04/08/2010

Bihar, West Bengal fail to utilize minority development funds

Patna,(BiharTimes): Bihar has a dismal story to tell so far the utilization of central funds are concerned. The latest case is of minority uplift funds, in which the state is last from second.

The Centre had allocated funds to states under the ‘Multi-Sectoral Development Programme for Minorities’, an initiative, which was an extension of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 15-point plan for minorities.

Till the last financial year Bihar had used only 19 per cent of these funds, which is just better than West Bengal, which had spent 13 per cent. In comparison UP had spent 39 per cent while Assam 32 per cent.

The programme covers 90 districts of the country, which have at least 25 per cent minority population. UP, Assam, West Bengal and Bihar have 21, 13,12 and 7 districts respectively with over 25 per cent minority population.

The performance of both Bihar and West Bengal is bad notwithstanding the fact that they both are going for the assembly election and minority form a sizeable chunk of the population.

As low as 20 per cent of the Rs 25,311 crore allocated to the Programme––most of it from Centre and with small state contribution–had been used by the states till March 31, 2010.