Karnataka's Congress government yet to release major funds for Minority Welfare Programs
Despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement of a 33% increase in the 2025–26 budget allocation for minorities, many flagship programs and schemes launched with much fanfare remain unfulfilled due to inefficient fund utilization by the Minority Welfare Department and poor fund allocation by the Government of Karnataka.
Important welfare programmes for minorities promised in the Chief Minister's budget speech 2025-26?
● An action plan for Rs. 1,000 crore prepared under Chief Minister’s Minority Colony Development Programme with multiple works to be implemented in the year 2025-26.
● Construction of multi-purpose halls across the state for the minority communities to organize cultural and social activities.
● A PU college with hostel facility to be started in Ullal for girl students belonging to minority communities.
● 16 new women's colleges in vacant plots of Waqf institutions to support higher education of minority women.
Major programs announced, but minor funds released
As per the minority department's own report till October, major welfare programs are yet to receive a significant portion of the fund that was allocated to the minorities.
● Out of the 715 crores allocated for the Chief Minister's Special Development Programme for Minorities, only 178.75 crores has been released, which amounts to just 25% of the total fund released.
● Similarly, out of the 400 crores allocated for the minority slum and colony development programme in urban areas, only 100 crores has been released, which again amounts to just 25% of fund released.
● For the construction of additional rooms to Moulana Azad Schools 100 crores was allocated, out of which just 50 crores has been released to the minority department.
Minority welfare department's failure to utilize available funds, who is to blame?
The government has been dragging its feet in releasing the promised funds for minority welfare while the Minority Welfare Department has miserably failed to effectively utilize even the limited funds received.
Such bureaucratic neglect and inefficiency is becoming a major roadblock in the social and economic progress of Karnataka’s minority communities. Here are few examples:
● The Vidyasiri scholarship scheme that aims to provide food and accommodation assistance to minority students, offering a stipend of Rs. 1,500 per month for 10 months had 50% fund released by the Government amounting to 25 crore. Shockingly, the utilization has been 0% till October.
● Under the scheme for providing quality education in madrasas, the minority department received 50% funds amounting to 17.5 crore. The utilization again has been 0% here.
● Out of the 178.75 crore received under Chief Minister's Special Development Programme for Minorities only 103 crores has been spent, The utilization here is 57.6%.
The Need to Introspect and correct before its late
With half the year already gone, the government is lagging behind in ensuring that the intended programmes for the upliftment of minorities get completed in the current year. Is this delay the result of poor planning, lack of accountability or deliberate inefficiency?
To set things right, there is a strong need for the government to introspect on what's going wrong, immediately release the complete fund and ensure 100% utilization.
It is also the duty of Karnataka State Minority Commission to monitor, study and ensure that all welfare programs for minorities are executed efficiently and achieve the desired outcomes.
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J'khand: 4 minors detained for 'raping' girl at birthday party
Ranchi (PTI): Four minors were detained for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl at a birthday party in Jharkhand’s Ranchi, police said on Saturday.
The incident took place on March 31 within the Namkum police station limits. An FIR in this regard was lodged on April 16 based on the girl’s statement, they said.
“All five, including the victim, were friends, and the girl had gone to attend the birthday party of one of those detained. At the party, the accused consumed alcohol and allegedly raped her,” said Ramnarayan Singh, the officer in-charge of Namkum police station.
“The four, aged between 15 and 17 years, have been detained and the medical examination of the girl is underway,” Singh said.
Further investigation is underway.
