Implementation of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan Act has resulted in an increase in the financial allocation for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by Rs. 7,218 crore this year compared with last year, according to Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya.
The Act envisages allocation of funds for the welfare of SC and ST people in proportion with the population of the community.
The Minister told presspersons here on Friday that the government earmarked Rs. 15,834 crore for the SC and ST welfare schemes this year against last year’s Rs. 8,616 crore. With the support of the increased allocation, the government had enhanced subsidy for these communities in various departments, the Minister said. Listing the schemes where the subsidy for SC and ST communities had been increased, he said SC and ST dairy farmers would get an incentive of Rs. 2 a litre of milk in addition to Rs. 4 a litre being given to all dairy farmers.
Similarly, the subsidy of 50 per cent, which was being given to SC and ST farmers for the procurement of sowing seeds, had been increased to 75 per cent. It had also been decided to provide solar-powered irrigation pump-sets to about 100 farmers under the Ganga Kalyana scheme. SC and ST sericulture farmers would get borewells and pumps, he said.
