Department of Minorities fails to utilize grants released for student education
Bengaluru: A significant portion of funds allocated for educational and welfare programs aimed at minority communities remains unspent by the Karnataka Minority Welfare Department, raising serious concerns about the implementation of these initiatives.
For the 2024-25 financial year, the government allocated Rs 2,517 crore for various minority welfare initiatives. However, by December, only Rs 1,400 crore had been released and just 816 crore spent. With 42% of the released funds still lying unspent, the Minority Welfare Department has failed to effectively utilize the funds, leading to setbacks in programs meant to support students and other beneficiaries.
Take for instance the Vidyasiri scholarship program, which was allocated Rs 24.99 crore to provide financial support to minority students. Out of this, Rs 18.74 crore was released by December 2, 2024. Shockingly, none of the released funds have been spent, and the department has simply held onto the money instead of distributing it to the intended beneficiaries.
Another crucial program meant to train minority students for competitive examinations also saw similar inefficiencies. The government had allocated Rs 17.15 crore for this initiative, with Rs 12.86 crore being released. However, by December 2, only Rs 6.31 crore had been spent, meaning that more than half of the available funds remained unused. The scholarship budget for minority students stood at Rs 100 crore, but Rs 46 crore of this allocation remained unspent.
Concerns over the lack of fund utilization were raised during a KDP meeting held on November 18, 2023, under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. Officials disclosed that both the central and state governments had failed to provide their share of funding for centrally sponsored minority welfare schemes. The state government had allocated Rs 83 crore for such programs, while the central government had promised Rs 100 crore. However, by the end of October, not a single rupee had been released from either side.
A similar situation was observed in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Programme, which is linked to the Minority Welfare Department. The state government had allocated Rs 83 crore for this scheme, with the Centre adding Rs 100 crore. However, by the end of October, none of these funds had been disbursed.
The lack of fund distribution has severely impacted various departmental schemes meant to benefit minority communities. A budget of Rs 160 crore had been set aside for scholarships and fee reimbursement, but by October, only Rs 2.29 crore had been released, and of this, merely Rs 0.10 crore had been spent. Similarly, Rs 110 crore was earmarked for community development projects, yet only Rs 1 crore had been released by October.
The situation was no different for financial assistance programs supporting MPhil and PhD students from minority backgrounds. Out of a budgeted Rs 6 crore, only Rs 2.33 crore was spent by the end of October. Fee refunds for students were also significantly delayed. Although Rs 25 crore was allocated for this purpose, not a single penny had been disbursed for six months, leaving thousands of students without reimbursement.
Maulana Azad School, which had been allocated Rs 68.29 crore for college maintenance and new hostel development, received Rs 43.55 crore. Out of this, Rs 35.38 crore was spent. Meanwhile, Rs 347.89 crore had been budgeted for the maintenance of hostels and residential schools, but only Rs 181.42 crore had been released by October, and only Rs 123.12 crore was utilized.
Poor fund utilization extended to economic assistance programs as well. Under the Shram Shakti Loan Scheme, which was meant to provide financial aid to 1,000 individuals, Rs 5 crore had been allocated. However, not a single rupee was distributed, despite an earlier expenditure of Rs 11.01 crore being recorded.
The continued failure to utilize funds effectively has affected thousands of beneficiaries, causing delays in scholarships, education programs, and financial aid. As the financial year nears its end, concerns are growing over the unspent funds and the impact on minority communities who rely on these government initiatives.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
FIR against national shooting coach for sexual assault of minor; NRAI suspends him
New Delhi (PTI): A prominent member of India's shooting coaching staff, Ankush Bhardwaj, has been suspended by the national federation after a minor shooter accused him of sexually assaulting her during the National Championships last month.
NRAI (National Rifles Association of India) confirmed that an FIR has been filed against Bhardwaj in Faridabad. Bhardwaj, a resident of Mohali, has been booked under Section 6 of POCSO Act (aggravated sexual assault), and Section 351(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (criminal intimidation).
"NRAI has suspended him and we will issue a show-cause notice," NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia told PTI.
ALSO READ: SC defers hearing to Jan 13 on pleas challenging EC’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls
"He has been suspended on moral grounds. Now, he has to prove himself innocent. Till the inquiry is not completed, he will not be associated with any coaching activity," he added.
Bhatia said NRAI had recommended Bhardwaj for a place in the 37-strong coaching team after the Paris Olympics in 2024.
"It was on the recommendation of the NRAI that he was appointed by SAI as one of the coaches. It is a case of sexual harassment which happened in Surajkund," said Bhatia.
According to the FIR filed by the victim, she was targetted last month during the National Championships at the Karni Singh Range.
The girl, who has been training with Bhardwaj since August last year, stated that she was left traumatised by the incident and spoke up in front of her mother on January 1 after being persistently probed.
In her FIR, the 17-year-old has alleged that Bhardwaj used to call her for training at venues such as Mohali, Patiala, Dehradun and Delhi but she would always return home the same day.
However, on the day of the incident, the victim said she went to the Karni Singh Range unaccompanied in a taxi to compete in the Nationals.
The girl said that when she was about to leave for home after finishing her competition, the coach asked her to stay back to analyse her performance.
She stated in her complaint that the coach first requested her to meet him at the lobby of a hotel in Surajkund area of Faridabad. However, upon her arrival, he allegedly coerced her into coming up to his room, claiming a more focused discussion was required.
"The coach asked me to come to the elevator area. After that, when I went to the elevator area, coach sir told me that he had booked a room here, so come to my room. I will discuss the match with you there.
"He took me to a room on the third floor, and discussed the match. After sometime, I said to sir that I wanted to go home, but he told me that he would crack my back," she said, referring to a physiotherapy technique of post-competition recovery.
"I immediately refused. Then sir forcibly made me lie face down and sexually assaulted me and when I opposed, he threatened me," the victim stated in the FIR.
"He threatened me not to disclose the incident or else he would sabotage my professional career. I got really scared after the incident and did not tell anyone," she stated, adding that she eventually told her mother after she repeatedly asked her on noticing change in her demeanour following the incident.
A senior police officer said that a probe is underway.
Bhardwaj, a former pistol shooter, had served a doping ban in 2010 for the use of a beta-blocker during his competitive days. Beta-blockers are banned for athletes engaged in disciplines like shooting, archery and billiards as they help reduce heart rate, muscle tremors, and anxiety.
