From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 10: Steps will be taken to approve and implement the action plans for the effective utilization of the total allocations of Rs 29,209.04 crore under the sub-plans for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the 2018-19 budget, Social Welfare minister Priyank Kharge has said.
The minister said rules and regulations are being framed and implemented to educationally and economically strengthen the people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and provide them with all basic amenities.
State and district level officers of different departments have been given directions and guidelines for the effective implementation of the programmes under the sub-plans of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
“The state government wants to ensure 100 % utilization of funds under the sub-plans of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,’’ he said making it clear that all doubts and difficulties among officials have been removed.
Kharge said the State Government has framed the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes sub-plan legislation 2013 and taken steps to implement it from the 2014-15 financial year. The legislation provides of earmarking 24.10 % of the State’s plan expenditure for the sub-plans of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes based on their population in order to ensure the development of these communities, he said.
Apart from allocation of 24.10 % of the State total plan funds for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people, the legislation and the rules framed under it provide for preparing action plans, their implementation and also create institutional mechanism for their monitoring and also frame suitable rules and regulations, Kharge explained.
He said a state-level development council headed by the chief minister to ensure effective implementation of the funds under the sub-plans of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes through various departments has been created. The main objective of the state council is granting approvals for the annual action plans prepared under the sub-plans of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and give suitable suggestions pertaining to the policy framework of the sub-plans. The state council will also provide suitable guidance pertaining to agriculture, rural development and various other developmental departments for the development of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes beneficiaries.
A state-level nodal agency headed by the Social Welfare minister comprising senior officials as ex-officio members has also been created, Kharge said and explained that the nodal agency will recommend the sub-plans prepared by different departments in accordance with the legislation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and will also supervise their implementation from time to time.
District-level monitoring committees headed by the deputy commissioners of the districts concerned and taluk-level committees under the chairmanship of the respective taluk panchayat chief executive officers have also been constituted.
Transparent supervision and accountability of the implementation of the sub-plans of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Act are to be done and deliberate dereliction of duties or laxity in implementation will be dealt with sternly, the minister warned.