K'taka increasing quota for minorities under housing schemes is in line with Centre's guidelines: CM
Bengaluru, Jun 20 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said his government's decision to enhance reservation for minorities under housing schemes in the state from 10 to 15 per cent is in line with the Union government's guidelines.
He termed the BJP's criticism of it as "hypocritical and politically motivated", and asserted that his government rejects the politics of hatred and division being pushed by the opposition party.
The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to enhance the reservation for minorities under various housing schemes in the state from 10 to 15 per cent, a move which the opposition BJP has slammed, calling it "unconstitutional" and "appeasement".
"The Cabinet has approved a decision to enhance the earmarking for minority beneficiaries, including Christians, Jains, Muslims, etc, under state-run housing schemes in a calibrated manner, in line with the Union Government's own guidelines," Siddaramaiah said.
In a statement, he said this is based on the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities (2019), which clearly directs all Central and State implementing agencies to earmark 15 per cent of physical and financial targets for minorities wherever possible.
"This guideline is issued by the BJP-led Union Government and has been in force for years. If this was unconstitutional or appeasement, why did the Union Government ask all states to follow it? Why is it being implemented under Central schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana?" he questioned.
Noting that the government's decision does not grant blanket enhancement of quota across the state, the CM said it only addresses a specific implementation challenge.
"In many panchayats where the minority population is less than 10 per cent, the mandated 10 per cent earmarking could not be utilised. To ensure optimal use of the allocated targets and avoid lapses, we have allowed the gap from such panchayats to be reallocated to those with a higher minority population, subject to a cap of 15 per cent," he explained.
This is an administrative adjustment within the unreserved category and does not affect SC, ST, or OBC reservations in any manner, he further said, adding that the decision is legally sound and has been cleared by the Law Department after thorough review.
Terming the BJP's reaction as "hypocritical and politically motivated", Siddaramaiah said the same party that implements the 15 per cent target at the national level is now accusing Karnataka of appeasement for merely applying the same principle to its state schemes.
If the BJP has any objection, they must first explain why their own government continues to operate under the same guidelines and why it expects other states to do the same, he said, adding that this selective outrage is nothing but an attempt to stoke communal sentiments and derail efforts meant to uplift the poorest and most marginalised families in the state.
Highlighting that over 34,000 additional minority families, most of them landless and in need of housing, will benefit from this decision in the current year alone, the CM said where no minority applicants are found in a panchayat, the unutilised share will be reallocated to where there is higher need, ensuring that not a single house remains unbuilt due to technical rigidities.
"This approach ensures equity, efficiency, and full utilisation of resources, while remaining fully compliant with constitutional provisions," he said.
The Congress government in Karnataka is committed to inclusive development. "We reject the politics of hatred and division being pushed by the BJP," Siddaramaiah said.
"Our governance model is rooted in justice, equity, and compassion, and we will continue to implement schemes that reach every poor household, irrespective of caste or religion. We urge BJP leaders to rise above narrow political calculations and support measures that truly uplift the poor instead of trying to block their path with misinformation and communal rhetoric," he added.
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NCERT developing special module on Operation Sindoor for classes 3 to 12
New Delhi: The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) is reportedly developing two special modules on Operation Sindoor, aimed at familiarising students with India's military capabilities.
“While the first special module on Operation Sindoor will be for students of Classes 3 to 8 and second will be available for Classes 9 to 12. The aim of these modules is to make students aware about India's military power and how Pakistan was defeated once again,” Hindustan Times quotes its source as saying.
Each module will span approximately 8 to 10 pages and will focus on the achievements of the Indian Armed Forces.
These modules are expected to be introduced in the upcoming academic session and will supplement the existing syllabus.
In addition to Operation Sindoor, NCERT is also preparing modules on a range of national achievements and historical events. Upcoming topics include Mission LiFE ('LiFEStyle For Environment'), the horrors of Partition, and India's growing stature in space exploration—from the Chandrayaan and Aditya L1 missions to Subhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station, HT quoted a source from the education ministry as saying.
Meanwhile, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has written to states, directing them to mandatorily adopt NCERT textbooks for Classes 9 to 12. The board has also “strongly advised” that states use either NCERT or State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) books. Supplementary materials may be used by schools, provided they align with the National Curriculum Framework
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