By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Tall claims and even taller promises about minority welfare notwithstanding, the states which are run by so-called secular parties – the parties that never get tired of calling themselves as champion of minorities – are doing poorly in spending government funds for minority concentration districts.
The Financial Progress Report on Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) for 90 Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) for the period ending June 30, 2010 says the Central Government released Rs 1,28,988.85 lakhs but only Rs 37,292.10 lakhs that is just 28.91% could be spent by the states by June 30, 2010.
People in queue to get weekly food relief from Charity Alliance in Ghoshpara, Murshidabad, one of 12 MCDs in West Bengal
According to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs that is implementing the MsDP scheme and published the Progress Report on its official website http://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in, among the poor performers are West Bengal (13.72%), Bihar (19.29%), Assam (32.77%) and Uttar Pradesh (39%). West Bengal is ruled (for the last 30 years) by Left Front, Bihar by Janata Dal (United)-BJP combine, Assam by Congress and Uttar Pradesh by Bahujan Samaj Party of Mayawati.
Interestingly, these four states have 53 MCDs, almost all of them having Muslims as dominant minority, and compared to other states Muslim community in these states are very poor in every field be it education or economy, even their pockets in these MCDs lack basic civic amenities.
These four states are not active in spending even when they have got more MsDP funds than any other state.
Millat College in Darbhanga, one of seven MCDs in Bihar
Uttar Pradesh with 21 MCDs is the top fund getter – Rs 42,649.84 lakhs have been released to the state out of approved Rs 60,943.64 lakhs. The state, however, has spent only Rs 16633 lakh that 39% of the sanctioned fund.
West Bengal with 12 MCDs is at No. 2 with Rs 27866.72 lakhs that it has got out of approved Rs 43729.19 lakhs. But the state has spent only Rs 3824.06 i.e. (13.72%). If we add the state’s own share of Rs 540.46 lakh, the percentage of expenditure will dip down further.
Similar is the case of Assam ruled by Congress. It has 13 MCDs but projects have been approved for 11 MCDs so far. The state has got Rs 21289.17 lakhs out of Rs 30590.33. It spent Rs 6976.21 lakh i.e. 32.77%.
Kacchi Khajuri, a Muslim-dominated colony in North-East Delhi, the only MCD in Delhi
Bihar’s performance is little better than West Bengal. It has 7 MCDs, all Muslim dominated. The state has got Rs 12179.13 lakhs out of Rs 21289.32 lakhs. But the state, ruled by Nitish Kumar of JD-U who has even ‘antagonised’ ally BJP and its leaders ‘in love for Muslims’ has spent only Rs 2349 lakh that is 19.29% of the centre’s sanctioned funds. If the state’s own share of Rs 1657.69 lakhs is added the percentage of expenditure will be 16.97%.
Among the top performers, on the other hand, are those states which have minorities other than Muslims.
The best performer is Orissa which has spent 86.40% of the central fund under MsDP. It is followed by Manipur with 42.19%.
According to the report, some state governments have not provided data of expenditure. They include Maharashtra (ruled by Congress-NCP alliance), Delhi (Congress), Kerala (Left Front), Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh (both ruled by BJP). They all have received funds from the centre for the MsDP. Maharashtra got funds on 18/11/2009 and 11/02/2010), Delhi (29/03/2010), Kerala (on 01/12/2009), Karnataka (funds released on 24/07/2009, 08/12/2009 and 21/12/2009) and Madhya Pradesh (29/03/2010).
It is not only Muslim Members of Parliament who talk little and spend less for their constituencies the states ruled by so-called secular parties are also in the same league when it comes to real welfare of minorities. It’s time for the community to get up and think ways to make ‘their’ representatives and parties accountable and to force them to act.