Chennai- In a significant revelation under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, it has come to light that a staggering amount of Rs. 13,177.53 crore has been utilized from the Special Component Fund earmarked for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) over the last three financial years to fund the Tamil Nadu government's flagship Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme.
This information was disclosed by the Commissionerate of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management, Chennai, in response to an RTI petition filed by S. Venkatesan, the State Coordinator of the SC ST Viduthalai Munnetra Munnani, hailing from Chunampet in Chengalpattu district.
The Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme is a flagship women welfare program by the Government of Tamil Nadu that provides ₹1,000 monthly financial assistance to eligible women. Launched on September 15, 2023, it recognizes women's unpaid household work and promotes financial independence.
Venkatesan had sought detailed information regarding the allocation and utilization of funds for the women's monthly assistance scheme. In its official reply dated July 21, the Assistant Commissioner-7, who also serves as the Public Information Officer, provided a comprehensive breakdown of the budgetary allocations and the specific amounts drawn from the SC/ST sub-plan.
According to the official data provided by the Commissionerate, the government had allocated a total of Rs. 1,85,09,05,05,000 (Rs. 18,509 crore) for the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme for the current financial year (2025-2026) alone. However, the details that have sparked widespread debate concern the usage of the SC/ST Special Component Fund. The reply confirmed that from this dedicated fund, Rs. 6,191,67,32,000 (Rs. 6,191.67 crore) has been utilized for the scheme in 2025-2026.
Providing a year-by-year breakdown, the RTI response stated that in the financial year 2023-2024, Rs. 2,568,81,72,264 (Rs. 2,568.81 crore) was used from the SC/ST fund. This figure saw a significant jump in 2024-2025, with Rs. 4,417,04,63,700 (Rs. 4,417.04 crore) being diverted to the scheme. The cumulative utilization from this specific sub-head for the three years thus amounts to a colossal Rs. 13,17,75,36,79,64 (Rs. 13,177.53 crore).
The data further revealed the total annual allocations for the Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme across the three years, which were Rs. 5,812,38,30,90,00 (Rs. 5,812 crore) for 2023-2024, Rs. 5,138,07,07,41,000 (Rs. 5,138 crore) for 2024-2025, and the aforementioned Rs. 1,85,09,05,05,000 (Rs. 18,509 crore) for 2025-2026.
While the Commissionerate provided exhaustive financial data, it stated that it could not furnish information regarding the number of SC/ST women beneficiaries who received the monthly assistance, noting that such specific demographic data was not maintained in their office.
The parallel developments in both Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have raised serious questions about whether state governments across the country are systematically diverting SC/ST funds meant for the upliftment of Dalit and tribal communities to populist schemes, potentially undermining constitutional safeguards and social justice mandates.
The RTI query was filed on February 14, and following a government reference, the final response was dispatched to the petitioner on July 21. Reacting to the findings, social activists and social justice advocates have voiced strong criticism. They contend that utilizing funds specifically allocated for the welfare and development of SC/ST communities for a general state-run scheme constitutes a gross violation of social justice principles and a diversion of resources meant for the upliftment of the most marginalized sections of society. The revelation has raised serious questions about the government’s commitment to protecting the financial interests of SC/ST communities and adhering to the constitutional mandate of ensuring dedicated funds for their development.
This pattern of fund diversion is not limited to Tamil Nadu alone. In a strikingly similar incident, the Maharashtra government had also come under fire in July when the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) strongly opposed the sanctioning of ₹2.80 crore from the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department's budget for the Chief Minister Warkari Mahamandal to support the Ashadhi Ekadashi Wari pilgrimage.
Earlier, on May 20, the Maharashtra government had issued a Government Resolution approving the use of funds from the Scheduled Caste Component Plan for the flagship 'Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', with a provision of ₹3,000 crore for the financial year 2026-27, out of which ₹730.51 crore was already transferred to the Women and Child Development Department for March and April 2026.
Even Maharashtra's Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat had publicly expressed displeasure over his own government's policy in February this year, calling the diversion of his department's funds for schemes like 'Ladki Bahin' unacceptable. The parallel developments in both Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have raised serious questions about whether state governments across the country are systematically diverting SC/ST funds meant for the upliftment of Dalit and tribal communities to populist schemes, potentially undermining constitutional safeguards and social justice mandates.
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