Chapter II PLANNING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR BACKWARD CLASSES

The State shall, in every financial year, earmark one-third portion of the total Plan outlays of the State to be called as Backward Classes Sub-Plan Fund: Provided that, the Fund to be earmarked is determined at least 6 months prior to commencement of the next financial year: Provided further that, the Backward Classes Sub-Plan Fund outlay shall be revised according to State Annual Plan final outlay and: Provided also that the expenditure of the BCSP Fund shall be accounted for in the manner hereafter specified in this Act.

The department as may be authorized by the Government shall, every financial year, communicate, in the manner prescribed, to the departments, a tentative plan outlay out of Backward Classes Sub-Plan Fund as earmarked under Section 3 for preparation of respective department wise Backward Classes Sub-Plan.

The Sub-Plans of the departments shall include only such schemes that secure direct and quantifiable benefits to the Backward Classes individuals or Backward Classes households and that have the potential to bridge the gaps in development following the norms laid down in this Act and the rules made there under: Provided that the schemes should be consistent with the Annual and Five Year Plans and priorities of the State of Andhra Pradesh as may be communicated by the Planning department.

The departments shall prepare Backward Classes Sub-Plan to promote equity in the development among various Castes within Backward Classes and focused development within.

The departments shall ensure coverage of Backward Classes in the ongoing general schemes consistent with their eligibility for the same.

On receipt of communication under section 4, each department, shall, after estimating the gaps in the development of Backward Classes, prioritize the development needs of Backward Classes through a consultative process, as may be prescribed and shall formulate the Backward Classes Sub-Plan schemes and prepare the Sub-Plans comprising of the Backward Classes Sub-Plan schemes, within the State Plan priorities as communicated under section 5.

Each Department, excluding the departments separately notified under this Act, shall submit each year, to the respective Nodal Departments, the Sub-Plans comprising of Backward Classes Sub-Plan Schemes proposed to be included in the Annual Plans, for appraisal by the Nodal Agency concerned, within the time frame and in the format, as may be prescribed.