SP scholarship scheme to prove taxing for some

A Cabinet sub-committee headed by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan has held three meetings recently to think up ways of mobilising the additional resources. And with the scheme set to be implemented from the next academic session beginning on July 15, four main ways have been identified for raising Rs 400-500 crore: imposition of trade tax on select items, additional stamp and registration duties, disinvestment of some of the unutilised land belonging to the irrigation department and imposition of tax on saw mills.

‘‘It amounts to just tinkering at the margins, nothing spectacular,’’ admitted Principal Secretary, Finance, Rita Sharma. According to Sharma, ‘‘managing resources for the venture was really a tight-rope walk.’’

Asked what would happen if the government still failed to raise the necessary funds, Sharma said: ‘‘Then the government will have to re-prioritise its expenditure as we don’t want to cut any expenditure.’’

This means that there will be no rollback of the scholarship scheme. In fact, considering that the programme formed a part of his larger backward classes agenda, Mulayam can ill afford to do so.

Says Commissioner Social Welfare R Ramani: ‘‘This scheme was on the anvil and had been worked out after we received several representations from social organisations for bringing the OBCs at par with the SC students.’’