Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy speaking in the Legislative Council in Bengaluru on Friday.
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Launching yet another tirade against the Congress government’s guarantee schemes, Opposition members in the Legislative Council on Friday took objection to a part of the money earmarked for Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) being used to fund the guarantee schemes, resulting in a volley of words and an adjournment.

Intervening during the Question Hour, Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said that provision of 7 C in the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Allocation and Tribal-Sub Allocation (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources) Act, 2013, is being “misused” to divert the funds for the guarantee schemes even though the government had removed the provision of 7 D to prevent the misuse of funds.

Meagre sum

“There are specific schemes to empower the communities to which the money has to be allocated. Of the ₹42,000 crore allocated in the Budget, the SC/ST communities will receive just about ₹7,000 crore. The allocation for the community development corporations has reduced from ₹510 crore last year to ₹430 crore this year,” he said.

Earlier, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, responding to questions from JD(S) member T.A. Sharavana and BJP member Hemalatha Nayak, refuted the allegations that the provision of 7 C was being misused. “All governments in the past have used the money to fund community members as part of general schemes. Money is not being diverted,” he said.

While Opposition and ruling party members sparred, Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, who failed to bring peace, walked out, adjourning the House for half an hour.

When the House reconvened, Ministers, including Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, sought an opportunity to set right the “false narrative” of the BJP. “During the BJP rule, ₹7,000 crore to ₹8,000 crore had been diverted under 7 D. But our government is committed to protecting constitutional provisions. We are ready to discuss the issue,” Dr. Mahadevappa said, adding that the Centre had allocated just 5% in its Budget for SC/ST welfare.

Though Mr. Horatti allowed Mr. Kharge to speak, he cut his speech short after a while when BJP members took objection as the Minister pointed out to lapses in funds meant for SC/ST welfare during the BJP regime.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had defended using the SCSP/TSP funds for the guarantee schemes, saying that it was in proportion to the population size of the communities and therefore it was not diversion.