Athawale demands law to safeguard funds for Dalits

RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale today demanded a law that would safeguard funds meant for the development of Dalits and ensure it not used for any other purpose, except their social welfare.
"The state government, in every budget provides funds for the development of Dalit adivasis on the basis of their population.
"In order to ensure that the money is not diverted to any department but used by the social justice department, and if funds are not used in a particular year, they should be carried forward to the next year, the government needs to form an Act," Athawale told reporters here today.

The Dalit leader said he has placed his demand before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and claimed the CM has assured him that an Act would be formed soon.
"Till now, money is either being diverted to some other department or if funds remained unused, they get lapsed. This deprives the Dalit adivasis of their rightful share of funds and development," he said.
He said in either case, the responsibility is not fixed and action not taken, due to which funds have been periodically used for purposes other than the development of Dalits.
"Once an Act is enforced, people will be made responsible to ensure this does not happen. The CM has assured that an Act to safeguard funds meant for Dalit adivasis will be formed and implemented across the state soon," the Rajya Sabha MP said.