Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
C
hief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government has decided to set up a separate Secretariat for the implementation of welfare programmes for Scheduled Tribes.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti programme organized at Vidhana Soudha’s Banquet Hall today as part of Valmiki Jayanti and presented the Maharshi Valmiki Awards.
During our previous term,a decision was taken to allocate grants to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes according to their population,in the Belagavi session.
Therefore, more funds could be spent under the SCSP and TSP schemes.Earlier,only 6 thousand grant were allocated under these schemes.
But during our previous term this amount was 6 thousand crore to 30 crore,the CM said.
The previous government did not increase this amount. Our government has allocated Rs.34 thousand crore for these categories in this year’s budget.Grant has also been earmarked,the CM said.
Grants to SCST people state mandated:
17.1 percent of the total population of the state belongs to SC and 7 percent belong to ST category.
According to the 2011 census,24.1 percent of the population belongs to SC and ST category.Karnataka has the distinction of being the first state to bring in a law to set aside a separate grant for the welfare of SC/ST categories according to this population.No government can change this law.
After this law,from 2013 to 2018,our government allocated a total of Rs.88 thousand crores for SC/ST people.This grant is state mandated for this size of population.Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti is being celebrated in district and taluk centres,the CM said.
Achievements of the award winners should inspire others
The Chief Minister wished all the people of the state on the occasion of Maharshi Valmiki’s birth anniversary.
Maharishi Valmiki Award was conferred on 8 achievers who have achieved in various fields in this year and he congratulated them on behalf of the people of state.
Sri Valmiki Prasannanandpuri Swamiji of Rajanahalli Gurupeetha,Ministers Dr. H.C Mahadevappa,K.N. Rajanna,Satish Jarakiholi, B.Nagendra,Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Govindaraju,former Minister Anjaneya, former MP Ugrappa and leaders from Valmiki Samaj were present.
