<p>Bengaluru: The Congress government has allocated Rs 3,746 crore more for non-guarantee schemes from the Scheduled Caste Special Plan and Tribal Special Plan (SCSP/TSP) corpus in its 2025-26 budget than the previous one, even as Dalit groups and the Opposition have slammed the government for ‘misappropriating’ SCSP/TSP funds.</p>.<p>The government has sanctioned Rs 42,018 crore for the SCSP/TSP corpus in the current budget, which is Rs 2,897 crore more than last year’s allocation.</p>.<p>Secondly, expenditure on guarantee schemes (out of SCSP/TSP funds) has come down by 6% – from Rs 14,282.38 in 2024-25 to Rs 13,433.84 in 2025-26 (a reduction by Rs 848.54 crore).</p>.<p class="bodytext">This Rs 3,746 crore is expected to be spent on education, farming and different boards coming under the social welfare department. </p>.Two dead as dilapidated building collapses in Karnataka's Belur.<p class="bodytext">The decrease in the overall allocation for the guarantees from the corpus can be attributed to the reduced expenditure on Anna Bhagya scheme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Currently, the government is procuring rice at Rs 22.5 from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which effectively comes to around Rs 25, including transport costs. Earlier, the government was transferring Rs 34 to beneficiaries, for each kg of rice (Rs 170 for 5 kg). However, Dalit activists have criticised the government for continuing to use the SCSP/TSP funds for guarantees.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Objecting to the government’s decision, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkar Vada) state chief convenor Mavalli Shankar said, “When the government announces schemes for the community and takes away money for something else, it creates ill-feeling amongst other communities about SC/STs. This adds to stigma against Dalits regarding reservation and disturbs social harmony.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shankar sought to know the rationale behind allocating Rs 1,537 crore for the Shakti scheme, when data about the number of Dalit beneficiaries utilising the scheme was unknown. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Echoing Shankar’s sentiments, former Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader L Hanumanthaiah said: “The government’s defence is that this money benefits Dalit beneficiaries only. While it may be right from their point of view, all Dalit leaders are against using these funds for guarantees.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">While several departments have been granted marginally higher funds than before, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department, headed by Priyank Kharge, is expected to get a major boost of Rs 1,323 crore, compared to the previous budget.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Congress government has allocated Rs 3,746 crore more for non-guarantee schemes from the Scheduled Caste Special Plan and Tribal Special Plan (SCSP/TSP) corpus in its 2025-26 budget than the previous one, even as Dalit groups and the Opposition have slammed the government for ‘misappropriating’ SCSP/TSP funds.</p>.<p>The government has sanctioned Rs 42,018 crore for the SCSP/TSP corpus in the current budget, which is Rs 2,897 crore more than last year’s allocation.</p>.<p>Secondly, expenditure on guarantee schemes (out of SCSP/TSP funds) has come down by 6% – from Rs 14,282.38 in 2024-25 to Rs 13,433.84 in 2025-26 (a reduction by Rs 848.54 crore).</p>.<p class="bodytext">This Rs 3,746 crore is expected to be spent on education, farming and different boards coming under the social welfare department. </p>.Two dead as dilapidated building collapses in Karnataka's Belur.<p class="bodytext">The decrease in the overall allocation for the guarantees from the corpus can be attributed to the reduced expenditure on Anna Bhagya scheme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Currently, the government is procuring rice at Rs 22.5 from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which effectively comes to around Rs 25, including transport costs. Earlier, the government was transferring Rs 34 to beneficiaries, for each kg of rice (Rs 170 for 5 kg). However, Dalit activists have criticised the government for continuing to use the SCSP/TSP funds for guarantees.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Objecting to the government’s decision, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkar Vada) state chief convenor Mavalli Shankar said, “When the government announces schemes for the community and takes away money for something else, it creates ill-feeling amongst other communities about SC/STs. This adds to stigma against Dalits regarding reservation and disturbs social harmony.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shankar sought to know the rationale behind allocating Rs 1,537 crore for the Shakti scheme, when data about the number of Dalit beneficiaries utilising the scheme was unknown. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Echoing Shankar’s sentiments, former Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader L Hanumanthaiah said: “The government’s defence is that this money benefits Dalit beneficiaries only. While it may be right from their point of view, all Dalit leaders are against using these funds for guarantees.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">While several departments have been granted marginally higher funds than before, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department, headed by Priyank Kharge, is expected to get a major boost of Rs 1,323 crore, compared to the previous budget.</p>
