**Policy Summary: Underutilization of Funds for Scheduled Castes (SCs)**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4210, concerning the underutilization of funds allocated for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) over the past five years. The response, provided by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, details the funds allocated and utilized under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC), formerly known as AWSCSCSP, from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
The utilization percentages for the DAPSC funds during the specified period are as follows:
* **2020-21:** 75.91% (₹62,785.16 Crores utilized out of ₹82,707.51 Crores allocated)
* **2021-22:** 87.95% (₹1,23,009.63 Crores utilized out of ₹1,39,863.94 Crores allocated)
* **2022-23:** 91.15% (₹1,38,642.75 Crores utilized out of ₹1,52,110.47 Crores allocated)
* **2023-24:** 92.15% (₹1,35,178.59 Crores utilized out of ₹1,46,689.90 Crores allocated)
* **2024-25:** 89.21% (₹1,23,437.37 Crores utilized out of ₹1,38,372.79 Crores allocated)
The underutilization is attributed to the general nature of schemes in some DAPSC obligated Ministries/Departments. While the funds are earmarked for SC welfare, some schemes do not directly and fully benefit the targeted population.
To address this, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE) conducts regular review meetings, at the level of the Minister SJE and Secretary SJE, with obligated Ministries/Departments. These meetings focus on allocation, expenditure, and progress of work under DAPSC. The most recent meeting occurred on April 29, 2025. Actionable points are communicated to the Ministries/Departments, emphasizing the direct benefits of selected schemes for SCs and encouraging increased expenditure through internal reviews. Ministries are urged to make schemes as beneficiary-oriented as possible to ensure direct benefits to the targeted groups.
The Department has also implemented the eUtthaan portal for online data capture from various Ministries/Departments on financial, physical, and outcome-based monitoring indicators, as per NITI Aayog formats. This portal is linked with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for real-time monitoring of financial progress. Nodal Officers in obligated Departments/Ministries are provided with UserIDs and passwords to update information on physical targets, achievements, and outcome progress of schemes under DAPSC.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society.
Scheduled Castes: A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India, recognized by the Indian Constitution.
Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes DAPSC: A plan earmarking funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes in India.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Minister SJE: Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Secretary SJE: Secretary of Social Justice and Empowerment.
NITI Aayog: National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank of the Government of India.
Public Financial Management System PFMS: A platform for online capturing of data from various MinistriesDepartments on the financial
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4210
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.08.2025
UNDER-UTILISATION OF FUNDS FOR SCs
4210. SHRI RAJA A:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the reasons for under-utilisation of funds allocated for the welfare of Scheduled Castes during
the last five years, State and district-wise;
(b) the amount allocated and utilised along with reasons for under-utilistaion of funds under $C
sub-plan development action plan during the last five years, State and district-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure the total amount of funds allocated for the
welfare of SCs are utilised including monitoring at the district level to national level during such
period, State and district-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) to (b): The details of funds allocated and utilized under Development Action Plan for
Scheduled Castes (DAPSC) during the last five years are as under:
(Rupees in Crores)
Financial |DAPSC (erstwhile AWSC/SCSP) of| Utilization Percentage of |
Year all Ministries/ Department (R.E.) Utilisation
2020-21 82,707.51 62,785.16 75.91
2021-22 1,39,863.94 1,23,009.63 87.95
2022-23 1,52,110.47 1,38,642.75 91.15
2023-24 1,46,689.90 1,35,178.59 92.15
2024-25 1,38,372.79 1,23,437.37 89.21
DAPSC funds are earmarked for the welfare of SCs but due to the general nature of the schemes
in some DAPSC obligated Ministries/Departments, DAPSC funds are not utilized fully.(c): Review meetings are held regularly at the level of Minister (SJ&E) and Secretary (SJ&E),
with the obligated Ministries/Department to review allocation, expenditure, and progress of work
under DAPSC. The last meeting was held on 29% April 2025. Through these review meetings,
the actionable points are communicated to the Ministries/ Departments emphasizing on the direct
benefits the selected schemes will have on the SCs. It is impressed upon them to increase
expenditure in these schemes by reviewing the schemes internally at frequent intervals. The
Ministries are also asked to make the Schemes as beneficiaries oriented as possible and ensure
direct benefits to the targeted groups.
The Department has devised e-Utthaan portal for online capturing of data from various
Ministries/Departments on the financial, physical and outcome based monitoring indicators as
per the formats designed by the NITI Aayog. In order to monitor the Financial Progress on the
real time basis, this web portal has been linked with Public Financial Management System
(PFMS). User-Id and password are issued to the Nodal Officers of the obligated
Department/Ministry for updation of information on physical targets, achievements and outcome
progress of schemes under DAPSC.
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