9% SC/STs have come out of poverty, says Minister Mahadevappa

Bengaluru: Nine per cent of SC/ST households have come out of poverty thanks to a law that mandates spending on these communities, Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa said on Saturday.

Mahadevappa was speaking after a meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired to approve an action plan to spend Rs 42,017.51 crore under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (SCSP-TSP).

“In rural areas, 6% (of SC/STs) and in urban areas, 3% have come out of poverty because of the SCSP-TSP schemes,” Mahadevappa said, adding that the Institute for Social & Economic Change (ISEC) had evaluated the SCSP-TSP expenditure.

“We have also asked all government departments to provide data on how life has changed for SC/STs socially, economically, educationally and in terms of livelihood,” Mahadevappa said.

In 2013, Karnataka enacted the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plan (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources) Act, 2013, making it the second state after Andhra Pradesh to introduce a law that mandates spending public money on SC/STs.

Under the law, the government must spend 24.1% of funds on SC/ST welfare -- 17.15% for SCs and 6.95% for STs.

Chairing the SCSP-TSP state council meeting, Siddaramaiah said Rs 2.97 lakh crore was spent on SC/STs in the last 10 years. “We need a review on whether or not programmes taken up using these funds have been effectively implemented,” he said, adding that results in the last 10 years have met expectations. “It is shameful if there hasn’t been economic, social and educational improvement among SC/STs despite spending so much,” he added.

Siddaramaiah said ISEC studied the implementation of the SCSP-TSP Act in 39 taluks where the SC/ST population is high. “The state has recorded a 9.6% progress in the release of developmental funds. Compared with other states, it is clear that Karnataka is leading on various parametres,” he said.

In 2024-25, the government released Rs 38,793 crore under SCSP-TSP, of which 97% was spent.

“The remaining 3% was not spent because the Union government did not release Rs 883 crore under various centrally-sponsored schemes. The departments concerned have been asked to pursue the Union government,” Mahadevappa said.

At the meeting, Siddaramaiah asked officials to ensure 100% progress. “We must make sure that banks provide timely financial assistance to beneficiaries. Those banks that delay credit must face action,” he said.