It is not surprising that the socio-economic status of Dalits has failed to improve despite grand promises and the launch of high-profile projects. A study conducted by the Delhi-based Centre for Budget and Governance Accountablility has found that adequate funds are not being made available for programmes to uplift Dalits.

The Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP), which has been incorporated in every five-year plan since 1979 is aimed at ensuring that adequate funds are made available to implement schemes to benefit Dalits. The study has found that while Dalits constitute over 16 per cent of the country’s population, the funds allocated for them by various government ministries and departments is not proportionate.

Worse, funds earmarked for Dalits are not being allocated. Even the small amount of funds that are allotted are not fully utilised or are diverted for other purposes or allowed to lapse. Only the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowement, the Department of Women and Child Development and the the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy have bene found to allocate around 16 per cent of their budget to SC development programmes.

It is unfortunate that departments like agricultural research, animal husbandry and fisheries, which should have been at the forefront of implementing the SCSP guidelines, have not put in place any concrete schemes for Dalits.

It appears that barring a few states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and perhaps Tamil Nadu, few others have taken up implementation of the SCSP seriously. It appears that over the past several years the Planning Commission has been repeatedly reminding the various departments that they are obliged to follow the SCSP guidelines.

It is a matter of concern that the departments have been ignoring the Planning Commission’s directives as well.

Had the SCSP been implemented diligently, the socio-economic status of millions of Dalits might have changed substantially. But the opportunity for change that the SCSP held out has been allowed to slip.

It is likely that entrenched social prejudices of officials obstructed the honest implementation of the SCSP. But to blame officials alone would be unfair. The political establishment has failed to deliver as well. Politicians routinely make grand promises of what they want to do to uplift Dalits but when it comes to delivering on their pledges, they have failed abysmally.

The lackadaisical attitude of most ministries and departments to the SCSP confirms the less than half-hearted commitment of our political leaders to empowering the Dalits. This is nothing short of criminal neglect of their responsibilities.