Karnataka government to use funds for SC/ST to implement poll promises

The Karnataka unit of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has planned for a protest throughout the state on August 4th. The main point of contention in these protests would be that the Congress government had divulged Rs 11,000 crore, of which Rs 7570 crore are meant for the SCP funds (Special Component Plan) and Rs 3430 crore meant for the TSP (Tribal Sub- Plan). This amounts to 28 percent of the total funds. 

Minister for Social Welfare Dr HC Mahadevappa confirmed this development. He however added a caveat that this portion of the fund would solely be used for beneficiaries from the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. He also added that in case a portion of the allocated funds remain unused, it would be returned to the social welfare department.

Currently it has been distributed among the Women and Child Department, Power Department, Revenue Department, Food and Civil Supplies Department and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. 

A total of Rs 34,294 crore were allocated for the SCP and TSP funds in the budget this year.  Of this Rs 24,333 crore were allocated for SCs (Scheduled Castes) and Rs 9961 crore were allocated for Scheduled Tribes (Scheduled Tribes).