While the government is giving finishing touches to this year's Budget, and Chief Minister Mayawati clamouring for more funds from the Centre, it has come to light that thousands of crores meant to be spent on Schedules Castes remain idle this fiscal.

There are several schemes in which a rupee has not been spent against the allocation of crores. Among these is the state's own scheme for the welfare of the extremely backward communities (EBCs) among the SCs -- the poorest of the poor. Against an allocation of Rs 100 crore, no money was spent till end of January.

The story is the same in schemes funded by the Centre. The Centre completely funds scholarships for SC students. But against a provision of Rs 421 crore, only Rs 74 crore has been disbursed. In several central schemes too, not a penny has been spent.

The schemes for the welfare of SCs are implemented mostly by the Department of Social Welfare. It had a budget allocation of Rs 1,978 crore, but couldn't use even half of it.

Overall, the government has spent a little less than 50 per cent of the annual plan of Rs 25,000 crore. But when it comes to schemes for SCs, the scenario is worse. The amount spent in the Special Component Plan (SCP), for which the department allocates in proportion with the SC population, is less than 25 per cent of the allocation of Rs 5,329 crore.

Earlier this week, when Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh conducted a review of schemes under SCP, he found that 27 government departments, out of 30, had not spent any money from their allocation.

However, Principal Secretary of Social Welfare, Govindan Nair, claimed the expenditure on their welfare was better then last year. He said a large part of the outlay was committed expenditure on scholarships and the overall Budget utilisation position will improve substantially by the end of March.

Here is how some schemes fared:

* For the welfare of extremely backward communities (EBCs), expenditure nil against an allocation of Rs 100 crore.

* For pensions to SCs, an expenditure of Rs 137 crore against an allocation of Rs 217 crore.
* The expenditure was nil in six schemes for setting up SC hostels, ashram-type schools, book banks for IX and X standards, and for the upliftment of the Kol (ST) community. A provision of Rs 160 crore was made here.

Among centrally-funded schemes...

* For scholarships to SC students, the expenditure till end of January was Rs 74 crore against a Budget provision of Rs 421 crore.
* Against a provision of Rs 125 crore for the self-employment of SCs, the expenditure was only Rs 39 crore, a little over 25 per cent.
* For imparting training to SC candidates in self-employment, only Rs 2.6 crore was spent from a provision of Rs 29.27 crore.
* For hire purchase of shops for SCs, a provision of Rs 6.85 crore was made in the Budget, but the expenditure was Rs 2.28 crore.
* Against the provision of Rs 4.32 crore for interest-free loan to SCs — to set up laundry units — the expenditure was Rs 1.42 crore.
* To enhance merit of SC students, no expenditure was made against a provision of Rs 47 lakh.
* No expenditure from Rs 4 crore for mini dairy scheme.