations under National Disaster Mitigation Fund to undertake targeted disaster mitigation projects/schemes for SC/STs
K. Institute disaggregated data and targets for existing and new central sector and centrally sponsored schemes on disaster mitigation.
10. All schemes that have direct benefit transfers should be encouraged both for quickness of pace of transfer and to reduce transmission losses.
11. Allocation for the implementation of PoA should be increased to prevent crime against Dalit women, men, children, people with disabilities and queer and trans persons. There is a need for establishing clear mechanisms to provide protection and security to any victims of caste-based discrimination and violence. The current allocation is grossly inadequate. Special Courts should be set up for speedy trials of cases, and increased compensation should be given to victims of caste and ethnicity-based atrocities.
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