CM Siddaramaiah urges departments to press for pending central funds while reviewing a decade of SCSP/TSP implementation and announces a fresh Devadasi survey.
Bengaluru: Karnataka has achieved remarkable progress in implementing the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and the Tribals Sub-Plan (TSP), recording 97% utilisation of allocated funds. Yet, the State is still waiting for Rs 880 crore in pending grants from the Centre, sparking concern at the highest level of governance.
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At a review meeting of the Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials to vigorously pursue the release of central funds while ensuring stricter implementation of the SCSP/TSP Act. The law mandates a minimum of 24.1% of the State’s annual Budget for SC/ST welfare, with Rs 42,017.51 crore earmarked for 2024-25.
Officials revealed that of Rs 38,793 crore released last year, Rs 38,717 crore was effectively spent, demonstrating efficiency but also highlighting gaps in social outcomes. Siddaramaiah acknowledged that despite over Rs 2.97 lakh crore spent in a decade, the expected upliftment of marginalised communities remains incomplete, particularly in education, livelihood, and housing.
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Underscoring inclusivity, he announced a fresh survey of women associated with the outlawed Devadasi system from the first week of September. The exercise, he said, would identify those yet to be rehabilitated and ensure they benefit from welfare schemes. He also insisted on targeted support for sanitation workers and other neglected groups, stressing that true social justice lies in restoring dignity to the most marginalised.
A decade-long study by ISEC showed Karnataka’s steady 9.6% annual growth in development grants, keeping the State ahead of many peers. Yet, with central funds stuck, Siddaramaiah warned that the welfare momentum must not be derailed.
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