BJP flags huge sums spent on guarantee committees in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in Assembly R Ashoka on Wednesday accused the Siddaramaiah government of misusing public funds to “appease” disgruntled party leaders.

Referring to the “substantial” salaries drawn by members of the Karnataka Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority, which was set up in January 2024, to oversee the Congress government’s flagship guarantee schemes, Ashoka asked whether the committees were meant to implement welfare schemes or serve as a “rehabilitation centre” for party leaders and workers.

Citing the figures tabled in the Assembly, Ashoka pointed out that the committee chairman H M Revanna was drawing a monthly salary of Rs 5.98 lakh, while five vice-chairpersons together receive Rs 22.19 lakh and the staff expenditure across six offices stood at Rs 27.15 lakh for February alone.

“The total monthly expenditure comes to Rs 55.33 lakh, which is over Rs 6.6 crore annually. What is the rationale behind spending such sums on committees when the entire government machinery is already in place to implement the schemes. It is a burden on taxpayers,” alleged Ashoka adding the beneficiaries often faced delays in receiving payments.

Alleging that public money was being diverted to sustain political interests, Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra said the state was facing financial strain, but funds were being diverted towards advertisements and salaries for political appointees.

“When the government is unable to pay salaries to its own employees, spending taxpayers’ money on such committees is not justified,” he added.