BJP's Narayanaswamy urges Centre to intervene over 'diversion' of SCSP, TSP funds by K'taka govt

Bengaluru, 

Senior BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has sought the Centre's immediate intervention into the alleged diversion of funds allocated under the SCSP and TSP by the Karnataka government to finance its various guarantee schemes. In this regard, he has written letters to Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar and Faggan Singh Kulaste, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

"It has come to light that substantial amounts from the SCSP (Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) allocations have allegedly been utilised to finance universal guarantee schemes that are not exclusively targeted towards Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes," Narayanaswamy, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, stated in the letter. Noting that such diversion of funds raises serious legal, constitutional, and ethical concerns, he alleged that the total diversion amounted to Rs 53,059.45 crore between 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2026-27.

Narayanaswamy urged the Centre to conduct a comprehensive audit of SCSP and TSP allocations and expenditure in Karnataka over the last three financial years and examine whether the alleged use of these funds to finance the state's guarantee schemes was consistent with the provisions of the Karnataka SCSP/TSP Act, 2013, and the constitutional framework governing the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe.

He also called upon the central government to direct the Karnataka government to immediately stop any diversion of SCSP/TSP funds for purposes not directly benefiting SC/ST communities. Further, he sought restoration of all allegedly diverted funds to the Social Welfare and Tribal Welfare Departments through suitable budgetary corrections and urged the constitution of an independent committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, constitutional experts, and members of SC/ST communities to review the implementation of SCSP/TSP in Karnataka. Narayanaswamy also sought stronger monitoring and accountability mechanisms to prevent any future diversion of funds earmarked for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.