The United Progressive Alliance Government's coveted programmes for minority welfare have failed to impress the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice.

Noting that about 20 per cent of the budgetary allocation was returned to the exchequer, the committee, headed by BSP leader, Mr Dara Singh Chauhan, hoped that the Minority Affairs Ministry would “strive hard” for utilising the full amount allotted to it in this financial year.

The budgetary allocation for the Ministry was Rs 2,866 crore for 2011-12. The expenditure incurred has been only Rs 2,306.76 crore, the committee said in its report, which was tabled in Parliament here on Wednesday.

“As such, Rs 559.28 crore which could not be utilised was ultimately surrendered by the Ministry,” the report added.

The committee rejected the Ministry's argument that the amount could not be spent as Assembly elections were being held in four States, and added the model code of conduct do not come in the way of existing schemes.

The Ministry said the Multi Sector Development Programme (MSDP) for the minority-concentrated districts did not spend 35 per cent of the allotted funds. The MSDP is part of the Prime Minister's 15-point programme for minority welfare.

The panel asked the Ministry, headed by Congress leader, Mr Salman Khurshid, to play a “proactive” role for the effective implementation of the scheme.

The panel questioned the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation's claim that 38 per cent of the minorities had “crossed” double the poverty line. It recommended that a survey be carried out to find out the exact number of persons from minority communities who are below double the poverty line.

The report said against the target of 5,500 scholarships, only 41,621 scholarships were awarded for minority students in 2011-12 under the merit-cum-means scholarship scheme.

It also questioned the “inordinate delay” in the implementation of scheme for leadership development for minority women.

>jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

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