Around 10 departments of the state government have not yet utilised a hefty sum directed for their beneficiaries in the past two years.

In a query raised during the Question Hour round of the state assembly, Gujarat’s social justice and empowerment minister Bhanu Babariya replied that a total of ₹78 cr is yet to be put in use by various departments in the state owing to the pandemic.

Because of this, the state’s underprivileged still await their monetary aid.

As per the minister’s reply, a significant chunk has been utilised and directed towards the beneficiaries from the allocations made in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 state budgets.

However, beneficiary schemes of the dedicated departments working for the scheduled castes, ‘Antyodaya’, sweepers, nomadic tribes, minority finance and development, backward class development, Gopalak Vikas, unreserved educational & economic development, and handicapped finance and development have been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Out of these, the Gujarat unreserved educational & economical development corporation (GUEEDC) was allocated the most, ₹966 cr, in the past two years.

However, ₹39.21 cr out of it could not be utilised over various issues like a slump in the number of applications and a lack of evidence.

Generally, this department deals with applications for students looking to study abroad.

Because of the pandemic, several countries ceased their visa processes and kept their offices shut, even after COVID-19 weakened. Which proved to be another reason for the unutilised amount.

The minister affirmed that the leftover money will be put to use over time.

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