Budget for Upliftment of SCs and OBCs
As informed by the Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, the total population of India as per 2011 Census, is 1,21,05,69,573 and the Scheduled Caste (SC) population is 20,13,78,086, which constitutes 16.6% of the total population of the country. The enumeration of castes including Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Backward Classes (BCs) other than SCs and STs has not been done in any of the decadal Censuses since 1951 Census.
The approved Budgetary allocation for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for the XIIth Five Year Plan is Rs. 29,400.00 Crore, out of which the budgetary allocation for the schemes meant for the development of SCs and OBCs is Rs. 21,306.00 Crore and Rs. 6,174.00 Crore respectively, which constitutes 72.5% and 21% of the total allocations, respectively.
The budget allocation for the development of scheduled Castes is as per the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) guidelines issued by the Planning Commission. However, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has sought higher allocation from Ministry of Finance and Planning Commission for implementation of various schemes for educational and economic empowerment of OBCs.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Manikrao Hodlya Gavit in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
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