JD(S) member T.A. Sharavana accused the government of not reporting payments made to a company that has been hired to implement, evaluate and manage guarantee schemes at a cost of ₹9.25 crores without calling tenders.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

After clashing in the legislative Assembly over spending on monitoring guarantee schemes, the ruling Congress and opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) members clashed again briefly in the legislative Council on March 13 over hiring companies to evaluate the guarantees without calling for tenders.

JD(S) member T.A. Sharavana accused the government of not reporting payments made to WRITE PEOPLE, that has been hired to implement, evaluate and manage guarantee schemes at a cost of ₹9.25 crores without calling tenders. This is apart from the third-party agencies that have been hired for crores of rupees – also without calling for a tender. “The exemption given under 4G of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act is for emergency purpose. What was the emergency in this case,” Mr. Sharavana asked.

According to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reply placed in the House in his absence, Bengaluru-based M2M Media Network was given the task of evaluating Shakti, Gruhalakshmi, Anna Bhagya and Gruha Jyothi schemes during 2023-24. The Fiscal Policy Institute asked Mumbai-based XKDR Forum, Prof. Prabha Koteshwaran of Kings College, London, Tara Krishnaswamy of Indus Action, Azim Premji University and JustJobs Network to evaluate the guarantees. While M2M Media received ₹1.12 crore, the XKDR received ₹1.03 crore for three reports, of which two have been submitted. The reports are being reviewed, and no money has been paid yet. There has been no monetary transaction with others.

Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanswamy asked what was the need to have a guarantee implementation committee on which ₹60 crore is being spent when private agencies have been hired to monitor the schemes.

When Mr. Sharavana entered the well in protest while JD(S) and BJP members stood their ground demanding transparency, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar explained: “Some agencies have been given responsibility to check if the money is reaching the beneficiaries. Implementation committee is a political call. If you want to stall the House, we have no objection. You do your politics, and we will do ours.”

He denied allegations that the government had paid ₹9.25 crore to a company and not revealed details.