The State government has set aside ₹29,000 crore for more than three dozen departments for implementing hundreds of programmes during 2018–19 under the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (Planning, Allocation, and Utilisation of Financial Resources) Act, 2013.
There was delay in approval of the plan owing to the Assembly elections, formation of the new government, and late presentation of the State Budget by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
A meeting presided over by Mr. Kumaraswamy and attended by Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge and senior Ministers told officials to utilise the funds effectively by expediting implementation of works under the plan.
Mr. Kharge has been holding discussions with the heads of various departments to formalise allocations and plans for various works. On Friday, Mr. Kumaraswamy approved the plan outlay.
Under the plan, there is a provision for awarding punishment for officials if they failed to utilise allocated funds during the year. The Social Welfare Department has formulated guidelines for fund utilisation.
Backlog vacancies
A five-member Cabinet sub-committee headed by Mr. Kharge has been set up to look into the issue off filling backlog vacancies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in various government undertakings and universities.
There are nearly 7,000 backlog vacancies in various government departments. The Finance Department’s clearance was not required for filling backlog vacancies, Mr. Kharge said.
The State Cabinet on September 20 decided to set up the committee for filling backlog vacancies in government-owned boards and corporations, aided educational institutions, universities, and cooperative societies.
Higher Education Minister G.T. Deve Gowda, Primary and Secondary Education Minister N. Mahesh, Municipal Administration Minister Ramesh Jakiholi, and Other Backward Classes Welfare Minister C. Puttaranga Shetty are the other members of the panel, said a government notification.