Pro-Dalit organisations have condemned the Hassan district administration for not utilising funds provided under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan in toto . In 2014-15, Rs. 44.12 crore remained unutilised in the district.
The Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan Act was passed in 2013.
Based on information received from an RTI application filed by Mari Joseph, State convener of the Dalit Vimochane Manava Hakkugala Vedike, the government had released Rs. 107.47 crore under the Castes Sub-Plan (SCP) and Rs. 19.02 crore under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) in the district. Mr. Joseph told presspersons here on Friday that the Tourism Department had not spent even one rupee of the Rs. 52 lakh released. Similarly, the Medical Education Department had not spent the Rs. 6.24 crore it received. “The Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences was provided Rs. 6.24 crore for expenditure towards treatment of patients belonging to Scheduled Castes. The entire amount remained unutilised,” he said.
Hooraja, leader of the Hakki-Pikki, a tribal community, said the funds were provided for welfare of the downtrodden people. “If the amount is not utilised, how will they get the benefits,”, he questioned. N.R. Purushottam, District Social Welfare officer, told The Hindu said that a meeting had been convened to review the expenses made in 2014-15 under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner on August 19.
Rs. 44.12 crore remained unutilised in the district in 2014-15
