Local bodies under scanner for not using SC/ST grants

The Social Welfare Department will soon scrutinise local bodies which have failed to utilise the 22.75 per cent grants for the uplift of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Non-utilisation of funds, benefits not reaching those entitled for them and selection of ineligible beneficiaries are among the loopholes that the civil rights enforcement directorate will track.

The directorate has already begun the task following instructions from Social Welfare Minister A Narayanaswamy. District level officials of the directorate have begun inspections at all the Gram Panchayats, City Municipal Councils and Town Municipal Councils.

Besides the inspections at the local bodies, the directorate officials will keep track of the facilities at the students’ hostels run by the Social Welfare Department. The directorate will submit its report to the nodal officer appointed for the supervision of the utilisation of the grants and the department will take action based on the report.

“Details on the action plan prepared based on the grants, selection of beneficiaries and distribution of benefits will be part of the report. District-level officials will collect information and recommend action,” said Renuka K Sukumar, Bangalore regional superintendent of the directorate.

Sukumar, who was in Kolar on Wednesday to collect information on utilisation of SC/ST grants from the CMC, told Deccan Herald that the exercise was on in all districts.

“Inspection will be conducted at the level of the GPs also. The objective is to prevent the funds meant for the SC/STs being utilised for those from other communities,” she said.

The taluk-level officials of the exercise will visit the local bodies and collect information. The report will be submitted to the social welfare department with recommendations for action.

She said it was a suo motu exercise and not on the basis of any complaint. Action is also being taken on the basis of public complaints. Through this exercise, most officials of the local bodies will become aware of the existence of the civil rights enforcement directorate, she added.