In News: SCSP and TSP were initiated by the government to guarantee funds to SC/STs both at State and Centre in proportion to the size of their respective population.
Background
- It was in 1974-75 in the Fifth Five Year Plan period that the Government of India introduced the policy of the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) and later in 1979-80 in the Sixth Five Year Plan period the Special Component plan (SCP) which was renamed as Scheduled Caste Sub Plan in April, 2006 and renamed as Allocation for the Welfare of Scheduled Caste (AWSC) in February, 2017.
- Specifically, the SCSP and TSP guidelines of the erstwhile Planning Commission mandate that public resources towards SC/ ST welfare must be earmarked in proportion to their share in total population.
- The Narendra Jadhav Committee was constituted by the Planning Commission in 2010 in this regard.
- Every year, the Union Budget makes allocations exclusively for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.
- This fund is spent through the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP).
- As per the recommendations of the committee the earmarking of funds for all Central Ministries/Departments taken together should be at least 16.2% and 8.2% of the total Plan outlay, respectively, under the SCSP and the TSP.
- One of the aims of such dedicated allocation is to promote entrepreneurship among these communities.
Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP)
Objectives
- The main objective of the scheme is to increase the income of the target population by way of various income generating schemes, skill development and infrastructure development.
- To reduce the poverty among the target population and bring them above the poverty lines.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Scheduled Castes persons living below the poverty lines are eligible for getting benefits under the various Income Generating Schemes and Skill Development Programmes.
- In case of Infrastructure Development, the villages having 50% or more SC population are eligible for grants under the Scheme.
- As regards definition of poverty line and selection of SC families living below poverty line is concerned, the guidelines issued by the erstwhile Planning Commission and the procedure laid down by the Ministry of Rural Development for selecting the beneficiaries through the Panchayati Raj institutions may be adopted.
Components of the Scheme
Broadly, under the Scheme, funds can be utilized by the State Government/UTs Administration for the following activities:
- Income Generating Schemes
- Skill Development Programmes
- Infrastructure Development
- Monitoring and Evaluation
Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP)
Objectives
- To reduce poverty and unemployment of the Tribal.
- To eradicate the exploitation and develop the remote areas.
- To improve the life there by providing adequate health and educational services.
- To provide physical and financial security against any kind of oppression and exploitation
Key features
- The Tribal Sub Plan was proposed on the basis that no development is possible without the elimination of exploitation in any field.
- There are 30 Central Ministries / Departments, and 23 States and 4 UT, having specific fund allocation obligations for Tribal Sub Plan (TSP).
- State Governments are supposed to earmark TSP funds in proportion to ST population (Census 2011) in the State with respect to total State Plan.
- TSP is not applicable to states where tribals represent more than 60% of the population.
- Central Ministries and Departments are obligated for earmarking of TSP funds as per percentage prescribed by Ministry of Finance.
- Tribal Sub Plan funds are to be non-divertible and non-lapsable.
- Monitoring of TSP: Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) has been mandated for monitoring of Central TSP as per the framework and mechanism designed by NITI Aayog
The sub plans have worked for the benefits of the SCs and STs in following ways
- Funds earmarked for the development of SC and ST communities exclusively
- Earmarking schemes and funds , thereby creating a target and drive to work towards their development, examples are stand up. India.
- Social pressure through the media – the recent cuts in these sections were highly criticised thus these were again increased .
- Every ministry now has to declare their SCSP and TSP compositions, which create an atmosphere of focus towards these sections.
