BENGALURU: It was floated with the idea of giving Muslim youth arrested for taking part in communal riots, but released without conviction or on good behavior, a second chance, but three years on the Mane Malige scheme is limited to the paper it was typed on.
The scheme, government records show, provides financial assistance to Muslim youth to compensate for "social stigma" and loss of education during their time in jail. Launched in 2017-18 under the Siddaramaiah government, the scheme never took off. Thanks to political uncertainties in the subsequent two fiscals, it was buried.
Congress’ UT Khader, a former minister from Mangaluru, a hotbed of communal clashes, said he was unware of the scheme, while former BJP minority welfare minister Prabhu Chauhan indicated his department was broke.
Chauhan said he was unable to concentrate on the department due to lack of funds on account of the floods in North Karnataka.
As per the state’s Economic Survey report for 2019-20, since 2017, as much as Rs 7.5 crore was allocated for the scheme, but not a single beneficiary was identified. Yet, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data suggests that in 2018 alone, as many as 29 incidents of communal violence occurred and there were 32 victims.
However, incumbent minority welfare minister Shrimant Patil said he has already taken cognizance of the scheme and it will be implemented soon.
"Till date there was no information on the scheme shared by previous ministers. At a recent department meeting last week, I instructed district officials to identify victims of communal rioting from the minority community and submit a list. Funds will be disbursed," said Patil.
The minister said there is special emphasis on the coastal districts and Mangaluru, which witnessed rioting during the anti-CAA stir. "We will disburse Mane Malige scheme funds to those families who lost bread winners in the riots," Patil said.
The scheme, government records show, provides financial assistance to Muslim youth to compensate for "social stigma" and loss of education during their time in jail. Launched in 2017-18 under the Siddaramaiah government, the scheme never took off. Thanks to political uncertainties in the subsequent two fiscals, it was buried.
Congress’ UT Khader, a former minister from Mangaluru, a hotbed of communal clashes, said he was unware of the scheme, while former BJP minority welfare minister Prabhu Chauhan indicated his department was broke.
Chauhan said he was unable to concentrate on the department due to lack of funds on account of the floods in North Karnataka.
As per the state’s Economic Survey report for 2019-20, since 2017, as much as Rs 7.5 crore was allocated for the scheme, but not a single beneficiary was identified. Yet, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data suggests that in 2018 alone, as many as 29 incidents of communal violence occurred and there were 32 victims.
However, incumbent minority welfare minister Shrimant Patil said he has already taken cognizance of the scheme and it will be implemented soon.
"Till date there was no information on the scheme shared by previous ministers. At a recent department meeting last week, I instructed district officials to identify victims of communal rioting from the minority community and submit a list. Funds will be disbursed," said Patil.
The minister said there is special emphasis on the coastal districts and Mangaluru, which witnessed rioting during the anti-CAA stir. "We will disburse Mane Malige scheme funds to those families who lost bread winners in the riots," Patil said.
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