Valmiki seer Prasannananda Puri has recently made allegations against the Karnataka government, claiming that it has been misappropriating funds designated for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). According to Puri, these funds are being redirected to support the five guarantee schemes, which were a key element of the Congress party's campaign during the last assembly elections.
The five guarantee schemes are designed to provide various forms of assistance to different segments of the population. These include Shakti, which offers free bus rides for women, and Anna Bhagya, which provides an additional five kilos of rice to those holding ration cards. Gruha Lakshmi provides a monthly allowance for women who are heads of households, while Gruha Jyothi offers free electricity to households. Lastly, Yuva Nidhi provides a monthly unemployment allowance of ₹3,000 for graduates and ₹1,500 for diploma holders.
Puri's allegations suggest that the Karnataka government has reallocated a substantial sum—over ₹14,000 crore—from funds originally earmarked for the SCs and STs to finance these guarantee schemes. This assertion has prompted the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to issue a notice to the Karnataka government, addressing concerns about the misappropriation of funds. The NCSC's notice, which was sent to the Chief Secretary, emphasizes the reallocation of ₹14,730 crore from the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for these schemes.
In response to these accusations, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has defended the government's actions, stating that the reallocation of funds is consistent with state law and has been executed fairly. He also pointed out that similar measures have been adopted by other states, such as Andhra Pradesh, to manage and utilize welfare funds effectively.
The controversy surrounding this issue has sparked a broader debate about the management and allocation of welfare funds. It raises critical questions about how to balance the implementation of electoral promises with the need to ensure that funds intended for the upliftment of marginalized communities are not diverted or misused. The situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the administration of public funds, especially those designated for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
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