₹56.65 crore for backward class hostels unutilized, CAG finds

This audit examined the compliance of the Government of Maharashtra's departments and autonomous bodies for the year ended March 31, 2024, focusing on the implementation of schemes for tribal students and backward class students.

Government of Maharashtra, specifically the Tribal Welfare Department and the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department.

• Tribal Welfare Department: 16 schools were granted grade upgrades without proper guidelines, resulting in a liability of ₹9.53 crore.
• Tribal Welfare Department: Delays in school selection and admission processes caused educational gaps for eligible tribal students.
• Social Justice Department: ₹56.65 crore of the ₹487.15 crore allocated for government hostels in 2023-24 remained unspent.
• Social Justice Department: Due to lack of coordination between schemes, 1,302 students were underpaid housing allowance by ₹57.82 lakh.
• Social Justice Department: A hostel in Thane district with a sanctioned cost of ₹4.55 crore remained unusable due to inter-departmental coordination failures.
• Recommendations: CAG advised the government to set realistic admission targets, ensure timely school selection, and improve coordination between departments to utilize funds effectively.

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