Karnataka sanctions Rs. 202 cr for development of SC/ST colonies.

Karnataka’s Social Welfare department has sanctioned a grant of Rs. 202.5 crore under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe sub-scheme for 123 assembly constituencies to develop SC/ST colonies.

Karnataka Minister for Social welfare Priyank Kharge has instructed all the deputy commissioners (district collectors) in the state to provide basic infrastructure facilities to the colonies where people belonging to SC/ST reside in highest number in the manner of Pragati scheme.

The minister has instructed the DCs to immediately take up work on drinking water, road, electricity, drainage facility, connecting roads to the colonies where people belonging to SC/ST communities reside.

The DCs must hold discussions with local MLAs to utilise the sanctioned amount adequately within the given time by identifying the place, he said.

The proposals submitted by the MLAs to the Minister have been sent to the respective DCs. The details of the basic infrastructure facilities mentioned in the proposal must be discussed with the MLAs and the construction works must be completed before March 2019, stated the Government Order.

The DCs have been instructed to select one Pragati colony in every Assembly constituency where there are more than 50 per cent people belonging to SC/ST communities and ensure an overall development.

Social Welfare Department Commissioners and Scheduled Tribes Department Commissioners have been ordered to submit the details of Pragati colony to the DCs.

The construction work must be taken up by the Public Works Department and Zilla Panchayat construction works department according to the KTTP rules and regulations, GO mentioned.

The Pragati Colony programme has been formed for the overall development of SC/ST communities. The main objective behind this is to provide all necessary facilities to the colonies, said the Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge.

He further said that in case of delay in the implementing the programme within the time mentioned, according to the rules and regulations under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe sub-scheme the officials concerned can be held responsible for the same.

The DC is also the District Monitoring committee President, according to the rules and regulations under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe sub-scheme.

According to the rule 11 of Karnataka Scheduled Caste sub-grant and Scheduled Tribe sub-grant, the DCs must submit a detailed report of the grant amount spent for the development of SC/ST communities to the government, said Ganga Ram Baderia, Karnataka's Principal Secretary of Social Welfare Department.

HBL