Opposition alleges irregularity in fund allocation for SCs, STs

Ahmedabad: Allegations of financial irregularities rocked the second day of discussions on the Rs 18,518 crore budget of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for 2026-27, as Opposition leader Shehzad Khan Pathan accused the civic body of "copy-pasting" budget figures for nearly two decades. He also accused the ruling party of misrepresenting allocations meant for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and economically and socially backward classes.Speaking during the general board meeting on Friday, Pathan alleged that the mandatory 10% allocation under Section 63(2) of the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act was being shown on paper without proper surveys or identification of beneficiary areas."Under the Act, up to 10% of the municipal corporation's income must be spent on works for SC, ST and other backward classes. However, for years, AMC has implemented this provision," he claimed.Pathan pointed out that while the 2026-27 budget size was Rs 18,518 crore, Annexure J of the budget book shows the corporation's income as Rs 10,500 crore, of which Rs 1,050 crore — 10% — was earmarked for these communities. "If the total budget is Rs 18,518 crore, then 10% allocation should be Rs 1,851 crore. Instead, Annexure I claims Rs 3,761 crore has been allocated. But these funds are shown under general heads like roads, bridges, stormwater lines, lighting, schools, hospitals and waste management. Are these facilities exclusive to SCs and STs?" he questioned.He further alleged that the civic body relied on decades-old data showing 50% slum and hutment population in 11 of 37 TP schemes, while no fresh surveys were conducted across the 287 town planning (TP) schemes and non-TP areas currently existing in the city.Calling the practice "systematic fraud", Pathan demanded fresh surveys and transparent accounting of funds allocated for marginalised communities.