We Are The First To Implement SCST/TSP Act: CM

Bengaluru
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting of the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe State Development Council, emphasizing the government’s expenditure on these communities in proportion to their population. For the fiscal year 2024-25, Rs 39,121.46 crore has been allocated, reflecting an 11% increase from the previous year’s Rs 35,221.84 crore. However, he questioned why only Rs 99.64 crore of the allocated funds had been spent, highlighting the need to utilize the remaining amount.
Siddaramaiah underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring that 100% of the allocated funds are spent annually, with strict measures in place to hold accountable any officials responsible for lapses in expenditure. He emphasized that negligence would not be tolerated.
The SCSP and TSP Act of 2013, implemented during the previous government’s tenure, mandates that 24.1% of the overall development budget be allocated for the development of SC/ST communities. Siddaramaiah reiterated the importance of effectively utilizing the allocated Rs 39,121.46 crore towards SCSP in the current fiscal year, with significant allocations earmarked for various departments such as Women and Child Welfare, Energy, Social Welfare, Revenue, and Rural Development.
He stressed that these funds must be spent within the fiscal year and warned that MLAs must provide reasons if any funds allocated to SC/ST corporations remain unutilized. The meeting aimed to ensure rigorous implementation of these allocations to facilitate the holistic development of SC/ST communities in the state.