Karnataka Dalit entrepreneurs decry ‘poor’ fund allocation: Report
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Dalit Entrepreneurs’ Association has urged the government to increase the fund allocation in the Department of Industries and Commerce towards the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP).
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, C.G. Srinivasan, the association’s working president, highlighted that only Rs 400 crore — less than one percent of the Rs 42,018 crore earmarked under SCSP/TSP — has been allocated towards schemes such as site allocation, soft seed capital, investment promotion subsidy, and loan processing fees, reported Deccan Herald on Saturday.
Srinivasan noted that between 2017 and 2019, Dalit entrepreneurs received 50 percent capital assistance for setting up shops and businesses. In 2019, this was increased to 75 percent to encourage more participation, as interest remained low. He shared that this move helped 2,873 Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs gain access to nearly 2,613 acres of land for entrepreneurial purposes. He pointed out that, however, the overall budget allocation from the Department of Industries and Commerce remains insufficient at just one percent.
He further alleged that Rs 850 crore in grants are still pending under various schemes and flagged a backlog of 271.8 acres of land yet to be allotted to Dalits by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) since 2009.
“There has been severe discrimination in the allotment of old industrial area land where about 25 percent is reserved for entrepreneurs from SC/ST communities,” DH quoted him as saying. He added that many Dalits were given litigated, undulated and unusable lands.
Consequently, several entrepreneurs were penalised for failing to meet the stipulated timelines, as they were unable to start their businesses due to the condition of the allotted land.
The association also called on the government to address corruption within the KIADB, alleging that officials have been denying reservations to Dalit entrepreneurs.
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Himachal: Three killed, two injured as speeding car dashes against parked truck
Mandi (HP) (PTI): Three people were killed and two others sustained grievous injuries after a speeding car dashed against a stationary truck at Dadour near Nerchowk in Mandi district on Monday late at night, police said on Tuesday.
There were five people in the car when the tragedy struck. Three were declared dead in the hospital while two have been referred to AIIMS Bilaspur.
The deceased were identified as Anil Kumar (28), Rohit Kumar (26) and Subash Kumar (23), all residents of Mandi district, while the injured are Harish and Pankaj.
A case has been registered under relevant sections and investigations are underway, said Superintendent of Police (SP) Mandi Vinod Kumar.
He added that the bodies have been handed over to the family members of the deceased.
In a statement, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the loss of three lives in a road accident. He directed the district administration to ensure best possible treatment for the injured and wished them a speedy recovery.
