From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 31: A meeting of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes Development Council, held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Monday, has approved a Rs 34,293.69 crore action plan under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Scheduled Tribes Sub-Plan.

The Chief Minister stated that the SC-SP/TSP Act provides for stringent punishment for officers who fail to utilize the allocated funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and he made it clear that he will not hesitate to take action against officers failing in their duty or showing dereliction of any kind.

He also directed the officials to submit periodic reports on the impact on the lives of SC and ST populations due to the utilization of the funds allocated under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Scheduled Tribes Sub-Plan.

The budget for the year 2023-24, approved by the State Legislature, provides for a total plan size of Rs 3.28 lac crore, out of which Rs 1.42 lac crore is allocated for various welfare schemes.

Members suggested that the report of the Ms. Renuka Chidambaram Committee on the functioning of hostels run by the Social Welfare Department must be implemented.

Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes Development Council Vice Chairman and Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, Law Minister H K Patil, Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge, ministers Nagendra, M. C. Sudhakar, Rajya Sabha member Dr L Hanumanthaiah, legislators P M Narendra Swamy, Prasad Abbayya, E Thukaram, and Prakash Rathod, as well as Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma and other officers, were present.