Republican Yuva Morcha Demands White Paper on Funds Allocated to Social Welfare Department

Pune, June 13: Alleging repeated diversion of funds allocated for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category under Maharashtra’s Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance, the Republican Yuva Morcha has demanded the release of a white paper to clarify financial distribution over the past five years.

Letter Submitted to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Raising the issue formally, Republican Yuva Morcha leader Rahul Dambale submitted a written request to Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar. In the letter, Dambale called for the Finance Ministry to publish a white paper outlining year-wise allocations made by the Finance Department to the Department of Social Justice over the last five financial years.

According to Dambale, this transparency is necessary to address growing concerns about the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for marginalized communities.

Allegations of Fund Diversion Spark Outrage

Activists and leaders from various Ambedkarite organizations and opposition parties have raised serious concerns that funds from the Social Justice Department have been diverted to other schemes, including the “Ladki Bahin Yojana” (Dear Sister Scheme) and earlier to the “Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana” (Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme).

“These are not minor administrative decisions—they represent a grave misuse of resources meant for Scheduled Caste welfare,” Dambale said. “Despite repeated accusations, the Finance Department has not issued a comprehensive clarification, causing significant unrest among SC communities across the state.”

Call for Action Before Monsoon Session

The demand comes ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Monsoon Session, set to begin on June 30. Dambale emphasized that the white paper must be made public before the session begins, allowing legislators and the public to fully understand the fund flows and usage patterns.

In a strategic move, the Republican Yuva Morcha has already sent appeals to MLAs across party lines, especially those elected from SC constituencies, urging them to raise the issue on the Assembly floor.

Special Meeting of SC-ST Legislators in Mumbai

To further mobilize support, Dambale announced that a special meeting of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe MLAs will be held in Mumbai during the session. “We will present our community’s concerns directly to the legislators. This isn’t just about accountability—it’s about ensuring social justice is upheld,” he added.

Movement Warning If Demands Are Ignored

Dambale concluded with a strong message for the government, stating that the Ambedkarite movement will not stay silent if the white paper is not released in the stipulated timeframe. “We are hopeful that Ajit Pawar will consider our letter positively and issue the white paper in due time. If not, the Republican Yuva Morcha, along with the wider Ambedkarite movement, will be compelled to take to the streets,” he warned.