3-MIN READ The Dalit Adivasi Budget Analysis: Fund Cuts for Manual Scavengers, Persons with Disability SC/ST activists have raised red flags against Union Budget 2021 | Image credit: Reuters (Image for representation) Despite an increase from the previous year, Dalit and Adivasi activists find a gap as per NITI Ayog guidelines in the allocation of funds for SC/ST in Budget 2021. FOLLOW US ON: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a sharp rise in capital expenditure for the next fiscal to Rs 5.54 lakh crore, from Rs 4.39 lakh crore in the current financial year on February 1. On Monday, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawarchand Gehlot said that allocation of funds for schemes benefitting the Scheduled Castes by all ministries saw a 50 percent hike in Budget 21-22 as compared to last year. A sum of Rs 1,26,259.20 crore has been allocated for the same in 2021-2022, which notes a 51.65 percent increase from last year. In the case of ST, Rs 79,942 crore has been earmarked, which is also a considerable increase from last year.