Minister stresses on effective utilisation of funds

“It would be an injustice to dalits if the officials concerned do not utilise the fund properly”, he added.

He was speaking after presiding over the progress review meeting of special unit programmes implemented for development of scheduled castes and tribals at Zilla Panchayat auditorium in Hassan. The minister told that as much as ` 162 crores, meant to be used for the development of scheduled castes and tribes, remained unutilised meant for the development of scheduled castes and tribals in all Taluk Panchayats, Zilla Panchayats, Town Panchayats, Town Municipal Council and City Municipal Councils in the State. Interestingly, about ` 450 crore lay unutilised in Brihat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and Bangalore Zilla Panchayat.

Stern action will be initiated upon the concerned officers if they fail to prepare an action plan by the end of this December. There is a provision for Union Government to fund and utilise 22.75 per cent amount for next year in case the money was not utilised in the current year, but there is no such provision in the State Government. The 22.75 per cent amount will be not be refunded by the State Government in case of amount being withdrawn.

Besides, there is also provision for people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes to get agricultural land to take up agriculture under ‘own your land scheme’. The government would also sanction funds to drill borewell with electric motor connection under the scheme. This is a revolutionary programme of the government, but all dalits must make use of this for their empowerment.

The officials of district administration must identify and purchase land to distribute for eligible beneficiaries under the scheme. There are reports that lot of vacant land is available in the taluks of Arsikere, Sakleshpur and Belur, he added. The Minister also took to task  officials for not awarding contract to the members of  scheduled castes and tribals to rear fish in identified lakes and tanks in the district. Only one dalit was given contract among all beneficiaries of 165 such lakes and tanks in Hassan district. He also stressed on effective implementation of  Union Government’s flagship programme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS).

The union government had a given a provision for dalits to improve their colonies with basic amenities under this programmes. Many of the beneficiaries have not been allotted houses yet under various Housing schemes of the State and Union Government such as Ambedkar, Ashraya, Vajpayee due to non-availability of land for construction of houses in various villages of the State.

Zilla Panchayat President Mahadevamma, Vice President S Dyavegowda, Chief Executive Officer Anjankumar, Deputy Commissioner Naveen Raj Singh and others were present.

Contractors warned

The Minister warned the contractors of booking  a criminal case against them if they have misused the funds meant for construction of hostels for scheduled castes and tribes in Social Welfare Department.

Speaking to press persons after the progress review meeting, he told that he had received a lot of complaints from the public about the misuse of funds by the contractors and incompleted the construction of school and hostel building in many villages. The minister sought a detailed report from Deputy Commissioner Naveen Raj Singh about erring contractors and progress of the construction of the building and other works allotted for contractors.

The minister told that bio-metric system will be introduced in all SC/ST Students Hostels to maintain transparency and check corruption.