Union Budget 2013: Funds for adivasis bring little cheer

RANCHI: Though a proposed hike of 12% for the tribal sub plan (TSP) allocating Rs 24,598 under the head in Budget 2013-14 has raised aspirations in the state, experts here believe that it is still inadequate for an extremely backward and poor state like Jharkhand where the development gap between the tribal and the non-tribal areas has to be bridged.
Parameters for allocation of funds for tribal areas should be problem-based instead of being population-based. This would bridge the development gap over the years, said Rameshwar Oraon, chairman ST Commission. Jharkhand being an extremely backward state, development has not reached the end beneficiary of tribal welfare schemes.
"If tribals of the state have to be brought to the same plane as that of the mainstream, allocation of funds has to be need based. However, the increase in the allocation is certainly a welcome move," he said.
Finance minister P Chidambaram also made it clear during his budget speech that funds for TSP cannot be diverted. However, diversion of funds allocated for tribal development has been a bane for Jharkhand.
Also the total allocated funds for a fiscal has so far failed to reach the state as utilization certificates are not submitted quarterly for which further funds are stopped by the Centre.
Economist Ramesh Sharan said this diversion has been done very subtly over the years as none of the departments, like road, power or drinking water had separate heads for tribal development. Instead, he said, the TSP funds were used for drinking water projects in urban areas, construction of national highways etc, with a projection that somehow or the other the tribal population would also benefit from this.
However, he said this was far from the reality as the primitive tribes were not being benefitted. "There has to be some focus on benefitting the tribals, living in far-flung areas, along with their counterparts living closer to the mainstream," said Sharan.
Echoing his views Oraon said, "Last year Rs 13 crore was spent on an urban drinking water project. Unless these projects directly link the tribal living in the villages with the mainstream like roads leading to schools or primary health centres, the end user remains neglected."
Oraon also advocated a law in favour of the tribals of the state on the lines of Andhra Pradesh. "AP has pioneered an Act which seeks to make diversion of funds meant for tribal development a punishable offence. This law should be adopted by us." and other tribal states too,'' he said.
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