All tall talk about tribal development notwithstanding, the Odisha Government’s achievement in implementing the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), which is considered key in aiding their welfare, has been less than encouraging.Barring the SC and ST Development Department, all other administrative departments cut a sorry figure.
To be precise, just about five departments including Panchayati Raj, Industries, Planning and Coordination, Water Resources besides the SC and ST Development Department managed a quarter of the expenditure as flow to the TSP in the financial year 2011-12.
The SC and ST Development alone managed a healthy achievement of 88 per cent having spent over Rs 688 crore out of the funds flow of Rs 779.3 crore during 2011-12.
In the current year too, its performance remained noteworthy with a flow of 85 per cent and an expenditure of 87 per cent.
Besides, Water Resources and Planning and Coordination Department recorded a near 30 per cent of its expenditure as flow to TSP during the last fiscal while Industries and Panchayati Raj departments reported 25 per cent expenditure in the year 2011-12.The rest fared poorly.
At least 11 line departments had zero per cent expenditure as flow to show whereas another 20 managed a below 24 per cent during the year.
The SC and ST Department which reviewed the progress of the TSP asked the administrative departments which have managed an expenditure below 22 per cent to make all-out efforts to improve their performance and analyse the reasons behind the poor show.
“All the departments should ensure that funds should be earmarked in proportion to the population of the SCs and STs which is 22.13 per cent and 16.53 per cent respectively,” the SC and ST Development Department said.
While the performance for last year remained poor, during the current year too, the figures have not improved much, if one goes by the progress.
SC and ST Development Department apart, Higher Education, Energy, Employment and Technical Education and Training departments managed good results during the first quarter of the current fiscal.
The Higher Education Department notched up an expenditure of 60 per cent of flow while Energy and ETE&T departments managed over 46 per cent expenditure.As many as 12 departments had zero expenditure.
Unhappy with the manner of TSP implementation, the SC and ST Development Department called upon the District Planning Committees to have quarterly performance review.
The Rural Development Department has been asked to ensure at least 22.5 per cent of expenditure as flow to the TSP.