Economic uplift schemes failed to reach SCs,STs in Andhra Pradesh: CAG

SC Corporation has not conducted a survey to identify the poorest of the poor beneficiaries; 59 pc of the sanctioned units not grounded.

VIJAYAWADA: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has made serious observations on an implementation of Economic Support (ES) schemes for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

With regard to ES schemes for SCs, the CAG observed that the project does not seem to have achieved the objective of providing sustainable livelihood to the poorest of the poor among SCs and STs. The ES schemes have failed to achieve the objective of socio-economic development of STs.

After conducting surveys and verifying records pertaining to identification of beneficiaries, the CAG revealed that the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Cooperative Finance Corporation Limited, which is implementing the ES schemes, has not conducted a survey to identify the poorest of the poor beneficiaries. Even the database of eligible beneficiaries has not been obtained, the report of CAG tabled in the AP Legislative Assembly, read.

The audit conducted from January to June, 2017 to examine whether the beneficiaries were selected in accordance with the prescribed procedures and whether the implementation of the scheme was efficient and effective, concluded that the SC Corporation has not conducted a survey to identify the poorest of the poor beneficiaries.

CAG further felt that the selection-cum-screening committee has not obtained the database of household survey from SERP/MEPMA.

It observed that 53 per cent of the targets in respect of bank-linked schemes and timelines were not adhered to, resulting in delay in implementation of the schemes.
During the joint survey, the audit teams could not meet or locate 31 per cent of the beneficiaries. Further, 59 per cent of the units sanctioned by the Corporation were not started.
The software package lacked validation controls for checking eligibility norms and controlling the repetition of beneficiary data.

The survey teams could not meet/locate 62 out of the 200 beneficiaries selected under ES schemes for STs, the Comptroller and Auditor General pointed out and felt that the AP Scheduled Tribes Cooperative Finance Corporation Limited (TRICOR), which is responsible for monitoring  implementation of ES schemes, has not fully utilised the loan obtained from the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation.

Significant observations

• Delay in processing applications, led to the delay in starting units
• Subsidy amounts are lying in corporation’s account due to entry of invalid bank account numbers
• Committee failed to cite any reason for selecting beneficiaries in the case of rejected applications
• Non-release/delayed release of loans to beneficiaries resulted in non-starting of units
• Lapses in Online Beneficiary Management and Monitoring System led to acceptance of applications without Aadhaar
• In Nellore district, 18 units were not traced at the locations where they were supposed to have been

started during 2014-16