Gurugram: The Haryana Vidhan Sabha Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes, in its 48th report, outlined significant lapses in the implementation of welfare schemes, backlog in reserved-category recruitment, and underutilisation of funds for state programmes.
The 87-page report for 2024-25, presented in the Haryana assembly during its budget session on 18 March, provided a detailed assessment of the status of government interventions meant for marginalised communities in the state.
In its report, accessed by ThePrint, the committee expressed serious concerns over the backlog of reserved category vacancies in government jobs and promotions. It was led by Bhagwan Dass, a BJP MLA from Nilokheri, an SC assembly constituency.
The other members of the committee were Jarnail Singh, the Congress MLA from Ratia; Bimla Chaudhary, the BJP MLA from Pataudi; Ram Karan, the Congress MLA from Shahbad; Renu Bala, the Congress MLA from Sadhaura; Kapoor Singh, the BJP MLA from Bawani Khera; Dr. Krishan Kumar, the BJP MLA from Bawal; Pawan Kharkhoda, BJP MLA from Kharkhoda; and Kanwar Singh, BJP MLA from Mahendragarh.
“Despite multiple directives, several departments, boards, universities, and corporations in Haryana have failed to meet their obligations under reservation policies,” said the report.
The report also said that the Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and & Backward Classes (SEWA) department failed to submit complete and satisfactory replies regarding the backlog in recruitment.
The committee noted persistent delays in implementing the 85th Constitutional Amendment, which ensures reservation in promotions for SC employees with consequential seniority.
It also flagged delays in the disbursement of post-matriculation scholarships for SC and OBC students between 2020-2025.
“Thousands of applications remain pending due to technical glitches, Aadhaar-seeding issues, and non-allocation of funds. Over 31,000 OBC students and 8,000 SC students from the 2023-24 academic year have yet to receive their scholarships due to unavailability of funds,” the report said.
The committee has directed the SEWA department to conduct an audit to ensure transparency in fund allocation and the immediate release of pending scholarships.
While reviewing the performance of various housing and infrastructure schemes for SCs, it said that the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi Gramin Basti Yojana remained slow, with a backlog of applications from homeless SC families.
The report further said that, while a total of 3,56,573 applications were received by the Haryana government for the repair or maintenance of houses, SC applicants faced disproportionate delays in receiving housing allotments.
Only a fraction of families have received financial assistance for house repairs under the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Awas Navinikarn Yojna, the below Poverty Line family house repairs scheme, the report added. The committee asked for a district-wise action plan to expedite the allocation of houses and repair grants.
It also raised concerns over the rising number of atrocities against SCs and the low conviction rate in such cases.
Sirsa and Gurugram districts reported significant delays in the investigation and filing of chargesheets in cases of atrocities against SCs. The complaints included allegations of caste-based discrimination in Haryana Roadways, police inaction in atrocity cases, and delayed compensation to victims.
The Home and Prosecution departments have been instructed to ensure speedy trials and an improved conviction rate, the report said.
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Non-utilisation of SC sub-plan funds
The committee found that the budget earmarked for SC welfare under the SC Sub-Plan (2017-2023) was grossly underutilised by several departments.
The SEWA and Finance departments have been directed to ensure better planning, allocation, and execution of welfare projects for SCs, according to the committee’s report.
The committee also recommended strict monitoring of the reservation backlog. It added that all departments must submit quarterly reports on recruitment and promotion of SCs and OBCs, it said.
It further recommended that the government implement a single-window clearance system to eliminate delays.
For housing and infrastructure development, the report recommended that a special task force be created to ensure SC families receive timely assistance under housing schemes.
The committee has also recommended that the police and prosecution fast-track cases of atrocities against SCs and ensure timely conviction of offenders
For the effective utilisation of SC Sub-Plan Funds, the report recommended that the departments must be held accountable for lapses in fund utilisation, with penalties for inefficiency.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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