Former minister B Sriramulu speaks to media people, in Mysuru, on Thursday. Former mayor Sandesh Swamy, MLAs T S Srivathsa and Dr Chandru Lamani are also seen.
Credit: DH Photo
Mysuru: Former minister B Sriramulu urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, not to cheat the people of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, like over the past two years, but earmark separate funds for implementing the five guarantees.
Addressing a media conference, in Mysuru, on Thursday, Sriramulu said that the Congress-led Karnataka government had diverted Rs 11,144 crore in the year 2023, Rs 14,282 crore in 2024 and has earmarked Rs 14,488 crore for 2025, from the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds, to extend the benefits of the five guarantees to the people of SC and ST communities.
Violation of Act
“Even though the then BJP-led government took a decision to implement the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Allocation and Tribal-Sub Allocation (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources) Act, 2013, in 2011, it was Siddaramaiah himself, who enacted the law, after he became CM. According to the same Act, diversion of funds which meant for projects, programmes and schemes meant for SC and ST communities, towards other expenditure is illegal,” Sriramulu said.
Sriramulu said that neither he himself, nor the BJP are against the five guarantees. “If people are benefited by the guarantees, we are happy. But the guarantees are meant for people of all communities and not caste specific. So, the guarantees should be extended to the people of SC and ST communities as an additional benefit. They cannot be adjusted with SCSP and TSP," Sriramulu added.
"So, Siddaramaiah, who is also the Finance Minister, should earmark the funds required for implementing the guarantees, Rs 54,000 crore, separately in the Budget. The SC and ST communities should get their rightful share of 24.10 per cent in the Budget, in addition to the guarantees,” he explained.
Cheating
Sriramulu said that the SCSP and TSP funds are meant for social, educational and economical upliftment of the SC and ST communities.
“The Congress has been cheating the people of the SC and ST communities, since it came to power in 2023. The concern of the Congress leaders is limited to political statements and speech. All sections of the SC and ST community people are affected badly. Students complain that they are not getting laptops and scholarships, for the past two years. Farmers complain that they are not getting finance to drill borewells under Gangakalyana scheme,” he pointed out.
Sriramulu said, “Even the guarantees are not implemented properly. The Gruhalakshmi amount of Rs 2,000 per month is not being paid regularly. Some have not received the amount for the last three months. Last time, they released the pending instalments during the by-election to four Assembly segments. Again, the pending amount may be paid, if Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections are held."
Former mayor Sandesh Swamy, MLAs T S Srivathsa and Dr Chandru Lamani were also present in the media conference.