Social Welfare Minister Mahadevappa defends Rs 11k cr SC/ST funds for guarantees

Bengaluru: Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa on Monday defended his government’s decision to utilise Rs 11,896.84 crore of funds from the SC/ST sub-plans for the implementation of the five ‘guarantee’ schemes this fiscal.

For 2025-26, the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (SCSP-TSP) have Rs 42,017.51 crore. This includes Rs 29,991.69 crore under SCSP and Rs 12,025.82 crore under TSP. 

Of this, Gruha Lakshmi scheme will get Rs 7,438.08 crore, Gruha Jyoti Rs 2,626 crore, Shakti Rs 1,537 crore, Anna Bhagya Rs 1,670.76 crore and Yuva Nidhi Rs 162 crore. 

The opposition BJP has described this as “diversion” and an “anti-Dalit” move. 

Mahadevappa, however, said the decision is within the legal framework. 

“Under the sub-plans law, we have earmarked funds in proportion to the population of SC/STs. The money will be used for development and welfare of SC/STs. Under Section 7(c) of the law, sub-plans money will be used only for SC/ST beneficiaries of the guarantee schemes,” the minister said.

He slammed the BJP for “misusing” the sub-plans money under the now-scrapped Section 7(d) that allowed authorities to
show expenditure that is “deemed” to have been spent on SC/STs. 

The minister insisted that the government had data on SC/ST beneficiaries of guarantee schemes to justify the use of the sub-plans money. 

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra went after the Congress for “looting” SC/ST money.

“Last year, money from the Maharshi Valmiki ST development corporation was looted. Now, money meant for SC/ST welfare is being used to fund the guarantees. The BJP will not tolerate this,” he said.