The modi Government has moved to
revamp its post matric scholarship scheme to bear a majority of financial
burden of the social welfare initiative.
The ministry of social justice and empowerment is likely to move the Cabinet to completely revamp its major welfare scheme for Scheduled Castes. So far, the scheme was working on committed liability principle, whose major financial burden fell on the state. The Centre would release funds at the end of a five year plan and would only add a small share to the entire kitty.
However, now the ministry has proposed that Centre
bear 75% of the financial burden and states fund a mere 25%. The ministry has
moved a note for approval of expenditure finance committee and is likely to
table the revamped scheme in the next Cabinet. The overall expenditure of the scheme is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore
per year. The scheme has been under sharp focus because of arrears of previous
years. So far, the ministry has been able to clear arrears till 2016-17
financial year.